The Devil isn't in the details... he's in my cake!

In honour of the fact that researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that high levels of chocolate consumption may reduce the risk of developing heart disease, I decided to share with you my favourite recipe.  It's SO retro it's practically uncool, but I love it.  It always comes out moist and even though it says to use an electric mixer, I have only recently laid my hands on my Pop's old mixer.  Mixing it by hand until just combined is just as good!

This would also be scrumdiddlyumptious as Baby Shower Cupcakes

Devil's Food Cake

2 1/4 cups self-raising flour

1 3/4 cups castor sugar

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

2/3 cup cocoa

155g butter

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

Sift dry ingredients into large bowl of electric mixer.  Add softened butter, water and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed of electric mixer for 3 minutes.  Add eggs, increase speed slightly, beat for further 3 minutes.  Pour into two well-greased deep 20cm cake tins.  Bake in moderate overn 35 to 40 minutes.  When cold, sandwich together with whipped cream, top with chocolate glace icing.

Chocolate Glace Icing

45g dark chocolate

1 teaspoon oil or butter

2 tablespoons water

1 1/4 cup icing sugar, approx

Combine chocolate, oil and water, stir constantly over hot water until chocolate is melted.  Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar, beat until smooth and of good spreading consistency.  Quickly spread over cold cake.

Enjoy making and devouring this delicious retro cake. 

If you have any questions or comments make them below - we'd love to hear your opinions.  And don't forget to visit the Little Treasures website for loads of gorgeous baby stuff!  The website if http://www.littletreasures.net.au/.

To Tool or Not?

Uh oh... Father's Day is just around the corner.  I am looking into the future and all I can see are socks and ties for my husband and Dad!  I've just launched a new website - it's baby stuff - not Dad stuff!!  There is barely time for bathing, let alone gift shopping!

Lucky I've forged a wonderful new friendship with Heather.  Heather is like Santa for Father's Day.  Heather is my new bestie!  But don't worry - I'm happy to share Heather with you.

Heather runs Gifts for Blokes - that's right!  A whole website dedicated to Gifts for Blokes!  That means no more socks ever again (unless G4B starts selling socks, that is!)

Heather is our guest blogger this fortnight.  Heather meet Little Treasures' friends : Little Treasures' friends meet Heather.  I'm sure you two will get on swimmingly.

"Does the name “Tim ‘The Toolman’ Taylor” ring any bells with you?

Tim is a character from the US TV series Home Improvement. Played by Tim Allen, Tim is supposed to be an expert on tools and home renovations and he presents a TV show each week called “Tool Time”.

If you know Tim Allen, you know he’s a funny man and when you put his character in charge of tools or renovations, you just know that something is going to go wrong.

Is your bloke a Toolman Taylor? Should you be keeping him separated from tools on a permanent basis?

You might have noticed that we don’t have tools in our store. Apart from the fact that they aren’t really the best of gifts, we decided that we didn’t want to be responsible for unleashing blokes with hammers onto an unsuspecting world.

Instead we have BBQ tools, drinking tools, gadget tools and lots of the more interesting and fun variety of tools. We know that blokes will enjoy these far more than the ones that imply that handyman status is required.

If you want to top up your blokes tool box, we suggest you start off with something safe!"

Dont' forget to pop on over to Little Treasures at http://www.littletreasures.net.au/