Berry Cake with Jam and Chocolate

This raspberry jam summer cake, studded with dark chocolate, is an easy berry cake to make and perfect for a light breakfast or a summer dessert.

It seems July is more than half over and here I am feeling like it’s not even begun.

No sooner had I made it through the 4th, than my mother arrived shortly there after.

It was kind of her to take pity on me and pay me a visit. Let’s face it. It has been awfully quiet around here.

Even the dogs were getting excited at the sound of the TV being turned on.

My mom and I kept busy doing some real gourmet eating.

I managed to eat at two restaurants I’ve never been to before.

Wings N’ Things is certainly not my idea of eating, but Mom preferred that over a burger, well, that is until she saw a Steak and Shake sign and we had to go there too.

Seems it reminds her of the good old days. You can see she looks like a kid in a candy store as she happily ordered her favorites.

I was planning on grilling shrimp, but steak burgers and a chocolate shake stole her heart!

So then 2 days after my mother left, Manservant returned for a 2 week “visit”.

He’s been gallivanting around Vienna, Holland, Dusseldorf and London for about  7 1/2 weeks.

Yes, he is going back and I am hoping to accompany him for some of it.

Let’s hope he gets this figured out fast because our China trip is less than two months away!

In the meantime I’ve managed to get two car batteries replaced, 4 yards of dirt spread, killed two wasp nests, destroyed Japanese beetles and managed to maintain the yard and the house and I guess, myself.

Being away from someone is never easy and one quickly realizes what that person contributes even when it seems like they aren’t.

However then one gets used to said person being gone, and life is turned upside down when they return.

I imagine that’s what keeps us on our toes.

During these 7 1/2 weeks I’ve still been cooking and photographing, but somehow I’ve found myself busier than when he is home.

Perhaps it is the extra jobs being thrown at me. Perhaps it is because I’ve occupied myself in different ways.

Whatever the reason is, if you figure it out, please let me know.

In the meantime though, while you are pondering this deep thought, please feel free to munch on a slice of berry cake; preferably this luscious, dark chocolate studded, berry-loaded summer cake.

It is a perfect summer cake. Easy to prepare, not overly sweet, can be made with any berry or jam, and is great topped with whipped cream or ice cream.

I baked this jam cake with raspberries, but I am now feeling the mood to give it a try with blueberries.

Dark chocolate and blueberries sounds pretty good to me.

And after all life may be getting kind of blue around here next week, when he departs again.

Well, that is unless he takes me with him…

 

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