Christ, a half a teaspoon of baking powder can be the difference between a cow flop or a cake in your oven.

I have no one to blame but myself for this one.  What was I thinking? I know I should shut the hell up but since your here...

The raffle is called the Divine Dessert Raffle. (I absolutely won't try to sell you tickets.)  I got an e-mail from Laurel's after school director that she needed 13 more desserts raffle.  Could I donate one?  l love Laurel's after school program.  It is the hidden jewel of Laurel's elementary school.  I do nothing to volunteer so when I got this e-mail, I thought I should do something...(I probably had a couple of glasses of wine when I read the e-mail.)

But my baking skills suck.  I love to cook because of the instant gratification of beautiful taste, color and texture.  You can experiment with cooking but with baking you cannot.  The precision kills me.  Christ, a half a teaspoon of baking powder can be the difference between a cow flop or a cake in your oven.  And even if (the product) comes out right, you have to wait two hours to cool and serve.

The Raffle is part of the Turkey Trot Games.  Just an event with field day like activities and a raffle of desserts that you could serve during Thanksgiving...in Newton.  There are so many sideboards or platters waiting for a dessert that won't look close to mine.  I asked the after school director for suggestions.  She suggests pies (standard), cakes, tortes (Are you kidding me? Never made one..don't know how), trifles (the only trifle I know is what Rachel made during that Friends episode when she accidentally put ground beef, peas and carrots in it) and fancy cupcakes.  Fancy cupcakes..well that solves it.

I told Laurel about our baking project and she was insistent on cupcakes..with lots of purple frosting.  Laurel doesn't realize that her purple frosting may not match the Thanksgiving decor of a traditional dinner.  Just imagine..perfect turkey, gorgeous sides and then pumpkin pie, apple pie and Laurel's purple frosted cupcakes.  Awesome.  Yeah, that raffle winner is going to be jumping for joy.

So this is my plan...I am going to make the cupcakes with Laurel..either bring them into work (there is this mail room guy that will eat anything) or up to her Nana who, of course appreciates everything Laurel.  Then I am going to haul my ass over to Whole Foods to pick up dessert that looks beautiful AND covers all that allergic shit.  Christ I didn't even think of that...