Rick Stein Sunken Chocolate Cake

I made this last week for my bible study group - it's one of my favourite things to make.

I don't generally eat chocolate cake but this recipe is light and moist.  Never fails!

Rick Stein Sunken Chocolate Cake

225 unsalted butter

225g good-quality plain dark chocolate (I use Cadbury dark cooking choc and it works fine) broken into pieces

50g almond meal

60g plain flour

6 medium eggs at room temperature, separated

50g light brown sugar (I use the normal brown sugar in the cooking section)

175g caster sugar

Icing sugar, to dust (optional)

Thick cream to serve

******

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Grease a 23cm spring form cake pan and line with baking paper.

Place butter and chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water).

Leave until melted, then stir until smooth.  Set aside to cool slightly.

Sift together almond meal and flour.

Place egg yolks in a large bowl with light brown sugar and whisk until pale and creamy.

Gently fold in the melted chocolate, followed by almond mixture.

Place eggwhites in a large bowl and whisk into soft peaks, whisk in caster sugar a little at a time, to make soft meringue.  (If eggwhites are too stiff, you will find it difficult to fold into rest of cake)

Fold into chocolate mixture with a large metal spoon. (I use a slotted metal spoon to help airate the cake)

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50 mins or until a skewer inserted into cake still comes out a bit wet (this cake is best when slightly undercooked)

Cool, then carefully remove from pan and pull off paper.  Cut into wedges, dust with icing sugar (if desired) and serve with cream (and strawberries!).

Sponsor a Child

A number of weeks ago I received this World Vision flyer in the mail.  I really loved the presentation of it, especially the colours.

The idea is to separate each 'doll' and give it to friends to encourage them to sponsor a child.  The lure of a free keyring with the hand made doll attached was great way to encourage and market child sponsorship!

  

The Whirlwind of Answered Prayer

A few friends have recently notified me that it has been a while since my last post.

I've been caught up in a whirlwind of answered prayer the last 3 weeks, preceded by a tough month of illness and job hunting challenges.

I've been collating some thoughts over the past 4 months about what I've been learning and growing through since my retrenchment in December last year (after my 3 months off) and I'm still refining these thoughts...there is certainly much to catchup on.

But in the meantime I really want to thank God and family and friends for their support and encouragement especially the past 4 months.  When people have asked me how I've been the word 'rollercoaster' has come up many times.  It certainly is a very accurate way to describe it.

One of the things I am also most thankful for is prayer.  It was the prayers of many when I shared how I was struggling recently and after finally surrendering my job search to God 3 weeks ago, He provided a job for me within the week following.  I specifically prayed for a job in the city, with a team that was supportive and friendly and preferably outside of my realm of experience so that I could skill-up.  God delivered on all 3 fronts.    

And it's the joy and celebrations of family and friends that has further amazed me.  The emails, phone calls and text messages in my first week of work has been a joy and privilege to receive.  To think in a normal economy finding a job is not a big deal....

There is lots to learn and I'm sure there are more challenges ahead, but for now I am embracing this opportunity that God has given and want to praise Him and look forward to shining His light in this new environment.

The people at work have been super friendly and helpful which has also blown me away.  When God answers prayer He really makes it known!