Cake Crumbs

Last week my daughter and I had apple cake crumbs for dessert. No, that is not a typo. I did not mean apple crumb cake. I meant the crumbs that resulted when the apple cake I was attempting to bake got done on the outside but completely fell apart when I tried to remove it from the pan. I was afraid that was going to happen when the toothpick I inserted into the center of the cake did not come out clean, but I was afraid to bake it any longer because the outside was starting to burn. Neither of us like honey cake, the traditional desert for “a sweet new year,” so I was trying a new recipe. My mistake may have been to use almond flour without adjusting the measurements. Unlike cooking, baking is rather unforgiving of experimentation.    

And so, we had crumbs. However, the house smelled wonderful and the crumbs were delicious. She even took a bagful home with her! We were together for Rosh Hashanah, and for the first time in years I had family with me at services that night and the following morning. She was there when, as president of the congregation, I joyfully welcomed members to our first in-person High Holy Days service in three years. So I am not complaining. Nevertheless, for desert when we break the fast after Yom Kippur this week, I just made an apple crisp. So far, it looks perfect.