Part 2 (Cousin Matilda Calls)

How It Tasted

Little Chocolate Cakes

Forget the ladylike glasses of iced fruit juice…Matilda must have needed at least a gallon of water to float each of these cakes down—and then a healthy dose of castor oil to keep them moving along.

These chocolate cakes were dreadful, possibly the worst things I’ve ever eaten. They tasted a tiny bit like brownies and a great deal like chocolate mixed with sawdust…bleah!

Fruit Juice

This was lemonade, with a handful of mint added—the so-called pineapple juice added to the pitcher had zero effect on the taste, appearance, or smell.

Would I Make This Again?

No, no—a thousand times no! It’s absolutely clear why these recipes were changed in later editions of the book. Doubtless the idea of feeding kitchen refuse to one’s guest raised the eyebrows of readers and produced mild amusement at best—more likely, raucous laughter. I definitely would like to try the updated recipe (Little Fudge Cakes) but later--when the taste of chocolate-flavored sawdust has faded from my memory.