“Maybe the cat has fallen into the stew,

or the lettuce has frozen, or the cake has collapsed. Eh bien, tant pies (translation:  well, so much worse.) Usually one’s cooking is better than one thinks it is. And if the food is truly vile, then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile, and learn from her mistakes.”

“One of the secrets, and pleasures, of cooking is to learn to correct something if it goes awry; and one of the lessons is to grin and bear it if it cannot be fixed.”

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
― Julia Child

Julia Child was the greatest at overcoming adversity in the kitchen.  I promise, if you cook for any significant amount of time, there will be war stories.  That does not mean a mistake is the end of the dish.  I have re-made mistakes and usually create something edible.  Then, there are the times I have dumped it all in the garbage and called for pizza!

This subject is fresh on my mind because I have had two such “mistakes” recently and they were both eaten.  One was transformed and one just didn’t taste as I thought it should.  Last night I made fish, broccoli and wanted to make a salsa (of sorts) from cherry tomatoes that were getting past their due.  I cooked the tomatoes with other ingredients and just didn’t like it. The tomatoes were too sweet for the taste I was going for.  This would have definitely been compost offering, but my husband liked it on the toasted garlic bread I served…so sort of saved.

Easter Sunday lunch was being combined with a family reunion.  In the middle of baking a cake on the Saturday before, my oven quit!  Not the best time for an oven to proverbially throw in the towel.  In the oven was a fresh strawberry cake…one of my favorites.  The cake was almost done.  The outer cake was finished, but not the center.  I took the most ready and created a trifle…which is the greatest thing to do with a cake that fails!  It was good enough to make on purpose and really pretty.

I agree with Julia that cooking should by joyous, celebratory and filled with fun!  I never “sweated” the oven quitting.  I rethought my menu, didn’t bake the other things I planned, and never looked back.  Enjoy the journey…pitfalls and all.

STRAWBERRY TRIFLE

First layer: fresh strawberry cake pieces on bottom of glass server.

Second layer:  vanilla pudding

Third layer:  strawberries and cream cheese

Continue layering until all has been used.  Top with whipped cream. Garnish with whole strawberries.

 Fresh Strawberry Cake

White cake mix

3 eggs

2 cups strawberries, large dice

1/2 cup sugar

Add sugar to strawberries and allow to syrup at least 30 minutes. Drain syrup from berries reserving liquid.  Make cake mix using 3 whole eggs, oil (as mix instructs).  Use syrup for water in cake, adding water, if needed for correct amount.  When cake has been mixed, add strawberries and mix just a few more turns.  Cool completely.

Large Jell-O Vanilla Pudding…make as directed

Strawberries and Cream Cheese

In processor mix 1 cup strawberries, 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla until blended.

NOTE:  May use low calorie jell-o and cream cheese.