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Apparently, the experts are wrong.  There is not always room for Jell-O^(TM).

I believe we have already established that I am not exactly a whiz in the kitchen.  But one thing I'm always willing to attempt is desserts.  Even if I completely botch it, the main ingredient is sugar.  How bad could it be?

I usually keep it fairly simple.   And layer cakes seem like a lot of work, so I've never made one.  Until today.  I resigned myself in advance to the fact that my results would not look like the picture.  That way, I avoid disappointment.  Here's what I ripped out of a magazine:

See the pretty colours?  That's where the Jell-O comes in.  I changed the blueberry to grape, the orange to lemon, and the raspberry to strawberry.  Other than that, I followed the instructions closely.

As usual, the stated preparation time is a complete lie.  (As far as I'm concerned.)  But who cares?  If I'm going to do this, I might as well choose a recipe with at least a 9.5 degree of difficulty.  Especially considering that I needed 4 round cake pans.  I only have 2, so I borrowed 2 more from the BFF, and it turns out that our pans are slightly different sizes.  I had to cut around the edge of 2 of the layers to make them the same size.  (Icing hides a multitude of sins...)

 

 

 

       Okay, time for the results.

 

This thing is close to 9 inches high!  (But no egg yolks, so completely healthy, right?)  I took the picture, and then immediately started to dismantle it for storage.  The recipe says it serves 24.  24 what?  Military divisions?  Sessions of Parliament? 

Don't ask me what it tastes like.  I haven't tried it.  I'm working up the courage...

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Thing That >50 Me Has Learned Along the Way...

 

If you ever find yourself worried that your employer is having financial difficulties and that they might lay you off, be sure of two things.  They are, and they will.  If you are dependent on your job to pay your bills, can you really afford to believe anything else?  I learned this the hard way – two jobs in a row.  Don't wait around for the axe to drop.  Get your CV in order, pick up any additional education you need to be marketable, and discretely put yourself on the market.  Contact everyone you know and advise them you are looking for your next opportunity.  But do not tell anyone at the office that you're looking, or why you're looking.  (I.e. don't create competition for yourself.)  And don't give your employer any excuse to decide, "well, he/she has figured it out; since they're not going to be shocked, why put off what we intend to do anyway? Let's just let him/her go now."  Better it should be your decision when you leave, than theirs.