The Easiest Birthday Cake Ever!

Okay, so this happens to be the slackest cake I have ever made, but you know what, I don't care! It was delicious (so they tell me, I couldn't eat it, not gluten free), took no time or baking to make, and a child could do it!

It's nothing new - has been around since chocolate ripple biscuits first hit the supermarkets...

Chocolate Ripple Cake:

Ingredients

600ml cream
1 tsp caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
 2 x 250g packet Arnott’s Choc Ripple Biscuits
grated chocolate or cocoa powder, to decorate
raspberries or seasonal berries to decorate

Method

• Place cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and beat using an electric beater until stiff.
• Spread a little of the cream onto the base of a serving plate. Spread one biscuit with 1 ½ teaspoons cream then sandwich with another biscuit.  Top with another 1 ½ teaspoons cream then place biscuits on their side onto the serving plate. Repeat until all biscuits have been used and form a log.
• Spread remaining cream over log to cover entirely. Cover loosely with foil, then place in refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours to set.
• Just before serving,dust log with cocoa or sprinkle with grated chocolate if desired. Cut cake diagonally into slices. Serve with seasonal berries.

To add some tempting twists to the cake:

• Brush the biscuits with your favourite liqueur, or strong coffee, before sandwiching together.
• Make a chocolate cream by adding some cocoa or finely grated dark chocolate or cooled melted chocolate into the whipped cream before sandwiching together.
• Decorate the cake with chocolate curls.
• Replace vanilla with 1 tsp of espresso or strong coffee or your favourite liqueur such as Irish cream, hazelnut or citrus liqueur. 
• Replace raspberries with sliced banana.

I know, I know, not exactly homemade, but for a teenager's birthday party - it didn't matter. It was chocolate, it was cream, it was delicious...all good in the eye's of seven 14 year olds...

Charlie is Two

Our wee boy is two today! Where did that time go? Yes, I know, countless nappies, sleepless nights, long days, but also so many joyful moments. I have loved almost every minute and have felt like the luckiest woman in the world to have had the chance to this all over again.

Now, our little one has started to talk in sentences (very short ones) and has new words every day. He loves to imitate what we say ("Alrighty then", just the other day), is the danciest dude in the south of Australia, is full of smiles and mischief, and always ready with a pat on the back if you feel sad.

We adore him!

Happy Birthday Charlie Bear!

Where Have I been?

Freya turned 10 on Monday! Wow! Where has the time gone! It also means we've been in this house exactly ten years. But that's another story!
Charlie standing on the outdoor table...of course!

Well, unfortunately, I dropped my laptop again! Unbelievable isn't it? But, I did, so there's not been a lot of blogging going on. Now that I have mastered Mike's Mac, I feel comfortable with downloading pics etc, so I'm back.

However, it seems to be getting increasingly difficult to get anything done with Charlie the destroyer stopping me from doing anything creative. I cannot turn my back on him for a second, because he'll always find something dangerous, risky or out of bounds to get into. Phew! This is proving to be much more exhausting than when he was a little baby.

He is highly entertaining and such fun though, so it is hard to get cranky with him. Some days I'd just like half of his energy so I could keep up!

Another Birthday

Happy days...Charlie is loving this crawling caper,getting stuck under chairs,pulling on and chewing electrical cords,finding long lost bits of fluff to gag on! We are all enjoying his blossoming and changing.Many people comment that he is less like a baby and more like a boy now, and it does feel that way.He already wants to walk around the furniture and displaying some risk-taking behaviour! It keeps me on my toes,and I am loving every minute.

Freya seems to be enjoying homeschooling so far.The tempo is certainly cruisey, but she tells me she is doing much more than she was at school. Is this true?I don't know, but I do know that time is wasted at school. I love that she can pursue something that interests her and run with it.For example after walking on the beach and finding bluebottles,her curiosity was whetted, and when we got home she found out everything she wanted to know about them, and will write a report about them.

I also love that she can wear her fairy outfit to school and not worry about anyone teasing her about it.One of the best things about being home schooled is that Freya can be herself,she doesn't have to keep up with the rest of the pack (and,yes,some of those girls act like wolves),she doesn't have to worry about the dynamics of friendships,and it was getting very complicated - who was allowed to play with whom,when they were allowed etc.I found her tales of friendship perimeters quite disturbing.

Having said that,she is still able to maintain her important friendships, and was really chuffed to have her friend Ashlyn visit on her birthday.Freya had a lovely time,enjoying her presents and the company of friends and family. She loved her chocolate cloud cake (thank you Rosie and Nigella for the recipe) served with cream and fresh raspberries and strawberries. It is a great cake,no gluten (which is good for me), and simple to make.Let me know if you want the recipe.