Mom's exploding cake.
My parents used to be very active in the curling club in Rochester NY in the 1980s (and before then, for that matter- I remember them doing it in Utica in the 60's). As such they went to the various social functions, and usually Mom made something to contribute to the pot luck.

One afternoon Mom suddenly realized that she had to make a dessert for one of these socials that evening, and went frantically through the cupboards to find out what she had at the house. After a quick inventory she realized that she had the ingredients for a rum cake, so she slapped it together and went to the shower. Before getting dressed she grabbed the rum bottle from the cabinet and poured a healthy dose over it and added the frosting and put it back in the oven while she finished getting ready.

She had gotten her underwear on when she heard a muffled boom. She came out to the kitchen and found the door of the electric oven standing open. Puzzled, she closed it and went back to finish. She got the rest of her clothing on and was putting on lipstick when there was another muffled boom. Again, the oven door stood wide. She closed it, completely baffled- until her eye fell on the rum bottle.

She had soaked it in Bacardi 151.

Apparently it was the best rum cake they'd ever had.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Sun 14 Feb 2010, 22:53, 1 reply)

It's a shame we can't "I llike this" an entire week's posts in one go
If I didn't already have a mum I'd love to have yours. She sounds brilliant.
( pixel_fucker is going to need a bigger brush, Mon 15 Feb 2010, 9:29, closed)