Here's to our beloved Birthday Cake! And to her fantastic appreciation of all things silly in life! With Cake, even the humdrum and everyday can be wildly entertaining. Many happy slices in the future. --Your former frisbee partner.

If you still don't know who I am, here's another hint... I once made you and three others the following cakey treat, although it wasn't for your birthday. Happy Birthday, Cake!


Rigo Jancsi Chocolate Slices
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INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs, separated
3 tablespoons sugar
1 oz bittersweet chocolate, grated
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

FOR THE FILLING:
apricot jam
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
a few drops vanilla extract
3/4 cup heavy cream, stiffly whipped

FOR THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 tbsp. (1/4 stick) unsalted butter

Cream together the egg yolks and sugar. Whisk the egg whites until very stiff. Add the grated chocolate and flour to the yolk mixture, then fold in the egg whites. Line and grease a 1.5 lb (9x5-inch) loaf pan and pour in the chocolate mixture. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 15-20 min. Turn out and cool on a rack. When cold, slice in half lengthwise through the middle.

Spread both halves of cake with jam on the cut sides. For the filling, mix together all the remaining ingredients, and spread evenly over one half on top of the jam. Make the frosting by melting the chocolate with the butter. Allow to cool slightly, then spread over the jam on the other half. Set aside to cool until the chocolate sets. Put the two strips together so that the frosting and filling are together in the middle, with the frosted strip on top, and chill slightly before slicing to serve.