So yesterday I learned a little lesson. And that lesson was that I never learn my lesson, and I really should.
I happen to have an incredible from-scratch pumpkin cheesecake recipe at my disposal (I used it to win my company bakeoff one year – woo!) but it’s a bit labor-intensive, and yesterday I was feeling lazy, so I decided to give the mix that my aunt sent me for Christmas a spin. I am completely on-board with the joys of mixes: sort of like a McDonald’s hamburger versus a fancy restaurant burger, I just consider baked goods made from mixes a totally separate category. And sometimes what you want is a McDonald’s hamburger. Or Betty Crocker brownies.
And of course, part of the joy of using a mix is that everything stays clean and simple, and you’re done in mere minutes. That is, unless you decide to COMPLETELY COAT YOUR KITCHEN in sugar and then have to scrabble about madly for ten minutes with damp paper towels while keeping your freaking-out dogs at bay with your right foot. It’s amazing: literally every time I take out that stupid mixer with the faulty sproingy thing, I think “Nahhh, this time will be different, I can’t POSSIBLY be this incompetent with a handheld device used by millions all over the world.” And every time, I am. So that lesson really needs to be learned – like, seriously, Jordan, learn the lesson, and never ever ever use a handheld mixer (or at least not that one) again – and applied at all points in the future.
Lesson To Finally Be Learned Number Two: Shortly after the sandstorm incident, I convinced myself that despite all past experiences and accrued evidence to the contrary, I am not spacey enough to wander off and lose track of time, and therefore have no need whatsoever to set a timer when baking cakes. And I convinced myself of this despite the presence in my immediate vicinity of a Star Magazine, an US Weekly, a computer with a full inbox, and various other fun time-sucks.
Guess what!
That’s right.
So my cheesecakes are a bit…crispy. But hey, they’re cake, and all cake is good cake.
(Kendrick will eat them.)
