Sunday, June 20, 2010

How Big Daddy Saved Father's Day

Tonight I ruined dessert. I am a pretty good cook, so usually things don't go awry that often. But tonight things were wry. Very wry. So wry, in fact, that I actually shed tears and came very close to throwing an entire Pyrex mixing bowl of whipped cream across the room. Fortunately, Big Daddy stopped me. But I'm getting head of myself...

I made Moon Cake. Moon Cake is delicious. And easy. And fattening (which is proof that it is delicious), and it is Big Daddy's favorite dessert. I was excited to make it for him. Then for some reason, I couldn't find the recipe. So I looked one up online. It appeared to be the same. I proceeded. But the eclair crust batter didn't look right while I was mixing it. That should have been a sign right there that something was wrong. But I carried on, and, after baking, it turned out flat and unattractive. Next came the pudding disaster. The middle layer calls for two 3.4oz packages of instant vanilla pudding mixed with one 8oz cream cheese, softened extensively. I softened it, pre-beat it to make sure it was truly smooth and not lumpy (lumpy will ruin Moon Cake), and then got out the pudding mix to add in. This is when I realized my main problem. Well, problemS. First of all, I bought a 5.1oz size of vanilla pudding and a 4.8 oz size. (Different brands are slightly different in size, it appears. Who knew?). I figured I could weigh out some of one package and add it to the other to get the right amount. But more importantly, I bought one instant and one Cook and Serve. Crappity! I didn't have time to cook and chill it, as I was already running about 1/2 hour behind schedule. So I used the 5.1 oz instant and added just enough of the cook and serve to make it 6.8oz total. I figured that little wouldn't hurt. WRONG. It did hurt. First of all, it wouldn't thicken as I beat it. Next, because it wouldn't thicken, the cream cheese wouldn't blend in. So despite my careful efforts at softening and pre-beating, little chunks of cream cheese floated at the top of the pudding soup no matter how long I mixed it. I hoped that it would thicken as it set, so I poured it over the flat, ugly crust and put it in the fridge. However, 20 minutes later, it was still pudding soup. LUMPY pudding soup. Lumpy pudding soup on top of a flat, unattractive crust. The whipped cream, which goes on top and should be covered in marbled chocolate sauce, turned out fine. But at this point I was so frustrated, and so late for dinner, that I figured the only logical thing to do with the perfectly good whipped cream was to chuck it at the wall.

And this is where Big Daddy stepped in and saved the day (and my small mixing bowl). He uttered the three most important words that a woman can hear during a baking crisis. Words that aren't spoken often around here, because it just isn't our style, but which, at the right time, with one person's hand laid on the other one's hand, can be the most wonderful words on earth: "Let's buy dessert."

And that is how we ended up 45 minutes late to dinner with store-bought cheesecake.

And that is why Father's Day 2010 will always be rememberd as the day that Mommy didn't end up being committed to the insane asylum for dairy-related assult. Gotta love that man of mine.

8 comments:

Mrs. O said...

What a good, good man. I love when they know just the right thing to say/do.

P.S. that recipe sounds like a must share.

Mrs. O said...

The real one, not the dairy assault one ;)

Kristina P. said...

Definitely an ox in the mire situation.

bel said...

Good for Big Daddy. I should have HG read this...

I agree with Mrs. O: please share the moon cake recipe!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry! I hate it when food falls apart like that, it's devastating. ;_; I'm glad it worked out, though.

And I bet it still tasted good, even if it looked more like a cow pie than a moon pie. :/

You should post the recipe!

Megan said...

I do not handle kitchen failure well! That is MY domain! Jeff had a rib disaster on memorial day, right before our company was supposed to arrive. I was PISSED that he screwed up the main course. But I felt slightly pleased that he had a kitchen disaster so he could better understand my frustration when it happens to me.. and plus his ego needed a hit!

Financial Aid for College said...

What a FUN, FUNNY story! And what a dear man you have to "comfort you when faint", and "lift up the hands that hang down" (or are about to throw a bowl of whipped cream at the wall. Whatever.)

You and Big Daddy make a wonderful pair, and I KNOW he is a fabulous father.

Your blog for tomorrow: The Recipe! With a photo of your success, of course.

Mia said...

Awww way to save the day Big Daddy!