Unpacking in the Small 'Ouse

After more than two years without, it's been very fun unpacking all of my books and papers and random assorted dinosaurs.

Among other gems uncovered is a notebook that I had in France as an 18-year-old au pair, containing the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever come across.  (You can tell how good it is from the chocolate stains on the page.)

Translated as best I can -

For 12 people:
240g chocolate
240g castor sugar
170g butter
5 eggs
100g of potato starch/flour
1/2 tsp baking powder (and incidentally, the French don't measure in 'teaspoons' but in coffeespoons.  One of those intriguing cultural differences.)

Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie with 2 soupspoons of water; add the butter and gently pour the wet mixture over the creamed sugar and eggs.

Little by little add the potato starch, baking powder and egg whites whipped into stiff peaks.

Bake in a medium hot oven (200C) in a 23/24cm greased and floured tin.  Don't open the oven door in the first 20 minutes; takes about 30/35 minutes to bake.

*

The result is a moist, decadent cake.  You can substitute regular flour but the potato starch not only makes the cake extra moist, it also makes it suitable for coeliacs or anyone who can't eat wheat.

I will now channel Julia Child and say - bon appetit!