Now, before you jump to any conclusions about my mom’s kitchen abilities, let me just say, she is both an excellent cook and baker. One of her main faults, though, is that she doesn’t always check the expiration dates on her products. Something I’ve been harping at asking her to do for years. I forgave her (sort of) for the curdled milk I poured on my cereal as a kindergartener, I’ve reminded her of the two-year-old salad dressing she tried to tell my sister and I was still okay because it hadn’t been opened, but this takes the cake! (Pun intended, of course!)
Mom, if this experience has taught you one thing, please let it be that you can’t use a “brand new” can of baking powder from long ago, and expect things to turn out okay, because they won’t! 🙂
I’ll spare you the entire conversation we had, but I will say you’re going to get a kick out of this. Take a peak at these cupcakes.
Don’t they look great! Don’t you just want to grab one with a nice glass of milk and submerge yourself in one of them? No? Huh…that seems strange. I can’t imagine what’s wrong with you! 🙂
These are the cupcakes my mom made last week. Take a good look.
They’re a little shorter than usual and their texture is, how do I say it, heavy as a rock! Oh, and I can’t forget to add the sponge-like appearance on top. That’s truly appealing on a cupcake, isn’t it. 🙂
So, what’s the deal with these bad boys? Well, Mom forgot to check the expiration date on her can of baking powder. Oh, yes, she bakes and us
es baking powder quite often, but this was a “brand new” can. She just forgot to make sure the date was still from this decade! 🙂
How can you tell if your baking powder has expired? Check this out. I measured the height of these cupcakes…and don’t let the angle of the ruler fool you. Those puppies are right at 3/4 of an inch! 🙂
And the texture inside? Let’s look, shall we?
When I was cutting through this, it was the strangest texture of a cupcake or cake I’ve ever experienced. It was almost like a rubber sponge….if that’s even possible. And to make matters worse, can you believe she actually taste-tested it?!?!? 🙂 Mom! For goodness sake. Anything that comes out of the oven looking like that, should go straight in the trash.
If you’re wondering how I got these, my step-dad was kind enough to save them for me. I told him it would make a fun blog post and I think it has. 🙂 I’ve been giggling the whole time I’ve been writing and I’m sure Mom’s been giggling the whole time she’s been reading it. Oh, and I forgot to mention….the date on that baking powder…it was September 2003. 🙂 Love you Mom!!!
Mrs. O, this is way too funny. Looks like a sponge cake or a loofa…your poor mom! But hey, that’s why there’s spring-cleaning. Think you need to clean your mom’s cabinets out this spring so she can start over. LOL
The TRUELY funny part of this whole thing is…She had to have packed that can of baking powder and MOVED at least TWICE…AFTER it had expired !!! Did ya think about THAT Amy ?
Actually, I think she took it with her during her THREE moves! From the farm to Stan’s, from Stan’s to the apartment while they were building, then to their new house!!! 🙂 Gotta love Mom! 🙂
I thought it was 3 ! I couldn’t remember what year she left the farm. Love her to pieces ! Truth be told … I’m almost as bad as she is about expiration dates …. we’re just SO frugal 😉
OK, guys….it must have something to do with the “generation” we were born in. It wasn’t until I gained daughters-in-law that I became more aware of years old condiments, spices,etc, lurking in my cabinets and frig! No wonder I’m not known as the “Cookie Grandma” like my own G-ma! Love your beautiful photos, though!
🙂 Thanks Betsy!