Cakes Afterwards. #samplesunday
From chapter 2 – The Funeral.
"Go ahead." Lily gently pushed Kate towards the door with one hand as she reached for the kettle with the other. A glimmer of a smile twitched Kate's mouth and she walked unsteadily to the doorway into the living room. Lily filled the kettle and switched it on. She watched Kate lean on the door frame and watch Jack and the boys playing together. She saw the edge of a smile creep onto Kate's face and turned away as Jack came to embrace his grieving wife. Andrew could clearly be heard in the living room so rather than disturb him, Lily carried on making the tea she knew Kate needed. As she popped the lid onto the steaming tea pot she turned to see Kate leaning her head on Jack's shoulder. Her eyes were closed tight against the reality that was so incredibly painful today. Kate's eyes slowly opened and she smiled at Lily, a sad, bleak smile that said she'd be fine. Eventually. Kate pulled away from Jack and came to accept the proffered mug of hot, sweet tea. Placing the mug on the table she opened a cupboard to dig out some home-made cakes.
"You don't bake?" Lily said, incredulous "Who made those? They look and smell delicious."
"I thought it was time I learned." Kate blushed. "I've been practising." She put the tin of cakes on the table and sat next to Jack. Lily extended her senses a little and felt the confusion and relief mixed in with the grief coming from Kate. Eventually that would turn to a need to find answers. But just now the pain and grief flowing from her was being carefully held in check by the wave of numbness that swept over them all. Lily knew her own reaction would come later, when she was alone.
Easy cakes.
So easy that even Kate can make them, and she doesn't usually bake that well. Soups and main meals she's good at, cakes and biscuits haven't been her strongest point.
First get yourself 2 eggs, a bag of self raising flour, some butter and some sugar. Grab some cocoa powder if you want to make chocolate ones, vanilla if you want that.
Weigh your eggs, in the shells.
Then weigh out the same amount of sugar, butter and flour.
Cream the butter and sugar together.
Beat in one egg at a time until smooth.
Sift in the flour and fold in gently. Here's where you add in the cocoa powder if you're making chocolate cakes.
Spoon the mixture evenly into 12 cup cake/bun cases.
Bake for approx 15 mins at 180 deg C.
Cool, ice, share with a friend, over a large pot of tea.
Child of the Portal is scheduled for release during June 2011 and is the last in the Portal series.
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