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This may look like harmless party mix but it's not. It, too, has suffered because of my problem.
Here is another example of some cookies that have fallen as helpless prey.
CCFC is wreaking havoc. Okay, I will keep you in suspense no longer. I have contracted "Can't Cook for Company" Syndrome. Never heard of it??? Well, just come over to my house and you will see it in action. Lately, EVERY time I try to cook for people other than my family, NOTHING works out right. For example, I have made party mix for years, and I decided to make some for our girl's movie night last night and it was almost inedible. I got in a hurry and didn't measure things and just started dumping. Most of the time that works, but tonight it didn't. It was waaaaay too salty and too buttery/greasy and basically burned your throat when you ate it. Again, how many times have I made party mix in my life??? A zillion. How many times has it not worked out??? Once. And look at the cookies. They are another casualty. Most of them turned out thin and burned and not so good. Didn't serve them. I can give many other fine example of the results of this problem.
What is it about cooking for company that sends the most experienced cook into a spiral of spicy despair? Do you ever have this problem? It's like when you have guests in your car and you end up hitting every pot hole in the road and swerving crazily around darting squirrels. Stuff like that never happens when you are alone. It only happens when you have your boss in the car or your best friend and her new baby with you. When she gets out and screams "Land" and kisses the ground, you know you have CDFC - Can't Drive for Company, too.
So here are the very relaxed participants in our Chick Flick night. (To make matters worse, we watched Julie and Julia last night! They both could cook for company!) I guess probably my problem is that I am in a hurry to join the gang and I just start rushing. Or maybe, I want everything to be perfect and keep messing with things just a little too long. Or maybe it is a real disease!!!!!
The scary diversion of my daughter and her friend in their best Halloween X imitation gave everyone a chance to use the moment to stash the party mix behind the cushions and under the couch. 
To add further insult to injury, here is a cake I threw together for dinner. No one was here except my family. No one will ever see or eat this cake except my family and yet it was perfect. Here is the recipe in case you don't have company and want to try it.
Chocolate Souffle Cake






