March 16, 2009

What I'm Not Showing You (TWD)

This is a first for me in my short life as a blogger with TWD. I'm going photo-less for a post. Yup, I made the lemon yogurt cake. But no, I didn't like it. I didn't even like it enough to take its picture! Isn't that terrible? Am I a bad, bad baker girl now? Go on, you can tell me the truth.

Baked creations are not like children or pets, people. You don't have to love them just because they're yours. Or because they took up some of your time, your money and space in the kitchen. It's okay to say "feh". So there, my response to French lemon yogurt cake: feh. I mean no disrespect, really. And I know I am officially now a blogger hypocrite because I don't like it when other food bloggers totally dis a whole category of foods or one particular ingredient. The whole "if you can't say anything nice" thing and all that. But, so be it. I decided that in this case, a negative post was better than none. It's good to break your own rules once in a while.

My homely lemon yogurt loaf cake looked so sad, with its sunken top and its overly browned sides. Ugly is okay if it tastes good. But ugly combined with a rubbery, bland texture just isn't getting its picture taken.

Determined to triumph despite the little flop, I tried another version. I just finished reading "A Homemade Life" by Molly Wizenberg of Orangette. Oh, you must read it! It's terrific. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't wait to read more and I was sorry when it was over. Molly also has a recipe for French Lemon Yogurt Cake. It's very close to Dorie's, almost identical in fact, except she uses one more egg, bakes it in a 9" round pan and makes two simple icings to coat it. I don't know if it was the extra egg, or a lighter touch with my folding, or the shape of the pan, but this second cake was much better than the first. And possibly even worthy of photography. But it's late now and the light is gone and I just don't have the get-up-and-go to shoot it, because a cake like this would still require some food styling to give it any photo-worthiness. And, I still don't love it. I don't know - maybe I need butter in my cakes. Or maybe I should have tried harder to find full-fat Greek yogurt instead of 2%. Or maybe I should admit I don't like lemon desserts all that much. Who knows but I daresay that's my last French yogurt cake. I gave it a good shot, I baked two in two days and I tried really, really hard to like both of them. Honest, I did.

Just because I didn't love this cake shouldn't stop you from trying it. For you, it might be just perfect. You can find recipe on Liliana's blog, My Cookbook Addiction. And you can check out the other TWD bakers' reports by heading over to the blogroll.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's too bad you didn't like it, but you really made an effort by making two versions! I've got that book on my list-it sounds really good.

Steph said...

Umm.. I confess.. I didn't like it either.. haha. I was afraid of saying that in my post considering the raves this cake got. Maybe because it's the 'French yogurt cake' or something. I agree with you, it's probably the butter. Oil based cakes generally are coarser. I'm glad you made Orangette's version because I was going to try another one just in case I messed up Dorie's. I can't wait to see your pictures of the other version once there's natural lighting!

chocolatechic said...

I'm so sorry you didn't like it.

Jennifer said...

I understand your dilemma. Just a few weeks ago I was a "prune hater"...it happens to all of us and this recipe may not be for you, but the next one might be.:)

vibi said...

Hey! I was wondering where you had been! Glad you're back! ...especially to bake this wonder with us!

Very well done, darlin'...

Anonymous said...

So sorry that you didn't like it but I'm glad you ended up liking Molly's version!!! I just read that book as well and it is fantastic!

Anonymous said...

I want to get that book. It's on my wishlist. Too bad you didn't like Dorie's version. Here's to next week!

Everyday Goddess said...

You gave it your all! And I can point you in the direction of some truly negative blogs, OMG btw.

TeaLady said...

Oh, well. Not all cakes are for everyone. I haven't liked all the recipes either and we don't have too. glad you posted anyway.