This month we are repeating a theme we did a few years ago because this month marks 3 years of me and Greta doing The Food Exchange! I am really not sure where that time has gone.

The Food Exchange started by Greta sending me a message on my blog. We had both been living in our new countries for around a year and when she suggested it I thought it was a wonderful way to understand the German culture a little better and it has not disappointed!

Greta has challenged me to make things I have never even heard of, let alone attempted to make! Puff pastry sprinkled with sugar, baked and dipped in chocolate… who knew it could be so tasty!

But not only has doing The Food Exchange made me baking a wide range of things it has meant I have come to know Greta too. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Greta who is such a warm and kind person. Both of lives have changed a lot in those three years. Probably most notably with the arrival of Greta’s daughter Frieda and my son Noah. Juggling baking with a baby has been interesting at times but I can’t wait until he is old enough to start baking with me.

So even though I have never met Greta in person I feel like I have gained a friend… as well as a lot of recipes! Hopefully this year can be the year we finally meet!

Happy 3rd birthday The Food Exchange.

In 2016 we set the theme of birthday cakes to celebrate The Food Exchange’s 1st birthday. Greta suggested I make this beautiful and super simple butterfly cake.

This year she suggested I make a Black Forest Gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte). A cake most people have heard of and as we live only 30 minutes from the Black Forest, a cake I have seen many times.

For those of you who don’t know a Black Forest gateau is layers of chocolate sponge sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries and then covered in more whipped cream before being decorated with chocolate shavings and more cherries. In Germany there is a law which says to call a cake Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte the cake has to contain Kirschwasser (cherry liquor).

I found a recipe I quite liked the look of and I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy making this cake was. Especially when you are left with quite an impressive looking cake.

My cake isn’t traditional looking as I don’t like an excessive amount of cream (I used half the amount specified in the recipe and it was still a bit much for me!). So even though it doesn’t look exactly like a traditional Black Forest gateau it still has all of the same elements.

I really like the contrasting elements of this cake, the taste and the straight forward method. I will definitely make it again now I know how easy it is!

Make sure you head over to Greta’s blog to see her birthday bake.

If you have any suggestions on themes for next month please let us know!

Happy birthday The Food Exchange and thanks for an amazing 3 years Greta!