Devil's Food Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #14)(22)

How to Frost Red Devil’s Food Cake (or any cake, for that matter.)

When you’re ready to frost your Red Devil’s Food Cake, turn one layer upside down on a cake plate so that the flat side is up. (If it’s too tippy that way, put it back in its pan and use a sharp knife to level off the top of the layer before you invert it on the cake plate a second time.)

Use Fudgy Frosting (recipe below) between the layers.

Position the second cake layer, rounded side up, on top of the frosting on the first layer.

Now frost the top and the sides of your cake. Your masterpiece is complete!

Hannah’s 3rd Note: Be generous with the frosting—it’s yummy!

Yield: This cake will serve at least 12 people. It’s perfect paired with vanilla or coffee ice cream.

(Mother likes this cake with chocolate ice cream, but that’s Mother. She convinced Dad to walk three blocks in a snowstorm when the car wouldn’t start and she ran out of chocolate ice cream!)

FUDGY FROSTING

2 cups semi-sweet (regular) chocolate chips (a 12-ounce package)





? teaspoon salt (it brings out the flavor of the chocolate)





14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk





1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) salted butter





1 teaspoon vanilla extract





Hannah’s Note: If you use a double boiler for this frosting, it’s foolproof. You can also make it in a heavy saucepan over low to medium heat on the stovetop, but you’ll have to stir it constantly with a wooden spoon or a heat-resistant spatula to keep it from scorching.

Fill the bottom part of the double boiler with water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the underside of the top.

Put the chocolate chips and the salt in the top of the double boiler, set it over the bottom, and place the double boiler on the stovetop at medium heat. Stir occasionally until the chocolate chips are melted.

Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk and cook approximately 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the frosting is shiny and of spreading consistency.

Shut off the heat, remove the top part of the double boiler to a cold burner, and quickly stir in the vanilla. (It may sputter a bit, so be careful.) Then add the butter and stir it in until it melts.

Your frosting is ready to use.

Once you have frosted your two-layer Red Devil’s Food Cake (or your Mini Cupcakes, if you decided to make those instead,) give the frosting pan to your favorite person to scrape. Once it cools, it’s just like fudge.





Chapter Seven

“He’s a very good minister,” Delores whispered to Hannah at the conclusion of Reverend Matthew’s sermon.

“Yes, he is. That was a good sermon,” Hannah whispered back. Reverend Matthew had been in Lake Eden for less than a week, and he was doing a wonderful job of substituting for Reverend Bob. Claire had confided that her husband had deliberately stood aside and urged Reverend Matthew to take over all the church duties, including today’s holy sacrament of communion. It had been a test, and Reverend Matthew had passed with flying colors. So far this week, Reverend Matthew had officiated at three weddings, two christenings, and one funeral. He’d also led the men’s Bible study group, gone to Lake Eden Memorial Hospital to visit and give communion to sick parishioners, written the next church bulletin, and counseled two couples on their upcoming marriages.

“He has such a fine singing voice!” Delores continued. “He’s handsome too, and an older man might be good for you, Hannah.”

Hannah gave her mother a cease and desist look and Delores returned the volley with a shrug. Then both of them smiled in perfect harmony. They’d played this scene many times before. Hannah’s role was to object to any suggestion Delores had when it came to men. Her mother’s role was to continue to suggest that her eldest daughter should consider every unattached male of Hannah’s age or older as a potential husband.

The hymn was almost over. When the final note in the second to the last stanza had been reached, or nearly reached since it ended on a high note, Delores and Hannah slid from the pew and tiptoed out. It was time for Hannah to arrange the cookies on the surfboard platter, and Delores had agreed to help.

Lisa and Herb were already in the church basement with Marge. They’d put on the coffee, covered the surfboard with plastic wrap, placed it on the refreshment table, and set out napkins, cream and sugar, and lemon for those who preferred tea.

“Are you going to do half one kind and half the other?” Herb asked Hannah as he carried a box of cookies to the table. “Or are you going to mix them up?”

“I’ll mix them up. They’ll look prettier that way.”

“I can do that,” Marge offered, starting to place the cookies on the surfboard that doubled as a platter.

“I’ll help,” Delores said, hurrying over to do just that. “Are you going to the party tonight, Marge?”

“No. Sunday night is our board game night and Jack really enjoys it. Parcheesi is his favorite, but he loves Uncle Wiggly too. He used to play it with the kids.”

Delores gave a little sigh. “I know he used to be a marvelous Contract Bridge player. He doesn’t play anymore?”

“No, it’s too frustrating. He forgets the conventions and he feels bad about forgetting. Board games are better and we all have a good time.”