I have failed as a cook.

amanda_pennsylvania

Well-known member
I ended up with a couple of chocolate bundt cake boxed cakes, and I made one for my family. They all thought it was the best cake I'd ever made.

I'm so utterly depressed.

 
That is depressing indeed, reminds me of...

the time I made my grandmother's original German's chocolate cake for a family christmas dinner, which requires dirtying every bowl in the kitchen.

My dad buys cakes to bring to family dinners from a lady that makes the desserts at a resturant he frequents (i.e. "The Cake Lady").

"It's the best chocolate cake in the world" was the introduction. I tasted...box chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips added before baking and canned frosting with chocolate chips sprinkled on top(whoo, hoo!--so Deluxe!).

Everyone went nuts over it and had to have "another piece". My baroque family heirloom cake sat untouched.

I didn't fail as a cook. I was failed by the dumbing down of the tastebuds of the American masses by the industrial "better life through chemicals" food complex.

I still have my standards.

 
So, I agree with Richard. But this cake was pretty good, I have to admit.

I can't remember the company name, but it was founded by the guy who invented the bundt pan. But it still stings that my DH thinks this cake is better than my made-from-scratch ones.

 
I think part of it is that some people have grown accustomed to ultra-sweet.

Many home-made cakes are not as sweet (at least to me) as cake mix. I personally am not fond of extra sweet cakes. Kind of like commercial muffins-to me they are more cupcakes than muffins because true homemade muffins from older recipes are not very sweet.

Oh, and Richard, I'll take a piece of the German chocolate anytime. It is one of my favorites and is indeed a pain in the rear to make. Especially if you don't have a second bowl for your mixer.

 
Exactly, the same for salt. Look at how many people prefer boxed mac n cheese to homemade. Also

items like deli mashed potatoes and Stouffer's lasagne. As Richard said, people become accustomed to the extra salt, sugar, and chemicals. Sadly, I'm afraid my grandson will be the same way. His mom hates to cook and uses as many shortcuts as possible, even though she doesn't really like the results.

 
Have you ever tasted brownies made from Ghirardelli brownie mix? They were demo-ing them at Costco

and I had a taste. I thought it was very, very good.

 
Central Market was plugging their Austin Slowburn Hatch Brownies with Ghirardelli Mix

1 box Ghirardelli Brownie Mix
1 egg
4T Austin Llow Burn Green chile Jam
2T vegetable oil
5 T water

Preheat oven to 325, grease and flour an 8x8 inch baking pan - set it aside

Combine jam, oil and water; lightly beat egg, add to jam.

Stir wet mixture into brownie mix with fork until combined.

Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool completely before cutting.

Glaze optional; Mix together melted chocolate chips with Austin Slow Burn Jam and drizzle over brownies.

 
Is it a preference? I think it is just easier -- the homemade versions are WAY better!

My son and DIL rented a house at Isle of Palms for our combined families for a week -- some 13 people. I made a triple recipe of mac n' cheese from the Jack Daniels cookbook and it was amazing to hear, as they were licking the baking dish, how they had never made mac and cheese from scratch before!

 
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