Do you come to this bar often?

[pbray]

Today is another 12+ hour work day, but at least the second shift can be done at home, so there's no one to care if I have a glass of red wine next to the laptop.

Food Network cake challenge is on in the background-- interesting but I've never seen a cake on one of these shows that made me think "Yum, I wish I could have a piece." And isn't that the point of cake?

Time to go turn the crank. With luck, only another couple of nights left in the quarter close.

Comments

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Yay! Someone else who wants to know what the cake TASTES like.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Plus do you really want to eat a cake that people have spent hours pawing at? And let's be honest that fondant stuff tastes gross.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I had Red Velvet cake once. The person who made it said it took two whole bottles of McCormick red food coloring. I'm not sure why. I mean, I know why, it was to make it dark red, I'm just not sure why that was a consumation devoutly to be wished.

I have a couple of co-workers who make really good cakes. Every once in a while, they actually make them without nuts so that I can have some. For a while, one of them was making cakes for our monthly staff meetings. She handed me a piece of a wonderful-looking chocolate confection, with Hershey's Miniatures decorating the frosting (hey, the woman understands "chocolate" is the important word!) and I had to say, "No thank you, I'm allergic to almonds." The following month, that wonderful woman made a carrot cake *without walnuts*! It's the last time I had carrot cake, which I used to love...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's hard when you have to pass up something because of the hidden nut danger (unless I know someone well I don't trust their assertions that the item is nut free, since I've learned that while their intentions may be good, they may forget that things like almond flavoring count as nuts, etc.)

One of my former managers was a master baker who used to bring in the most delicious cheesecakes, carrot cakes, and other tasty treats. We were truly spoiled... and then she quit and opened up a bakery. Our loss is the community's gain. If she installed wi-fi I'd be permanently perched on one of her stools.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

MMMM....

Ah, yes, what I have learned to refer to as Stealth Nuts. I have on co-worker who has been known to dive across a room as I'm about to take a bite of something screaming, "Nooooo........"

BTW, a website for you: www.vermontnutfree.com

Chocolate! Not cheap, but pretty good and guaranteed safe. Went there this summer. (Actually, next time you're around Lake Champlain, it's on South Hero Island. Even with those Vermont-style signs telling you where every business is, it's hard to find. My brother and I thought it was corporate offices,at first, but when we went in, it was the factory and store. They do most of their business mail-order, though. (We could see people packing up Priority boxes in the back.)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I discovered Vermont Nut Free last year and have since started sending holiday candy out to Denver for my sister and my niece, both of whom are majorly allergic to peanuts and all forms of nuts. (My allergies aren't as severe--I can eat nut free candy made in a factory that also produces nut products, but they can't.) My niece Mary was amazed that such safe candy exists, and I'm sure that she's looking forward to the giant chocolate bunny I sent for Easter.

Oddly enough, jennifer_dunne's Dad was the one who introduced me to Vermont Nut Free candy--his firm does their insurance.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I stumbled upon them by accident, or rather, my mother did. But she, of course, always forgets they exist at birthdays and other such times. I can also eat things that are made in factories that have nuts in them, like plain Hershey Bars. I can also eat peanuts. (Of course, as legumes, they do not actually speak to the Dreaded Almond.)

Mmmmm.... chocolate bunny.....
My brother, who is aware that Nuts are Bad, looked into the case and said, "How do they do crunchy cups?"
"Rice Krispies," I said. The woman smiled broadly and nodded. My brother, of course, went, "D'oh!"

"Oddly enough, [info]jennifer_dunne's Dad was the one who introduced me to Vermont Nut Free candy--his firm does their insurance."

So, six degrees of separation rears its head again. I wonder what their policy looks like? Because a Disgruntled Former Employee would need smuggle but a single walnut half into their factory to wreak havoc and let loose the dogs of lawsuit.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Luckily all their employees are gruntled because, you know, chocolate!

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Yes. They all seemed fully gruntled, and their appearance did suggest some sampling of the wares went on. But who could work in a chocolate factory and not give in?
And now they can get married, too.

[dynastic-queen.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have minded having a piece of the cake that looked like a party dress on a dress stand. But the rest of them, after a couple of years of challenges... you're right. And some of them have been downright UNappetizing.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I thought the dress looked lovely and it felt a bit like a crossover with Project Runway, which was cool.