I recently attempted to make a hazelnut torte with coffee-flavored Swiss meringue buttercream frosting. I failed so miserably, and I am still coming up with reasons why. According the Joy of Cooking (from where I got the recipe): “Many people think of baking nut tortes as unattainably difficult, not realizing that a nut torte is just a sponge cake in which the flour is replaced with dry bread or cake crumbs and nuts ground to a fine meal.”

I think my first mistake was that I have never made a sponge cake. Or a classic cake (from scratch) with any success, so I’m not sure why I attempted this particular feat. Oh, I remember now. I was going to bring it to a party and was hoping for oohing and ahhing and praising of my genius and incredible ability. I guess I got what I deserved.

Here are some pictures the spouse took of me in the process. Can you see how hard I was concentrating on being awesome?