“A Piece of Cake!” was the theme for the third Isle of Man CCC meeting and I actually managed a piece of every cake on offer – except the two containing dried fruit, sorry ladies, I don’t do raisins!  I blame this overindulgence on the fact that I had not had time for dinner.  After deciding not to travel back to the island in gale force 8 on Sunday after a weekend away, we only got off the fastcraft at 3pm……then I had to collect the dog and cat from kennels, buy some butter and icing sugar, make and ice my cake and be in place by 7.15pm, ready and organised for cakey guests!  Phew!!

We were at the lovely Velvet Lobster Café-Bar on the quayside in Douglas and Hannah looked after us all beautifully.  She and her husband Allan offer a fabulously varied menu at the Velvet Lobster - from speciality coffees to beautiful cocktails; from tasty breakfasts and all-day snacks to a three course continentally inspired menu; and don’t forget their own home-made cakes, of course.  After such a terrible weekend, the sun was shining and we enjoyed sweeping views of the harbour as we tucked into the fourteen delicious cakes on offer – yes, fourteen cakes, which means I must have had twelve (small) slices……oops!

There were nineteen of us in total to enjoy the wonderful spread of cakes, including five new bakers and three new guests this month.  It is such a fabulous way to meet new people – and taste new cakes! – and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did.

So down to business, the cakes tonight were (and I think I actually managed to get a photo of all of them!)……

1. Amanda – Lemon Iced Ginger Loaf
2. Sue H-S – her mum’s Strawberry Victoria Sponge Cake
3. Tracey – Iced Lime Tray Bake
4. Pitucha – her son Nick’s Chocolate Cake
5. Gemma – Lemon Cake
6. Bethany – Strawberry Windmill Cake
7. Kim – Dark Chocolate Orange Cake
8. Maria C – Weetabix Cake
9. Maria D – her grandmother’s Tea Loaf
10. Fidelma – Lemon Drizzle Cake
11. Gail – Strawberry Yoghurt Cake
12. Sue McM – Chocolate Chiffon Cake
13. Christine – Banana Cake
14. Sue B – Chocolate Cherry Ripe Mud Cake

The next event is already up on the web-site – the theme is “The Merry Month of May” so add a dash of your favourite tipple to your cake and bring it along on Thursday 24th May.  This time we will be moving away from the capital, Douglas, and will be found tucked away somewhere in the Manx countryside……!