Daily Post Prompt : Cake

In-response to daily post’s prompt : Cake

Humans have invented a variety of very useful things some we use to do our daily work, such as a vacuum cleaner, in my mind this is the best invention. I cannot imagine sweeping the floor with a broom. It’s time consuming and the end result is not perfect.

The best invention is cake by the ancient Egyptians. It originated in ancient Egypt as a round flat unleavened breads, these were cooked on a hot stone. The evolution of baking continued for centuries, through the introduction of new techniques of baking.

The Egyptians learned the skill of using natural yeast,it helped to to leaven the flat breads. There was a difference between bread and cake, while bread was used as a staple food, cake was served as a dessert.

Over a period of time we’ve learned to bake a variety of cakes, eg. chocolate,vanilla, pineapple upside down cake and so many other kinds of cake.

when I came to North america, I took a liking for baking. I baked regular white bread, then I tried hamburger buns, finally I attempted  a variety of cakes.

wikipedia image

Perhaps I was overconfident and this taught me a lesson. We were having company, I decided to bake a four layered sponge cake for dessert. It was a step by step recipe, I had the ingredients in place, there was one thing lacking in my knowledge and that was how to mix the ingredients of a sponge cake.

I got the ingredients together and used my mixer at high speed. I wasn’t aware the  method was wrong.I put the cakes in the oven, I was supposed to split the two cakes in layers after it came out of the oven. When I took them out of the oven, they were flat. I quickly got some more ingredients together and baked two more cakes. When I put them together, I noticed the first two cakes were flat and seemed hard. I didn’t have enough time to redo plus I had no idea what went wrong.

The guests came ate the dessert but stayed quiet about it. I was bothered by my unsuccessful attempt. Later on either my colleague told me or I read in the cookbook why my cake didn’t turn out the way it should. I had used the mixer, I was supposed to mixed it with a spatula gently, this keeps the air in, mine didn’t.

I remembered the quote, “Failure is the pillar of success.”

After this disaster, I baked a lot of cakes and made sure I read all the instruction more than once.

………………………………… 🙂

Daily Prompt: Celebrate Good Times

You have some wonderful, improbable, hoped-for good news. How do you celebrate?

This morning my friend Millie, called me, she said, “guess what Ranu your short stories is ready for publication, the publishers are eager to have an interview with you.”

At first I thought Millie is joking, she does that every now and then to tease me. The phone rang again, I picked it up this time it was the publisher himself, “hello, can I speak to Ranu?”

I jumped I replied “speaking.”

“I am Stuart from Stuart publishing company, we have selected your short stories for publication,can you come and see us.”

See us? This is the best news I’ve heard in days. I got ready and went to the company situated on Fleet Street. After a few minor discussions, Mr. Stuart handed me the contract.

I came home, called Millie, she came in a jiffy after discussing various ways to celebrate this awesome news, we settled for a fabulous tea party with family and friends in my home.

Millie volunteered to bake the cake, Anna wanted to bring her mom’s best pizza, I offered to make samosas, and gulab jamans.

I also ordered hot chicken wings from Boston Pizza.

We decided to have the party on  Saturday, to enable everyone to join us at the party. The party was in the afternoon, the girls came with all sorts of food, there were donuts, cookies and mouth watering pastries. All this added to the food we made, looked delightful. Millie’s four tiered cake stole the show.

The party started in the afternoon, I  had to taste everyone’s food, everything was delicious. We made so much noise, it was one of those days when we were in a celebratory mood, no one cared about the noise, after all days like this only comes once in a blue moon.

After the party I looked at the tables there was so much food left, I quickly put them in packages and handed one to each  guest on their way out!

Image from wikipedia

…………………………….:)

DP Daily Prompt: Use It or Lose It

Write about anything you’d like, but make sure the post includes this sentence:

“I thought we’d never come back from that one.”

Harry was known for his evil ways, once he wanted to try how it feels to do something really outrageous, he did things to feel important and in his heart he was sure, he’d never get caught.

One day he visited his classmate Priscilla’s house. He made sure no one was at home, he found out Priscilla’s Mom always left the back door open. He went in through the back door, suddenly he felt extremely hungry,he quickly went to the kitchen to see if there was any food he could eat. He was lucky Mrs. Baker was having some company that day, she did part of her cooking in the morning, she baked a cake for dessert and left it on the table to cool. Harry’s mouth was watering at the sight of the delicious cake.

The fact he was not looking at his mom’s dessert but someone else’s completely slipped his mind, he took out a plate and helped himself to a large piece of the un-iced cake. He felt full but was thirsty so he poured a glass of water, after drinking it, he left it in the sink.

He took a short cut to go home, while walking along he started humming a tune in his off beat voice: “I ate a piece of cake so delicious and soft, I wish I carried another piece to my lovely loft!”

Priscilla happened to walk on the same path, she looked at him and said: “Please don’t sing with your hideous voice, its totally unbecoming!”

Harry ignored her and walked straight home.

Next day Harry invited his friend Jason to accompany him he  felt quite brave. He told Jason about the back door which was unlocked the last time he was there. This time it was locked , Harry told Jason to wait while he looks for a way to get in, luckily the kitchen window was open, he told Jason to wait outside the back door, which he’d open for his friend once he gets in through the window to the kitchen.

He entered the kitchen through the window it was not easy, but nothing is easy in life you have to strive to get what you want, he mumbled.He quickly went to the back door and opened it for Jason to come in.

The plan was to eat what they could and take some home,good plan isn’t it, they looked at each other with a broad smile 🙂

The kitchen table was full of varieties of food, they  were  unable to choose which one they  should try first  and then make up their  mind which smell was more inviting, is it on the left or on the  right. While they were thinking, they heard a click,followed by a bark and footsteps. Both Harry and Jason made a quick run for the back door, luckily no one was there and they were able to get out safely. Harry was breathing heavily, the thought that they were nearly caught made him more nervous.

Jason my dear he said : “I thought we’d never come back from that one!”

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/dp-daily-promp…-it-or-lose-it

 

 

 

 

365 Writing Prompts: FAQ

Interview someone- a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman-and write a post based on their responses.

I wasn’t able to interview  anyone from the above people, I’m going to write an imaginary interview with my mom. Based on  her possible answers, I’m writing this post.

I grew up in a large family, my mother was always busy in the kitchen, she was the best cook in our family, of course my Dad was busy with his work at the office, I did not know whether he had any culinary skills, it’s okay if he was lacking in this particular area because  he was brilliant in his work,he didn’t need anything else.

when I was not in school I’d be in the kitchen watching my mom cook, I remember she was preparing to bake a pound cake, we had that old fashioned weighing scale my mother would patiently weigh butter, flour and milk and mix them, she did not weigh the eggs, she knew how many she needed.I was so fascinated with the preparation,I asked my mom if I could also bake a little cake.

The right kind of utensil was a problem to bake a tiny cake,my mom came up with the idea of using the empty Quaker Oats tin, mom helped me to remove the cover  I was excited I will bake a cake too, most of the work of greasing the pan, how much ingredients I’d need my mom helped with that too, the thought that I baked a cake made me very proud.

My Dad who was used to eating my mom’s cooking was happy to taste my little specimen.

There were times I’d ask my mom about our grandparents, she told me my grand father was easy going full of enthusiasm about everything,he depended on my mother for everything. My grandmother she said, had a bit of a temper if grandpa annoyed her she would refuse to feed him. My mom would quietly take the food and give it to him.

My mom had three sisters, one of them was eight years older than her,but she never helped granny with cooking,it was always my mom who was ready to help.

My mom had two brothers, both were younger than her, my mom’s siblings and her parents always depended on her, with cooking ,cleaning,sewing you name it mom did it all.

One day I came home from school, I saw mom crying, I asked my brother what happened, he showed me a letter, from Bangladesh, I took the letter and read it, there was news that grandpa passed away. I felt sad for  mom but had no idea how to console her. Six months later  mom got another bad news this time her mother passed away.

Mom was quiet for a while I know she wished she was there with her parents, when they died.

The sad news of the passing of both our grandparents in such a short time was painful for our mom, she was so amazing in spite of this she continued to cook for us.

The only regret I have is I wasn’t there when she passed away, fate is so cruel sometimes!

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/365-writing-prompts-faq/

DP Daily Prompt: Time after Time

My favorite tradition was baking a cake celebrating the birthdays. We had five birthdays to celebrate, each on a different month. Our menu was more or less the same.

I cooked rice, chicken, beef and a vegetable. The main attraction was the cake. I made sure we cut the cake after supper, or else the kids wouldn’t eat supper.

Then we all had gifts for the person whose birthday it was.

It’s not the same anymore now we are only two and it’s not as exciting as it was when there were five of us with some family friends.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/prompt-time-after-time/

DP Daily Prompt: Luckiest People

It is Saturday morning where I live. The day is gloomy. We may have rain or snow. who knows which.

The first person I saw is my daughter. She is friendly. She likes to help people. She has a lot of friends. They are very fond of her. She is a Computer Programmer.  Her favorite pastime is drawing. She also takes part in plays.

She loves to cook and bake. Her skill in cake decorating is excellent.

For Halloween she made a costume, she was going to dress up as Mereda.  She spent a lot of time making the costume.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/daily-prompt-people/