Twenty-nine candles and a recipe

A few days ago, I found a couple of packages of pencil-shaped cake candles for 50% off at Safeway.

I thought to myself, Self, you have been re-using the same dilapidated candles for about ten years now. Don't you think it's about time you treated yourself to some new ones?

So I did.

Serendipitously, we had Jon's birthday dinner on Sunday. 

Shepherd's pie for dinner and his favourite chocolate-cherry cake with whipped cream filling and chocolate buttercream frosting for dessert.

You're salivating aren't you?

Admit it.

I hefted the cake out of the fridge and retrieved the new candles from the drawer.

Annie said, What, you got new candles? in a "what's the world coming to?" kind of a voice.

Then my girls swapped stories about how they save their candles to use again and how all their friends think it's weird.

I was so proud.

And then Jon blew out all of the candles in one breath without spitting on the cake.

I think.

And I was proud all over again.

You want the cake recipe, don't you?

Yes, yes, please say you do!

It's the easiest cake in the world to make and everyone loves it. 

Except for the grandkids, who pick the cherries out. 

Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake

I box of dark chocolate cake mix

1 can of cherry pie filling

3 eggs

Mix all together. Bake in two 9"round pans or a 9x13" pan at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

That's it. People will think you're so clever. 

My favourite filling is whipped cream. 

Ganache is great for the frosting, but the buttercream is also divine.

Come to think of it, it's also delectable if you eat it straight out of the pan.
Right, Sam?