Crumbs

Chefs generally have the reputation of being pretentious, cranky, old primadonnas (apologies to all chefs reading this blog), but now I can understand why. They have a hundred things on the go; they are trying to keep it all together and create this wonderful master piece which thier guests are simply going to rave about and extend a multitude of complements, all the while working with a staff, which always seems to consist of one, who just doesn't seem to understand the concept of teamwork, and consistently turns out to be an incompetent nitwit.
Alex and I embarked on the not so dramatic or demanding task of making a simple chocolate cake. We assessed our pantry stocks carefully and determined that we had just enough ingredients for one cake. We had never made this recipe before, but were confident that our combined expertise would result in a job well done.
I arranged all the ingredients we needed and measured them all out. Alex tippped them into the mixing bowl and stirred. I poured the completed batter into the lined cake tin and Alex licked the spoon. 40 minutes later, we turned out the perfect chocolate cake, well risen, rich in colour, moist appearance, and the smell....divine - Magnifico!
While the cake cooled we found we could bear the sweet aroma no longer, so we retired our chefs hats, bundled up Olivia, and went out for a run on the sport field next door and a hit of hockey. Upon our return we whipped up a rich batch of chocolate icing and lavished the cake with the delightfully luscious treat - Perfecto!
Alex again licked the spoon, but this time, was required to do so in the kitchen as a bit of a mess was made in the family room with the cake batter spoon. I left Alex to it and left the room for 5 minutes. This seemingly harmless act was to prove to be a fundamental error on my part.
Oh why was I unable to foresee the events that were about to unfold? Oh why had I not considered all the looming possibilities for disaster an iced cake, sitting defenceless all by itself could hold? For upon my return, I could hear the cluttering sound at the bench top where Alex was standing when I left, but Alex was sitting on the couch, engrossed in whatever was on TV. With a sense of panic beginning to develop in the pit of my stomach, I rounded the corner only to see Cobie on the bench top eating our marvellous creation!!!!! Profanities were uttered at rather alarming decabelles, but alas, it was too late. For only a handful of crumbs remained, he had eaten the entire cake. The doggy door was opened and Cobie undelicately booted outside. It was fastened to prevent his entry for a considerable time - he was in disgrace. And although the household was bitterly disappointed that not a crumb would passed our lips, the time-out, the yelling and screaming, the silent treatment and the dirty looks, nothing... seem to wipe the look of contentment off that bloody dog's face.