Reader Submissions: Kitchen Flops

Yule Stumps

December 2021

Reallocating holiday travel time in 2020, I determined to finally attempt a “Bûche de Noël” [Yule log] cake. As a small child, my mom mastered these swirls of chocolate and cream. So, I was sure that, between her tutelage and all I learned from the “Great British Baking Show,” I would succeed in a beautiful sponge cake. I scoured all the reputable webpages for a recipe to satisfy my memory and skills. Alas, despite following all directions, no lovely spiral, just chunks of springy chocolate cake and bowls of sweet smooth cream and rich frosting. So, “Stumps de Noël” were born. Easy to share in personal ramekins, they became perfect for a pandemic holiday food swap. Though a little skeptical of the presentation, empty dishes returned from senior citizens and teens alike, confirming taste over looks, every time.

Amberly Dyer, Salvo, a member of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative