I Lost My Mind

Here I sit, just a few hours later than usual and laughing at myself. With nothing to write about I was going to skip out on today.

But I remembered as I awoke in a state of 'freezing' from all the windows being open and the temp at 58 degrees outside that I had something important to do. The nice warm oven would be just the thing.

Does anyone remember those Friendship Cakes we made years ago where you divide your batter, putting one cup into 4 large Baggies and then every day you are either squishing the bag and letting the air out or you are adding ingredients? Well I had forgotten all about them although I loved doing them at the time. At least 20 years ago and while working, had people to give the starter batter to. Many times I kept all the batters and made extra cakes for hubbie's friends at work for coffee hour.

Well, to cut thing short, my daughter-in-law came home from work and asked me if I would like to try a starter cake. Naturally I foolishly said "Yes." Today was THE day to bake the cake. I got everything ready and thought I was set to go. Wrong! The print on the directions was very small and I had to hang the directions on the hood above the stove with the light on it in order to see them. Then I began to add ingredients and measure, I'm sure the measuring came first but at this point I'm not sure.

I used a Bundt cake pan instead of two large bread pans. For some reason I thought I had to have two pans since the recipe stated 2 pans. So I went and found a new Bundt pan I had bought as a gift and ended up giving a card with money instead. So far so good.

After adding all the ingredients, not quite the proper measurments because the eyes aren't what they used to be and that is why I don't use recipes. I realized that the recipe called for 3 eggs and not the one I had added. Also I left the salt out because it called for baking power and baking soda. That I did intenionally because hubby is on a sodium free diet.

Next I added two small boxes of banana cream pudding and needed to figure out what goodies I would throw in extra. I settled on the cinnamon/nutmeg and sugar mixture I always fall back on. Next I added lots of walnuts. By the time it was ready to put in the pan I couldn't lift the heavy bowl. So it was touch and go and most did go in the pan. The drips I licked and I have to say, they were delicious. Although those were some pretty big drips! I don't know what I was thinking, but that second Bundt pan wasn't really needed. It all fit in the one pan.

Into the oven it went and there also I had to make a change upping the temp to 350 degrees instead of 325. Hubby just said, "Man that cake smells good!" Hmmm, am I on a roll or bound for failure? We'll see soon enough.

Oh, you remember I said you had to take out 4 separate cups of starter and put them in large zip lock bags. Well, the people who at first said, "Sure, give me one, it will be fun." all seemed to have changed their minds by yesterday because it was hot out and nobody wants to bake in that heat. Today, however is cool so it's perfect for baking.

Having said that, my counter now holds two large zip lock bags with twice the amount of starter in each one. I just figured I would do them all when it was time, 10 days from today. I forgot that from all those starters I now have 16 to give away when the time comes and I have a feeling I'm going to be peddling them at church. Oh why did I ever say yes to begin with?

Hubby just said I should check my cake because he thinks it's done. Smirking to myself, I did and it has another 10 minutes to bake. He's already getting the plates and coffee cups ready. If anybody out there is reading this and would like a bag of starter, I'd be happy to give it to you.

Okay, so I stopped for a taste. Well, more than just a taste, more like a hunk beyond what Weight Watchers allows. But it was delicious, and my better half is ready for the next batch. I sure hope we have a freeze by then because without air conditioning, I just might have to toss it all. I can just see my counter top with all those voluminous bags of starter if the seal lets go.