When I was about 10 or 11, the lady down the street brought a cake up to us, because my mother had just come home from the hospital. I loved the "Orange Cake"! It was dense, orangy and very sweet. When I was sent to the lady to thank her, she said she was so embarased that the cake had "fallen" in the oven. I asked her why cakes fall, and I got several answers. I asked my mother to show me how to make a cake from this lady's recipe. It came out all fluffy and beautiful, but it wasn't like the one I liked. I tried again: I banged the oven door several times; I stirred the batter too much; I took it out and banged it on the stove top. Nada! It came out all fluffy and beautiful. Still haven't been able to reproduce that terrific "Orange Cake".

• Reply