And I guess that makes even more sense in the context of what I told the guy from my first post above: I come from a long line of bad cooks so I just taught myself to cook when I was young.

Protip: you can put almond extract in anything. Growing up my sister and I would use it instead of vanilla in oatmeal cookies and pumpkin pie. Most actual recipes only use a tiny amount, but if a recipe uses vanilla extract, you can usually make it almond instead. If you like lots of almond flavor.

I mean, describing it like that I guess I can see why people got excited about it, but it's also the easiest cake recipe I know.

I guess almond extract is exotic now.

Lots of over the top compliments but no one asked for the recipe. If I didn't know it was good, it would seem like they're being mocking or patronizing.

Btw it's just a fudgy almond cake that tastes like a big slice of marzipan with crisp edges and chewy middle.

I feel this in my bones.

This one just had kids dancing in nightgowns and singing some kind of awful rock n roll Jesus medley while the parents sold cookies and punch. No petting zoo. Very disappointing. This is not how you get people to convert. Where are the donkeys???

(I know that the most common "toxic" houseplants are just toxic from calcium oxalate but WHY do squirrels seem to not mind eating microscopic burning needles??? Are they stupid???)