I often think that time just slips by a little too fast. The summer flowers bloom and then they wither away. This sunflower was a Mother’s day gift. It had a tall thin stem, and to tell you the truth I was a little concerned how it was going to make it. As the air got warmer we planted it outside. The stem became thick and strong and the yellow flower turned its face to the sun. It’s so fun for both the little gift-giver and receiver to run outside and check on its progress. There are more flowers coming.
The kids grow so fast and even our little baby is curious of the world around him. It seems like this past month just sailed by a little too quick. I’ve often thought that the little snapshots that are taken enforce the memories that are in our hearts.
This past week, a long-time friend came to visit. We have spent countless hours having sleep-overs, creating a secret club with our friends, giggling over our first crushes, going to camp together, and learning about life and growing-up together. We have some snap shots from those times in our albums. We have wide smiles on our narrow child-like faces. We rarely have a chance to meet since we live on different continents, but when we meet up again it feels like we just pick up from where we last left off.
When there is a special occasion, a cake is certainly in order! This cake recipe I received from another long-time friend. It is called the Pätkiskakku since it uses Pätkis, which is a chocolate mint truffle. You may substitute a local mint truffle from your area if the Pätkis truffles are not available. The cake is originally meant to be covered in a chocolate frosting, but I fine-tuned it a bit. Since we have an abundance of berries, I split it and filled it with berries and cream and frosted it with whipping cream. Our little berry-picker arrived just in time and was wondering how he could use his freshly picked blueberries. I suggested that he might decorate the cake, to which he happily obliged.
Pätkiskakku
5 dl/2.1 c flour
3 dl/1.3 c sugar
3 tbsp dark cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla sugar ( I used vanilla extract)
dash of salt
150 g/5.3 oz butter, melted
2 dl/0.85 c plain yoghurt
4 Pätkis mint truffle bars or 12 mint truffles roughly chopped
3 eggs
Butter a 22-23/9 inch cake pan. I floured it with wheat bran to give the cake a nice texture. Mix the dry ingredients. Melt the butter and mint truffles together. I used a microwave for this. Add the plain yoghurt and eggs into the melted butter mixture and whisk until smooth. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until combined. Do not over mix. Bake for 40 minutes at 175C/350F. Remove from oven when a inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Allow to slightly cool and remove from cake pan. Allow to cool completely. I leveled the top of the cake just a bit so that it would lie a little flatter. Whip 3.5 dl/1.5 cups of heavy cream and add sugar to taste. Fill cake with berries and cream leaving 1/3 of the cream for the top. Before frosting with the cream, I spooned a little milk on the top layer to give the cake a little added moisture. This step is optional. Garnish with berries. 
This would be a splendid cake for a birthday as well…Happy birthday to my Äiti, my brother and Gramma! July is a birthday month in our family!
tableofcolors 
Oh look at that adorable little one, so cute. That cake looks really good too!! What a great time with your friend, isn’t it wonderful seeing friends from your childhood.
Thank you Suzanne! Seeing old friends is always wonderful, the only downside is that I wish it could happen more often. 🙂
Al usual, lovely thoughts, lovely pictures and recipes.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
I guess you have a lovely time…old friends are old friends – so special when you have grown up together. No new friend can ever replace that, because you share so many memories.
I have a couple of those childhood friends too, but we live in the same country at least. Which doesn’t mean that we meet very often…but when we meet – it’s like we had never been apart.
And a hug for your little pretty baby! My youngsters are now flying away both of them…The young woman left last autumn and now, my youngest and last one…my boy. It’s time, and it’s appropriate and right, but for me…oh the heartbreaking feelings I have to hide, but he knows.
Yes, it is true that nothing replaces old friends or siblings…they know the history behind us. The kids are only lended to us for a short time. I’m sure it is hard to let go and let them try their own wings…I can only imagine! For now, I am able to hold onto them.
When times are sweet and good we want to hold on to them for as long as possible. Your beautiful photos capture the sweetness of your present day. In years to come they will provide happy memories. Your cake looks so delicious. What a great idea to put wheat bran on the outside of the cake. So glad you had a happy time with your friend. Those old, long lasting friendships are such treasures.
Hopefully in each stage of life there is something to cherish, even if there are challenges that often come along with the package…so that there would always be something to look back on and remember.
Yes, I hope so too.
A beautiful post. Every bit of it.
Thank you so much! And thanks for stopping by!
What a lovely post! Such a pleasure to read this morning. The photos are beautiful and your littlest guy is so sweet. But that sweet little boy’s hand putting the berries on the cake melted my heart as it reminded me of my littlest guy – who will be six soon and is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks. Yikes. Time does indeed seem to pass too quickly. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Danielle! He is our little helper always willing to cook and bake with me. –Yes, time does fly since it won’t be long before he starts kingdergarten as well! Good luck to your little guy as he starts school!
Time does fly! Your post is lovely and the little boy too. Sunflowers are gorgeous and I´m happy for you with your sunflower because I bought one a few months ago, was so in love with it and it had a parasite and sadly withered away. I’ll have a beautiful one another time…
Oh, so sad! A parasite (and my youngest daughter) got some of my plants this summer as well! Hopefully next year you will have more luck! 🙂
I just LOVE sunflowers. That cake looks perfect for the summer, just lovely!
So do I! Sunflowers are so summery!
Lovely, Laila. And I love the last photo: are they elderflowers? Beautiful post. Sophie
Thank you Sophie, the last photo is of Cow’s Parsley or also known as Queen Anne’s Lace. It lines the roads here and was in bloom a couple of weeks ago. It has such a beautiful and dainty bloom.
I always enjoy reading your posts and looking at all these beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing, all the best, Bridget
Thank you Bridget! I really enjoy your blog as well 🙂
What nice photos! This is a great post and this seems like a fantastic recipe!
Thanks! I was happy to “rediscover” this recipe from my friend. The cake is quite moist and has little bit of a mint chocolate flavor.
Laila, the baby looks adorable! And the cake looks scrumptious. All your pictures are beautiful.
Thanks! We finished the cake off in a jiffy 🙂 Give it a try sometimes if you have a chance. It’s a simple recipe requiring that all the ingredients are just stirred together and baked.
This is such a lovely post with lovely thoughts plus beautiful photos as always. 🙂
Thank you so much Danny!
Beautiful photos of beautiful and precious things…made me smile. Also made me want to try one of those mint truffles….!! Enjoy your weekend!!