ROLL WITH IT

A GOOD HOLIDAY STORY NEVER STARTS WITH THINGS GOING RIGHT. SO HERE'S TO THE FAILED PLUMBING, THE BAKING MISHAPS, AND ALL THE LAUGHS AND LOVE IN BETWEEN

- WRITER LEAH ESKIN PHOTOGRAPHER KELSEY HANSEN

This glamorous Mocha Meringue Bûche de Noël tastes even better than it looks.

No twinkle blinked through the windows. No chatter drifted out onto the snowy stoop. We shrugged and stepped our party shoes inside. The vestibule was dim, absent any sign of our hosts. Had Christmas Eve been canceled?

We tried some caroling, in awkward greeting. Our friends and their son materialized, as if from...a mist?

the cake We can't claim this cake is simple. But if you enjoy a baking adventure, the steps can be spread over two days, and each element is quite easy. The trickiest part is rolling the cake, but worst case, it cracksand still tastes wonderful.