The book is full of recipes from the wonderful Demuths Restaurant in Bath. It's somewhere we used to eat regularly Before Children, when we had time, freedom and Disposable Income. Ah, sweet Disposable Income, I barely remember you now. And to be honest, I don't miss it too much. I'm happy with just enough.
I digress. Demuths is fantastic. Wonderful food, full of amazing flavours and creative combinations. I've never eaten anything there that wasn't delicious. And to make it all perfect, Rachel Demuth wrote lots of the recipes down in three cookery books. I've got two of them, and the one above is the first one. Full of inspiration.
I decided to make the eldest boy a nice cake. He's doing really well with being a vegan for Lent, although it's quite easy for him, he just sits down at the table and eats what I place in front of him. Anyway, Demuths' vegan chocolate fudge cake is a great recipe, easy to make, but really good.
I baked it a little longer than usual to make sure it was completely done in the middle. When I took it out of the oven it looked just right. I'd put the recipe book away by then, and I couldn't remember how long I was supposed to leave it in the tin to cool.
As it happened, it didn't matter.
As if by magic, it flew out of my hands and slammed into the floor. It hit the ground with such force (I was trying to grab it at the same time) that the tin was squashed out of shape.
Fortunately no-one in this house minds eating chocolate cake that's been briefly on the floor. We're not fussy (or classy) around here. And I had just washed the floor.
Later I went and watched the biggest boy lose 7-0 in a school football match. He was greatly cheered to hear there was chocolate cake for tea.
If you're ever passing through Bath (and you really should pass through Bath, at least once), I can highly recommend Demuths. And if you want to learn how to cook it all too, Rachel Demuth has a cookery school now. No doubt nothing is ever dropped forcefully on the floor there. But then, they haven't had me.
Thank you for sharing. The cake looks delicious anyway. We're not fussy here either, so I would probably have done the same thing. I'm sorry to hear about the loss but very glad to know that cake made it better. Cake makes everything better, which is why I love cake so. :)
ReplyDeleteI could write exactly the same as Jennifer! And cake definitely makes things better. X
ReplyDeleteOh no, so sorry to hear that it took such a tumble!! Glad that you ate it anyway, and that it made the football game better!! I bet that it still tasted great!! xx
ReplyDeleteFive second rule (and sometimes a bit more time if it happens to be chocolate)! Sorry that your son lost his game, but I'm sure a bit of chocolate cake made even that a little bit better.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you salvaged the cake. I'm glad it brought a little cheer after the football loss. Not that I'm happy you dropped your cake, but I like oh look these things happen to other people too :)
ReplyDeleteHa! You are too sweet and funny! I tell ya! And that cookbook sounds just wonderful! I have no problem with a cake that hits the floor! Glad it cheered up your son! A wonderful day to you friend! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteAh a cook after my own heart. We would never eat if we didn't eat what I had thrown on the floor. It's not right if part of it hasn't been on the floor right?
ReplyDeleteThis post made me laugh out loud, laughing with you of course not at you, thank you so much for sharing!
Not as bad as what our greenhouse floor was covered with yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I am not the only "clumsy" cook, I drop food all the time. We all have strong immune system and seem to be able to cope just fine. Unfortunately the paper version of the positively vegetarian cookery book is trading for £90 just now.... The cake looks mouth-wateringly delicious. Cx
ReplyDeleteThank you CJ for your help over on my own blog! I am looking at the links as I type. Well, more or less that is, for I have no superpowers. I'll add a contact button to my blog! Cx
Deleteoh dear. love that you stopped to photograph it before you scooped it up!
ReplyDeleteoh darn, what a shame about the cake. I have done that before, and even worse done it on the pavement outside my house. I had to arrive at the lunch showing people pictures of the cake they would have been eating :) So glad you still got to eat yours :) we've also got an abundance of leftover birthday cake here today, but it's not remotely vegan. In fact I've never used so much butter in my life !!
ReplyDeleteIts wonderful that you are following a vegan diet, even if it is temporary. And you are a super mom and wife for baking lots of lovely vegan treats! If that happened at my home, the cake would either been so covered in dog hair that we wouldn't want to eat it anymore, or it would have caused a dog fight because I am normally baking with two of them lying at my feet!
ReplyDeleteThere's a universal 10-Second Rule with food on the floor, it's absolutely fine if you pick it up within 10 seconds. And chocolate cake, well, I'd be happy to eat it off the floor! ;-) Somehow your photos of the demolished cake still get my mouth watering... Chrissie x ps This post reminded me so much of my Monday Cake post last September, I have to share it with you so you know you're not alone: http://chrissiecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/monday-cake.html
ReplyDeleteEek, poor you, a whole hour of cleaning up. I hate when things like that happen. A moment's inattention, an hour's regret. The cake looks delicious though.
Deleteoops a daisies we have the 5 second rule in our house too, such a shame about the cake, it looks good though I'm dairy free so that recipe book looks really interesting
ReplyDeleteClare
What a shame, but it didn't matter really, what did matter is that it was still edible and was enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame about the cake, but glad it was enjoyed anyway. I shall remember Demuths for when I next go to Bath (it is a place I'd love to visit again)
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI love Bath. It's where I met Marc, and spent my first nine months of head over heels in love with him. I agree - it's definitley a place everyone should visit at least once. If I had to leave West Cornwall, that is where I would want to live. I have bookmarked that cookery book, for reasons of health and a hideous sweet tooth. I too would have scraped the cake up from the floor. Sod the five second rule; in my house it's the however long it takes rule ;)
Leanne xx
Chocolate cake, even one like that, would cheer me up no end. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteExcellent - love that photo! And a clean kitchen floor? Am more than impressed with that...!
ReplyDeleteOh my.. sorry the cake fell, but I do know that it would have tasted the same as if it had come out in perfect shape. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's the sort of thing that usually happens to me! Your cake must have helped bear the football loss. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI reused as much as possible of what finished up on the greenhouse floor. Must be a week for dropping things!
ReplyDeleteThe poor cake! BUt I bet it tasted quite yummy anyway. We have a five second rule at our house, if it is on the floor for less than five seconds it is still okay to eat.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
My papa once said, when a cake was dropt from a goodly height and 'ruined' ..."ahh sure put custard over it and no one will care". He was a great man.
ReplyDeleteI have made my first ever bake for the blog - fruit soda farms (not vegan, sorry) but I'll be sharing it at the weekend.
Hugs to you xxx
P.S. I love disposable income = no babies ;)
I love this blog.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha first of all I'm cracking up at "Fortunately no-one in this house minds eating chocolate cake that's been briefly on the floor. We're not fussy (or classy) around here. And I had just washed the floor." Hilarious. And I would do the same as I drop stuff on my floor constantly. I'll be checking out that cookbook!
ReplyDeleteYour cake looks very good, despite its little adventure. And they say a bit of dirt is good for you - so you have a delicious cake that helps build the immune system! We're a bit far from Bath to be dropping in on Demuths, but I will now try to find a copy of the book.
ReplyDeleteMust be the week for cake - I came home from college yesterday after a week of colds; my son said what's for dinner, Mum, and I replied How does chocolate sponge with chocolate custard sound? We did have Kung Po chicken and rice as well, lest you think we live on cake here!! I think I could embrace being vegan if it involves flapjack, cookies and chocolate fudge cake! The book looks interesting, will check it out - I also love Bath, high time I visited again.
ReplyDeleteOh yummy! Looks delicious, despite coming out a different shape :-) That happens to me a lot and I don't even have to drop the cake to get that result... My kids are very happy to have ice-cream with "crumbed cake" on the side :-) Mel x
ReplyDeleteI love the way you have written this post... I would have ended up in tears... I much prefer your version!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Bath for a couple of years, and my husband went to Uni there. I'd happily pass through every day ... I rather miss the place! I shall have to console myself with some chocolate cake I think ... I'm off to raid the kitchen cupboards for ingredients!
ReplyDeleteHi CJ! I work with Demuths Cookery School in Bath and really enjoyed your post. Glad the cake turned out, despite taking a tumble!
ReplyDelete