Happy Birthday Julie

Another birthday is upon us again this week. I am making the weekly cake a few days early as our friend Julie turns 50 tomorrow. After receiving the invitation for bubbles tonight, I thought that a cake could go down well with her throng of visitors.

Her Hubby recommended I make a moist chocolate type mud cake. So I consulted the Treasure of New Zealand Baking (again!) and found one I hadn't made yet called Vanna's Chocolate Cake. 'A family recipe that has been made by boys, girls, men and women, good cooks and novice bakers. It is quite sticky and keeps well.' says Kate Fraser. Sounds perfect.

I find with a lot of these cakes, their seems to be some strange ingredient that you can't always taste, but without it the cake wouldn't be quite right. In this cake we have a tablespoon of marmalade. Ground almonds too, so the taste will be interesting.

The icing is always a difficult one to get right. I have always iced my cakes with icing sugar, cocoa and small amount of butter mixed with just the right amount of hot water. This cake icing is melted chocolate, water, cream and butter......resulting in a runny texture that will fall off the cake. As I write this, I am watching the icing in the bowl and hoping it will miraculously thicken before my eyes! May have to help it along with either more chocolate or some icing sugar.

So, I contacted my cooking friend who I just knew would have the right advise and she suggested I melt more chocolate and add it to the runny mixture and then wait until it cools, as it will thicken upon cooling.

All fixed, the cake looks good and heres hoping it tastes good too.