Really easy chocolate cake

Today was a pyjamas and cups of tea and Sunday papers kind of day. A homemade chocolate cake kind of day. A really easy homemade chocolate cake kind of day.

I realised as I was making it that I have been making the same cake for the past 30 years. It came from a Ladybird 'We can cook' book that still takes pride of place in my recipe book collection.

The 70's edition

So for anyone who has ever struggled with cake making, or has a little persons birthday coming up and isn't sure whether to make or buy - this post is for you.

Really easy chocolate cake recipe:

Our family calls this the 6-6-6-3 method and it can be used for cupcakes and adapted to bigger \ smaller sized cakes as you see fit.

6oz Self raising flour (sieved)
6oz Butter (soft)
6oz Caster sugar
3 eggs

Put it all in a big bowl and mix it up until smooth for a basic cake mixture. For chocolate cake add a large heaped tablespoon of cocoa dissolved in a touch of milk\water so that it looks like a thick paste.

Divide the mixture into 2 round cake tins lined with parchment \ greaseproof paper.

Put in a preheated oven for about 20 mins or until springy to the touch.

Turn out of cake tins and leave to cool on a wire rack.

To make the chocolate icing:

Mix 3oz soft butter with 6oz icing sugar and add cocoa as for cake. Fill the middle and top of cake.

Decorate with smarties \ buttons \ maltesers \ hundreds and thousands \ grated chocolate \ whatever takes your fancy.

Tip: You can adapt this recipe to make coffee & walnut cake by substituting the cocoa for coffee, or a plain sponge by leaving it out. Easy peasy.

Enjoy!

A Birthday Graduation - with a little help from Party Pieces

The daughter turned eight this weekend.

Out go the Disney princesses and in swaggers One Direction, badly applied nail varnish and a whole heap of attitude. How did this happen?

Fortunately there are pluses to this situation. Gone also are the parties of twenty screaming girls on a sugar high playing pin the tail on the three year old.

This year we have graduated to a far more grown up affair. Two friends, a cinema trip, and a small tea party.

Bliss.

When I posted this picture of some party treats on Friday it got a ridiculous amount of attention. What have you been feeding your birthday children all these years if not these?

Pin it!

For anyone who had asked - they are indeed marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a smartie. It don't get simpler than that my friends.

The table was festooned with a Vintage Rose Tea Party kit from Party Pieces who were kind enough to send us everything we needed and much more. 

 I especially loved the gorgeous bunting (that may never come down) and the little fairy cake flags. The birthday girl adored the tea party cake stand.

 So that's it for another year...

(Oh - did I mention the *cough* homemade cake?)

Disclosure: Party Pieces sent me the party kit as mentioned in this post. No payment was received and all words and opinions are my own.