It will come as a shock to exactly no one that sometimes baking is a struggle. Sometimes a recipe just doesn't work, or your oven cooks things too unevenly (ahem), or you forget a crucial ingredient, or the ingredient you need is just too damn expensive. So, no photos today, no recipe.

Yesterday I attempted to veganize look I made that!'s strawberry cake and it was a disaster from start to finish. I should have known when, while reading the recipe, I thought: "This might be above my skill level."

It certainly was. As soon as it came out of the oven I knew it was a dud. After I frosted it (why did I bother?) Michael gamely tried it and pretended to like it. Kind soul, that one. It was too dense, the flavor was off, hadn't cooked all the way through, the frosting was too tart, and the taste of almond extract too strong. I frosted that cake, took a bite, and cried about it.

I watched some funny animal videos on youtube and felt better. But the memory of that terrible cake continues to haunt me (as do the dishes it generated.)

I'll try it again someday.