Cake 17, Whereupon Lent Ends, and the Library Wants Its Book Back.

     It had to happen.  After two rechecks and nine total weeks the  book, Chocolate Cake, 150 Recipes from Simple to Sublime, was due back at the library. Or else.  During Lent I had learned that sugar outside of chocolate cake is  pretty much a waste of calories.  I  learned to value explicit, clear, specific directions  in a recipe. Since end of February I had made 14 cakes in 9 weeks, definitely a lifetime record.  Now it was one more cake,  maybe two, and then give up the book to which I had developed such attachment.
     Last Christmas an exquisite Red Velvet cake arrived in the mail , beautifully boxed and with a sqeeze-bottle of cream cheese frosting.  First husband's thoughtful, generous first cousin had sent this treasure, and skimming Michelle Urvater's book brought that cake to mind, page 173. 
    Red-tinted chocolate cake layers slathered in white, cream cheese frosting, the lovely confection held its own in company with many delicious and decadent homemade desserts. A man I know took it to a potluck at his office, and not a crumb was left by day's end.