Strawberry Cake for Bible Study

Today was Bible study at my house, and we studied the Church in Sardis [Book of Revelation, Chapter 3].  Our Lord wrote a very sobering letter to this church [via the Apostle John], but in his grace and mercy, He provided the ways the people could be forgiven and revived. 

After Bible study I served a cake that I assembled rather piecemeal [no one particular recipe].  I had an unfrosted white layer cake in the freezer that my granddaughter, Izzy, and I made when she came to  visit, so that was my starting place. This was definitely not a picture-perfect cake, but since it was a very informal gathering it didn't have to be, and I'll provide corrective solutions if you should want to try making it in your kitchen.

Not knowing if the cake was still moist or had become dry from freezing, I opted to poke it with strawberry jello.  One 3 oz. package Strawberry Jello dissolved in 1 cup of hot water and then 1/2 cup of cold water stirred in.  With a dinner fork I poked holes in the tops of both layers and spooned the Jello over the top, then refrigerated it for three hours.  

I purchased a can of Strawberry Pie Filling and spooned it between the layers and refrigerated it overnight [covered in plastic wrap].  This morning I frosted the cake with a delicious Strawberry Frosting recipe I clipped from Southern Lady magazine by Swans Down Cake Flour.

I sliced fresh, large strawberries and drained them on paper towels, then began laying them in a circle working from the outer edge toward the center.  Strawberries are 91% water, so my first mistake [which allowed the liquid to run down the side of the cake] was putting them too close to the edge.  Also, I should have piped a frosting border around the edge to create a barrier to keep the strawberry liquid contained. And the strawberries should have been more layered or overlapping - not single rows. 

Now that I think about it, my life is kind of like the cake.  I'm not picture-perfect either and God continually makes corrections to develop me into the person He desires me to be.

Back to the Strawberry Cake... lastly, I melted a small amount of strawberry preserves, and lightly brushed it over the tops of the strawberry slices to seal them, give them a nice shine, and add a little sweetness.  Then I refrigerated it until it was time for serving.  The taste more than made up the mistakes. The chilled cake is perfect for summertime, and I will definitely make it again.

Our tea was Marco Polo by Mariage Frères [a black tea] that I ordered from The Cultured Cup in Dallas, Texas.  Marco Polo tea description:  Fragrances of Chinese and Tibetan flowers lend a uniquely velvety taste to this medium to full-bodies Chinese black tea with strawberry and floral [orchid] notes.  Marco Polo is the "Chanel No. 5" of tea and Mariage carefully guards the recipe which has never been successfully duplicated. The red fruit [strawberry] flavoring made it the perfect accompaniment for our strawberry cake.

It was a wonderful afternoon of study and fellowship.  When the ladies went home I got out my informative Mariage Frères book for some serious tea study.  There's so much to learn about... the Bible... tea... and so many other things.  Learning is lifelong process.

~ Chapter Two ~