Yup, that's the best I could do this week. I was not having a very good baking day the day I made this (and a number of other things that didn't quite work). This recipe, chosen by Natalie of Oven Love certainly looked simple enough. I used figs for the dried fruit and replaced all the spices with cardamom. It mixed up quickly, and I put it into a loaf pan I knew was too tall, too narrow and too small and hoped for the best. With topping, it was only 1 cm below the top of the pan. Luckily it didn't overflow, but it did rise enough that most of the almonds and brown sugar were pushed off the top of the loaf and onto the floor of the oven.
It smelled fantastic as it was baking, and tested done at only 50 minutes, but I left it for a few more minutes and tested again. Still done. So, I cooled it on a rack for a few minutes, as directed, and then attempted to turn it out of the loaf pan. It seemed to be going okay, until this happened:
Yes, that is a gaping hole full of uncooked batter. Apparently the baking gods don't like it when I try to replace butter with applesauce and oil. Point taken. There wasn't much I could do to salvage it, as it was too hot and fragile to get back in the pan. So, I let it cool and trimmed off the cooked bits and gave the rest to the birds. I must say that the edges were quite tasty, if a bit stodgy, but that's my fault. I wish I had made it into muffins like Valerie and Jill. Thanks for the pick, Natalie, and check out the TWD blogroll for more aesthetically pleasing results.
:)
Thanks for baking with me this week. I wonder what happened to give you that goopy center.. strange! I wish it would have turned out better for you!
ReplyDeleteThe cardamom and figs certainly sound good. I have days in the kitchen like that too.
ReplyDeleteI have had that happen with more cakes than I care to count! So frustrating! It was a tasty recipe though. :)
ReplyDeleteaww... maybe more success next time?
ReplyDeleteButtercreamBarbie
Baking days like that happen from time to time. It certainly looks delicious. I bet the birds enjoyed the crumbs.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, so frustrating when that happens! The cooked bits look wonderfully moist and tasty though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hate when things don't work out! Still sounds delicious!!
ReplyDeleteDarn it, some baking days are just that way! Im sure the little birdies loved it!
ReplyDeleteThe birds must have been loving you! Sorry it didn't work out, but the parts you saved look pretty good.
ReplyDeleteUGH... I'm sorry that happened to you. But I'm glad you liked what you tasted. Despite the spilling out, the top and sides look really good. :)
ReplyDeleteWoops! Well, it just goes to show, it happens to the best of us!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your bread not turning out. The baked edges look yummy though!
ReplyDeleteBlerg. I hate when things like that happen. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteBut good choice on cardamom. I wish I would have tried that spice in this.
I've done that, it certainly isn't fun cleaning it up and pouting about what could have been a tasty loaf of moist bread. But you made the best of it and your variation sounds fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteYou even checked it Twice. I am sorry your bread did not turn out this week but I love your idea of cardamom for the spices.
ReplyDeleteI understand all too well. Sometimes baking can transform from something relaxing into a source of raw-middled frustration.
ReplyDeleteI'm such a bread lover though that I don't think your bread looks that bad...lucky birds! :D
I hate when things don't turn out right. I did muffins, and they worked quite well. Caitlin of Engineer Baker did hers in a bundt pan, which I think is another great idea. I hope things go much better for you next week! =)
ReplyDeleteI think we all have those moments in the kitchen-sorry it didn't work out better for you-but at least you liked the flavor!
ReplyDeleteI used figs too. I'd like to try it with cardamon. Your loaf looks lovely, even with the hole.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you were meant to make muffins.
phew! at first glance I thought those were raisins!! oh well, you still make better puff pastry than anyone I know.
ReplyDeletej
Kitchen disasters happen to the best of us. Figs sound like a delicious version.
ReplyDeleteMimi
I wish you would have made muffins too, because they were good! I'm sure the birds appreciated it, though.
ReplyDeleteoh bummer...happens to everyone now and again, though. next week, you will shine! :)
ReplyDeleteO, dear! Nothing worse than a bad baking day. And we have all had them. Will you try these again? They wre good.
ReplyDelete