in cahoots with others

I seriously never thought I'd ever write a sentence that included the phrase "cake porn". How wrong was I.

On Saturday I was lucky enough to grab a place on the @clandestinecake event held at @msmarmitelover's beautiful home. I trundled very happily across London, clutching my Red Velvet cake, in high anticipation of having a jolly good day out and I have to say I was not disappointed. Everyone who attended had taken the theme of Cake Porn to heart and we were presented with a dizzying array of chocolate, fudge, caramel, fruit, cream, cheese and all manner of other deliciousness.

There is something so appealing about a table groaning with food, and when the food is entirely made up of cake without so much as a nod to salad it creates a very warm and fuzzy feeling in the center of my being. Having said that, fruit was very much in evidence with a plethora of berries of every description. Somehow though, when they're in a mound sitting in syrup that is dribbling over the highest cheesecake I've ever seen, or nestling happily in a mountain of cream, there has to be an acknowledgement that maybe "healthy" isn't really a term to be bandying about at this event.

Over and above the sheer glory of cake, the social aspect of this event was a marvellous thing to behold. Milling about the room, coffee in one hand and plate piled high with sample slices, I was struck by just how much enjoyment all those in the room derived from baking and then talking about it afterwards. For me personally, there was an added enjoyment in hearing so many say that they had learnt baking from their Grandmother. I could do a whole blog devoted to the transition of crafts through the oral tradition. mmm. maybe I will.

Thanks to @MySecretTeaRoom for organising, for @MsMarmiteLover for hosting, and to all the wonderful bakers who provided such glorious cakes.

You can read more from MsMarmiteLover on her Blog the English Can Cook and also from MySecretTeaRoom on the Clandestine Cake Club site which also links to some of the recipes for the cakes that were brought.

My recipe for Red Velvet cake will be posted soon

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