chocolate tomato juice cake: bad idea

I tried to make you a cake.

But it has been described as “definitely odd” and “strangely savoury,” so I will not serve it to you.

It looks nice, doesn’t it?

My grandma’s old church cookbook says it makes “quite a large, moist cake.” I had great hopes for it, as I happily mixed tomato juice and cocoa and everything else that goes into a cake.

It baked up nicely and I decorated it with icing sugar sifted over a little homemade tomato shape. I proudly took it to our friend Karen’s music party.*

It was only when we cut into the chocolate tomato juice cake and started eating that I was sorry.

One friend helpfully suggested I could serve it as a savoury dish.

Another said it was (slight hesitation) good.

My husband took one bite and quietly put his plate down.

I took one bite and apologized.

It tasted kind of sandy and tomato-y. Silly me: I thought the tomato juice would disappear under the cocoa the way zucchini does in a chocolate cake. Now I know better.

I am not going to give you the recipe, because I strongly recommend you do not make this cake, and this is the only way I can stop you.

I promise to make something good soon and give you the recipe.

Alas.

*Music party: Karen's brilliant innovation. Involves everyone sharing favourite pieces of music.

last april: chocolate cheesecake

bad idea