Fiddler on the Roof

This weekend I made the cake on page 161 called "Fiddler on the Roof Cake" for my dad's best friend who is also my auto mechanic. I picked up my sports car last weekend now that spring is here and summer is on the way - so I dropped of my check for caring for my sports car - the check taped to the outside of the cake box.

Consequently I didn't actually try this cake - didn't even cut it. Uncut it looks pretty much just like the chocolate cake from Christmas eve, so I didn't bother a picture either.

The recipe started with the typical narrative about the origins and/or special information about the recipe. This one claimed the recipe was "more involved" than most the Cake Mix Doctor recipes. Well - maybe a little - seemed easy to me - dump all the ingredients except the cocoa in the mixing bowl, mix just like most the others I've made so far - here is the difference - pour half the batter in the prepared pan, mix the cocoa in the other half - pour it on top of the first half and swirl some with a table knife. Hardly that much more involved.

I have been loving this books - and her others, and these recipes. But I would be happy even if only the frostings were good - I said it before and it bares repeating - I have never found frosting recipes prior to this that were worth the work. The ready-made cans of frosting were better for much less work. But these frostings have turned me around - they have been fabulous! And the one for this cake (Chocolate Marshmellow Frosting on page 434) is another perfect example. Though we didn't get to try the cake, I did have extra frosting and my husband and I both liked it so much we were eating like candy, off a spoon, and even spread it on top of some peanut brittle.