Today at the end of what should be Pippa’s 15th birthday I feel I have more questions than ever. Most of them are wondering and searching for answers that will never be. Wonder at how Pippa, the 15 year old teenager, would celebrate her birthday? Wonder at what subjects Pippa, the 15 year old school girl, would have chosen this year? Wonder at what sports Pippa, the 15 year old athlete, would be playing? Wonder at what Pippa, the 15 year old young lady, would be like. How tall would she be? What clothes would she be wearing? Would her friends be the same as four years ago or would she have new ones? Would she have a part time job? Would she have spent endless summer days at the beach? Would her hair still be long?
Why??????
Another day and another birthday passes though and I have no answers. Not a single one. I know Pippa the 11 year old. Pippa the 15 year old only exists in my imagination with her future never to be told.
Pippa was famous for making chocolate mud cakes on birthdays. Or for Easter. Or anytime she thought would be a good time for chocolate mud cake! She was often asked for our recipe. So I thought that on her birthday, I would make and share her recipe for chocolate mud cakes – most often topped with a Malteser.
Pippa’s Muddy Mud Cake(s)
250g butter, chopped
250g dark chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup caster sugar
20ml whiskey
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 1/4 cups self raising flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
- Preheat oven to 160
- Sift flour and cocoa together
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan
- Add chocolate, sugar, whiskey and hot water
- Stir over low heat until chocolate is just melted and mixture is smooth
- Gradually beat flour and cocoa into chocolate mixture using a wooden spoon
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined
- Pour into a buttered and lined 24 cm tin (or cup cake patty papers or mini cupcake papers)
- Bake for approximately 50 mins or until a skewer comes out almost clean (shorter if smaller cakes)
- Stand in cake tin for 10 mins before turning on a wire rack to cool
- Ice with chocolate ganache and top with a Malteser!
Mud Cakes but no Birthday Girl 
Easter Mud Cakes, 6 years ago….
Pippa Rea 
Her photo and frangipani flower still sit pride of place on Daniel’s window ledge. He sees it every day he opens his window. She is remebered often by us.
Think of you all often – will have to catch up soon!!
We were only talking about Pippa today, and our 13 year old granddaughter who would always ask for ‘chocolate cake’ when she was small but never liked it then. Now she does, so to remember Pippa, we will give her the recipe to make when she next visits, and remember a wonderful girl.
Beautifully said xx She would be the most delightful, lovely 15 year old girl. Much love today to you, James and Patrick xx
We will bake these this weekend and celebrate Pippa!! Thank you for sharing!