139.
Ok, pardon the soapbox, but to the general public:
"Mix pudding mix with cake mix and make according to box" for a recipe is kinda like lip-synching. You can do it, and maybe people can't tell, but you're just one public hoedown away from a social takedown.
Less dramatically, I honestly don't have a problem with box cakes. They're simple and easy, and for the most part will taste just fine. However, developing dessert snob that I am, I can't help but feel a little cheated when I'm on a recipe site, looking for recipes, and invariably have to slog through a number of these little "semi-homemades" that make Captain Obvious look like... Captain Obvious (obviously). To top it off, the recipe reviews then trend to much cooing and gastrovation about how it's "VERY easy" and how wonderful it was. I'm sure that they're happy to help, but at the same time it's not like Betty and Duncan don't know what's what and aren't one accolade away from shooting off a "grrl please" at the next "mah wonderful recipe for a busy day." Like the puppy licking the screen, it is what it is. Now pardon me while I go suggest a "Congratulations on your Box Cake!" card to Hallmark...
Next time: Lambasting reviewers that make tweak recipes and then complain about it not working out. "I took out the lemon zest, but I don't think the cake had enough lemon taste."
(Afterthought: And now I have a strange compulsion to be reacquainted with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMNZ6xY6YY Oh Sandra Lee. You had a second of my interest when you said something about chocolate-hazelnut crepes, and then you lost me forever when you told me to buy some crepes and nutella from the store.)
"Mix pudding mix with cake mix and make according to box" for a recipe is kinda like lip-synching. You can do it, and maybe people can't tell, but you're just one public hoedown away from a social takedown.
Less dramatically, I honestly don't have a problem with box cakes. They're simple and easy, and for the most part will taste just fine. However, developing dessert snob that I am, I can't help but feel a little cheated when I'm on a recipe site, looking for recipes, and invariably have to slog through a number of these little "semi-homemades" that make Captain Obvious look like... Captain Obvious (obviously). To top it off, the recipe reviews then trend to much cooing and gastrovation about how it's "VERY easy" and how wonderful it was. I'm sure that they're happy to help, but at the same time it's not like Betty and Duncan don't know what's what and aren't one accolade away from shooting off a "grrl please" at the next "mah wonderful recipe for a busy day." Like the puppy licking the screen, it is what it is. Now pardon me while I go suggest a "Congratulations on your Box Cake!" card to Hallmark...
Next time: Lambasting reviewers that make tweak recipes and then complain about it not working out. "I took out the lemon zest, but I don't think the cake had enough lemon taste."
(Afterthought: And now I have a strange compulsion to be reacquainted with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMNZ6xY6YY Oh Sandra Lee. You had a second of my interest when you said something about chocolate-hazelnut crepes, and then you lost me forever when you told me to buy some crepes and nutella from the store.)