I have this cookbook, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, by Nigella Lawson. It is chock-a-bock full of delicious recipes, many of which I have held off making with the thought that I would save it for a special occasion. But the problem is that most special occasions involve my family. And experimenting with my family (outside the four of us living in this house) is rarely a good idea. Too many opinionated people with non-experimental pallets. As much as I love them, I don't want to waste the ingredients! So, as I was flipping through the pages, inspired by my friend Anne's recent raspberry layer cake, I paused on the page with Butterscotch Layer Cake. I can't tell you how many times I've almost made it.

So, with no reason, no occasion, just because I could, I made the Butterscotch Layer Cake. Every piece of it from scratch - including cake, caramel, icing, etc. I will tell you that I learned a very valuable lesson during the caramel-making process. Be patient, but when it starts to turn the slightest bit tan, pay close attention. Don't go off to work on something else or you will have blackened goo to soak out of your pan. I know from experience. I tossed that batch and went again with much greater results the second time.

Lots of Nigella's cakes call for self-rising cake flour which is something apparently sold in abundance in England, but not to be found over here. You can buy self-rising flour and you can buy cake flour, but not self-rising cake flour. I have found other frustrated bakers online who've overcome this problem by making cake flour self-rising through the addition of salt and baking soda in a certain proportion to the flour. It seems to work. I have yet to forego cake flour and just try self-rising flour, but I might next time as an experiment.

So, aside from that slight deviation, I followed her instructions exactly and was quite pleased with the results! I did end up making this right before Kyle left which meant it was up to me to eat it. Not a good plan. I ended up wrapping it up and taking it to Sarah's house so they could help me finish it off.