Creative Insomnia Part 2 / La Grande Eloise

As I've already mentioned, I had a few sleep issues last week which seem to be creeping in to this week too. However, as I also mentioned, I've learned to milk the most from those witching hours. In the dead of night, I feel like I've beaten something. Beaten myself? I'm not sure. But that pedicure I'd planned to do the following evening, the pile of delicate clothes that needed hand washing and was scheduled in for that Saturday morning right before sewing the hem back up on my trousers and washing the floor? Well it's all done now. So I've gained that evening spot and that Saturday morning. I can do whatever the hell I want with them. I could go to the early morning showing of a film, I could get to the swimming pool before the hoards of screaming children arrive and start dive-bombing the water. I live alone, which means that I can pretty much do what I want when I want anyway, but I do have a habit of imposing schedules on myself (okay, so I'll be home by about 5:45 which means that I will have showered by 6, I'll clean the bathroom and that'll take me to about 6:20, then I can paint my nails, 6:45, clean the windows, 7:00, read for an hour before the news which will finish in time for me to make a cup of tea before whatever's coming on at 8:45 that evening.) And somewhere in that dictator-esque schedule, there'll be some sort of food of course. Do I sound like a freak? Well I should do, because I am. My name is Kate and I'm a freak. Nice to meet you.

Anyway, all of that to say that the hours I'm awake in the middle of the night are free from schedules. It's gained time in which I can either get ahead in order to gain a chosen morning/afternoon/evening, or I can use it freely to do whatever I want without interruption by myself or anyone else. Sometimes, I just watch television until it's time to get up. Sometimes I mess around on Facebook. Sometimes I stare at the ceiling and think. Occasionally, I call a friend (those who will definitely still be awake for entirely more cool reasons, i.e. they just got home from a night out in the latest fun place to be.)

Sometimes..........I. Make. Cake.

This is called La Grande Eloise because it basically takes its shape from the Eloise cupcake recipe I did for Lauren's daughter a few weeks ago. This is the big girl's version though. This one's for you a bit later on Eloise, but in the mean time, your Mama can enjoy it on your behalf.

For the cake:

200 grams plain flour
150 grams caster sugar
200 grams unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
90 grams dark chocolate
2 tbsp crème fraîche
*I've highlighted where the recipe differs from the cupcakes with italics

Preheat your oven to 190°C and grease two 7" cake tins, then line the bottoms with baking parchment circles.

Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl and add the sugar and baking powder. Cut the butter up into cubes and add to the dry mix. Mix together with your hands until the mixture is slightly soft and starting to blend together a little.

Melt the chocolate.

Add the chocolate to the mixing bowl and stir in with a METAL spoon (a wooden one will mess everything up.)

Add the eggs and stir in.

Add in the crème fraîche and stir everything again with a metal spoon.

Split the mixture equally between the two cake tins.

Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until you get the clean-knife go ahead!

For the filling:

Follow the instructions as for the topping on the Eloise.

Make sure the cake layers have cooled before adding the filling and topping.

For the topping:

100 grams milk chocolate
2 tbsp crème fraîche
50 grams white chocolate, shaved

Melt the chocolate and stir in the crème fraîche. Leave to cool slightly before spreading it over the top of the cake and letting it run down the sides.

Sprinkle the white chocolate shavings over the top and it's ready for eating!