My mother had gone into hospital and my grandmother was in her house next door. My 8 year old self decided to bake cupcakes to comfort them and my brother aged 6. I colored them pink and green and put them in the coal-fired oven. My brother and I fled for our lives when the fluorescent pink and green mixture oozed out of the oven, under the cooker and across the floor. I had misread a level teaspoon of baking powder as 11 teaspoons of baking powder, and being a generous soul, I heaped the spoons. It took us days to clean up ther mess after waiting for the oven to cool! Many moons and mistakes have passed since then and my family and friends boast of my baking skills. The most valuable lesson I have learned is that serving the mistake warm with a good rich custard or sauce covers a multitude of sins and keeps your reputation intact! Thank you for sharing your goof and for the smile! You are so right! There are many ways to cover our mistakes. Trifle is always a way out, too! Elisabeth

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