Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Birthday

When it comes to birthdays and Christmas, I am probably the biggest kid around. We went to the Red Lobster for supper on Tuesdayand had an excellent meal. We split Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms between us, then had a Caesar Salad each (no croutons for me) Matt ordered grilled tilapia and I had  Blackened Arctic Char topped with shrimp tossed in a Cajun butter sauce and pico de gallo. They were offering broccoli and rice, I said no thanks to the broccoli so the waitress said I could upgrade to asparagus or brussels sprouts. Needless to say I chose asparagus. Who on earth wants brussels sprouts with fish? I drank a glass of wine with my meal. I then ordered a slice of Chocolate Wave Cake to go. Can't find a picture of the fish we ate, but it was delicious. I haven't had Arctic Char in a long time and I had forgotten how good it was. I was offered the ice cream, to go with the cake, which I didn't want. I think it would have been liquid by the time we got home.

Today we are going to the Mandarin for my free birthday lunch (could have been dinner if I had chosen) have to take 3 friends with us. Before supper tonight I will be having some bubbly to drink. Can't let the day go by without some champagne.

My Chocolate Wave serving is my birthday cake today. There are three lots of candies mentioned in the cake below, none of which I have ever seen in North America, but they could be subbed with candies available here.

Bruce Bogtrotter cake

270 g butter, softened
270 g golden caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
5 eggs
100 g each milk and dark chocolate, melted
270 g self-raising flour
30 g cocoa
For the Filling
150 g butter, softened
300 g icing sugar, sieved
45 g cocoa sieved
2 Tbs milk
200 ml chocolate sauce
3 Tbs popping candy
37 g bag Maltesers, lightly crushed
2 large Crunchies

1. Heat oven to 160C fan, gas 4. Grease and line 3x18cm round cake tins. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together until light and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, adding a little flour if it starts to split. Next, pour in the melted chocolate and stir well.

2. Fold through the flour, cocoa and ½tsp salt, then beat for a further 2 mins. Divide between the 3 prepared cake tins and bake for 25-30 mins, until light and springy. Cool on wire racks.

3. To make the frosting, whisk the butter to soften, then beat in the icing sugar. Whisk the cocoa and milk together,then pour into the icing mix with the chocolate sauce and beat until smooth.

4. Once the cake has cooled, set one sponge on a cake stand, smooth over a third of the frosting and sprinkle with 1tbsp popping candy. Repeat with the second cake, then top with the third. Add the remaining icing and sprinkle over the Maltesers, Crunchie and remaining popping candy.

Have a great day
  

22 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Jo - enjoy all the festivities ... the dinner sounded rather good! Cheers Hilary

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  2. Happy birthday! Just emailed you birthday wishes.
    And who wants to east brussels sprouts period?

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    1. Thanks Alex. Received your email. I like Brussels Sprouts, but NOT with fish.

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    2. Raises hand and ducks low ... I would eat sprouts with fish ... :-)

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  3. Happy Birthday. I just knew you were getting that wave cake again. The only candy I never heard of is the crunchies. My kids loved Pop-rocks and I am a malted milk ball fan though I can't remember the last time I ate them. I love roasted Brussels sprouts, but would not trust Red Lobster to make them correctly.

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    1. Thanks Denise. Only eaten a small piece of it though. Maybe more today depending on lunch. That's interesting about the Candies, never heard of Pop-rocks. Never tried sprouts roasted but I wouldn't want them with fish anyway.

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    2. My family requests roasted sprouts for all the holidays. I never actually ate them until I had to make them in a culinary class about 15 years ago. I have several recipes on Pinterest for them.

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  4. Happy birthday Jo! I would assume 'popping candy' must be what we call Pop Rocks here in the USA? The kind that fizz and pop in your mouth?

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    1. According to Denise, above, that is exactly what they are JoJo. Never eaten them myself.

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  5. Happy Birthday, Jo! Was your lunch tasty?

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    1. It sure was Diane. Amongst other things, I tried stir fried lotus root. It was good. Have you ever tried it?

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  6. Happy Birthday! What a great way to spend your day. I love Arctic char and my hubby turned me onto this fish. He used to live on Baffin Island and often caught these fish. The cake looks decadent and delicious

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    1. Thanks Birgit. Wish I could eat Arctic Char more often. It's delicious.

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  7. I hope you had a wonderful day. So many people are born in September! Me for one. September babies are special so I'm told. We were conceived in the festive season. You make me jealous with your zest for life,Jo. I love reading your blog. It's funny and honest and often enlightening. xxx

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    1. I had a wonderful couple of days Pinky thanks. When is your birthday? I would return the compliment Pinky, love reading your blog too.

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  8. Happy Birthday!! I should add bubbly to my birthday line up. You're one smart lady!

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    1. Definitely Liz, gotta have bubbly to celebrate your birthday.

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