It started beautifully, with two quarts of fresh strawberries. I think I love strawberries both for how they taste and for how they photograph. It's pretty hard to take a bad pic of a colander of strawberries.
I had visions of mounds of sweetened strawberries, piled on pieces of buttermilk pound cake. I just sliced up the berries, flung some sugar on top, stirred them up, and popped in the fridge while I made the cake.
It's an easy recipe. Butter and sugar creamed into a paste, six eggs lobbed in one at a time, then flour and baking soda alternated with buttermilk.
I'm not sure what the properties of buttermilk are that contribute to good cake, but I'm starting to think I might add it to my general grocery list from now on. I have a friend who actually drinks buttermilk, which I can't imagine, but I seem to be making a lot of stuff that calls for it lately.
Oooo, nice! I found the Demerara sugar in the pantry, finally. I love that stuff. A layer of glitter, then in for 70 minutes.
Oh joy! It looks perfect! Begin making plans for own cable-access cooking show! What shall I call it? What'll I wear?!?
Yeah.
Oh no! Call 911, stat! Rescind voicemail to agent! Cancel order from new J. Crew catalog!
Sigh. Sorry Larissa!
Well, it tasted great. Will wait for advent of Taste-o-Vision. Or try it again and flour the pan this time.
aarrgghh! that kind of thing usually happens to me when I am taking the cake to someone. murphey's law.
Posted by: Jill | July 30, 2007 at 08:16 AM
Regardless of the *bust-up* still looks great and those strawberries...Yummm!!! That dress is pretty darn cute too!
Posted by: JaimeLeigh | July 30, 2007 at 08:20 AM
It still looks fabulous. It's all about the taste! I'd watch your cooking show! :)
Posted by: Egret's Nest | July 30, 2007 at 08:28 AM
it look delicious ...
Posted by: Carmen | July 30, 2007 at 08:29 AM
How frustrating! I hate it when that happens, but it look amazingly yummy nonetheless!
Posted by: amy | July 30, 2007 at 08:29 AM
Get the dress anyhoo, Nigella - that cake looks scrumpdillyicious. :)
Posted by: Colleen | July 30, 2007 at 08:41 AM
i have done that exact thing, in what looks like that exact pan. i think that it is (or mine is) teflon coated fools me into thinking - every single time - that things wont stick. and, every single time if forget the flour, things stick. for what it is worth, your cake looks delicious.
Posted by: stephanie s | July 30, 2007 at 08:42 AM
You are cracking me up! Only because this has happened to me in the past as well, usually for a party or my mother in-law's birthday. I'll bet it still tasted good, though, and you know - the crumbs left in the cake pan do not have any calories!
Posted by: Laura | July 30, 2007 at 08:47 AM
I really shouldn't visit your blog before lunch. That cake looks delicious, with or without a bottom.
I'm loving J.Crew these days as well.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 30, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Oooh, isn't it maddening. When that happens to me, I declare that it's "trifle time!" I've had Mountbatten trifle, Victoria trifle, gingerbread trifle... the list goes on.
Tasty, you know.
Posted by: Kat | July 30, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Oops!
Posted by: Anina | July 30, 2007 at 09:05 AM
I'm so glad you posted this! I've aquired my very first Bundt pan, a thrift store find, and have been searching for recipes. I'd like something with less eggs and butter, an angel food cake maybe, but I HAVE to try yours today!!
Posted by: Molly | July 30, 2007 at 09:11 AM
You are so funny! The cake still looks yummy, as do your photos, as always!
Posted by: HeidiAnn | July 30, 2007 at 09:11 AM
your cooking mishap posts never fail to crack me up!
say, any other ideas for using up buttermilk? I've got a bunch leftover after the boy's birthday cake and all I can think of is biscuits and scones.
Posted by: sarah | July 30, 2007 at 09:13 AM
Alicia, despite the pan mishap, it STILL looked delish! (and I'm sure it tasted pretty good!)
Posted by: Gail | July 30, 2007 at 09:14 AM
hmmm..where is my tube pan. I really, really need to make a pound cake. I'll think of you while I flour the pan. Still looks yummy though!
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | July 30, 2007 at 09:15 AM
I use Demarle Flexipans or the Silpat sheets whenever I bake and never have problems anymore with food sticking. Though they are not real "pretty" for tabletop use and are a bit expensive they are professional grade quality and I find I use them every day ( Flexipan molds can go in the freezer too and are also microwaveable).
Posted by: ann | July 30, 2007 at 09:18 AM
Doh!
Posted by: Taryn Domingos | July 30, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Still it looks yummy!
Posted by: pam | July 30, 2007 at 09:29 AM
Thought I would pass on the company web address in case you were interested.
http://www.demarleusa.com
Posted by: ann | July 30, 2007 at 09:29 AM
Mmmmm. Buttermilk. Pour into a Mason jar, crumble in some crusty salty cornbread and you have a traditional Southern treat.
Posted by: Becka | July 30, 2007 at 09:30 AM
Love this post and your blog!
Posted by: Lizzy | July 30, 2007 at 09:32 AM
I'm thinkin' that I would still love to eat that cake! Love delish!
Posted by: tiffany | July 30, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Small glass of buttermilk to drink.
A must have.
My Grandma is from Alabama. When I was young and would visit, she would pour me a little bit.
Your 911 made me laugh! Thank you.
Posted by: D.K. | July 30, 2007 at 09:35 AM
TEN OUT OF TEN FOR SHOWING AND TELLING...YOU COULD HAVE HIDDEN THE "ERROR" UNDER STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM...IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST ...
Posted by: RI | July 30, 2007 at 09:38 AM