I want to let you in on what failure and success looks like through my lens. Just recently I had a relative of mine that visited. His diet is extraordinary to say the least yet I wanted to give him the full “ME” experience of entertaining. He is from California and has been exposed to all types of cuisines. Different countries, all types of cultures. Listen, I wanted to pull out all the stops. I organized a menu of tapas type food items. These looked like homemade chicken salad with romaine leaves as the vessel to eat them. Olives of all types, cornichons, pickles, a crudités tray of celery, carrots and tomatoes….FRESH! Finally I also made my most famous sour cream pound cake. I have made this cake more times than I would every be able to count and then add about 53 more. I could make this cake with my eyes shut. Only this time, I ran across a new item in Publix, (may favorite, don’t forget) Madagascar Vanilla Crème fraîche HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS GOOD.! Substituting sour cream for this new ingredient well, I was so reluctant but in my heart of hearts, it was to be fine. Even more fine than my other qua-billion I have made. Taking the leap wasn’t hard for me honestly, I was sure it was going to taste great. It is just fancier sour cream.

She baked and she looked and smelled amazing. (my cakes are always female FYI)

And here she is:

She looks like a dumpster fire.

Here is the caveat; AMAZING TASTE you guys. It was the best tasting cake I think I have ever made. I was so worried about the inside, I never thought about the outside of the cake. To be fair, I sprayed than pan to death, it just wasn’t enough clearly. Nothing disappoints me more than a cake stuck in the pan but the end result, no one cared or even seemed to notice. My cousin and guests were so impressed with the taste; comments of what is in this? Where did you find Madagascar Vanilla? (Publix, of course) My point is, what is failure to one can quite possibly be an entire win to another.

I am not selling myself short anymore, in life, in my kitchen or anything. I cook and entertain with my heart and I am listening to it more and more everyday.

I am so glad you stopped by, it’s so nice to share my stories with you.

~alyse

I am back, lets talk.