Bloodlines - Touch Not The Cat - Traces - A Scottish - American Genealogy Mystery Novel Series by Thomas McKerley and Ingrid Schippers

The Famous Chocolate Cake is Real!

Chocolate, as many of us are conscious of, works wonders with women. Mind you, I’m not discriminating here. I know men can be ‘into chocolate’ as well, but like with high heels & diamonds; some worldly possessions simply find their way more often to a woman than to a man, and chocolate, as I know after half a life time of personal experience in the field, is one of those items.

When Tom & I were doing research for Bloodlines – Touch Not The Cat and visited Ballindalloch castle for the first time; it was the chocolate cake I spotted in the castle tearoom that pulled me straight into fantasyland.

‘”I see you’ve discovered our famous chocolate cake”  I had our character Angus later say to Cathy the cop, on page 173 of Bloodlines Touch Not the Cat.

“I’ll come back next year… just for the cake” Cathy answered;  And such was true!

When a year later Tom and I drove through the gate of Ballindalloch castle again, I knew one thing for certain: I was going to have another piece of that chocolate cake. Those who have seen the ‘Ice Age’ movies featuring the rodent obsessed with acorns; can picture me with the same behavior towards chocolate cake. If Tom hadn’t stopped me I would have written a whole lot more about Cathy’s taste buds and the effect the Ballindalloch cake had on her hormone levels. I certainly would have had Angus offer the possibility for Cathy to get the recipe. But helas!

“It’s a genealogy mystery novel Ingrid” Tom reminded me; “not a cookbook! “

Pouting my lips and ready to put up a fight I retaliated, I at least wanted to mention the cake in the acknowledgements of Bloodlines Touch Not the Cat. I got my way; for the chocolate cake comment in the acknowledgements is written in Italics as a special request in my name, but that is as far as I got. However… for (wo)men who recognize the need for chocolate cake, I have very good news. Even though Angus was not allowed to give the recipe in our novel, the real Laird of Ballindalloch, wrote a whole book filled with lovely food suggestions.

“I love food” by Clare Macpherson-Grant Russell, can be found on the official Ballindaloch website (with a picture of the chocolate cake) and can be bought through all regular (online) booksellers.

And again… I can really recommend it!!!

Ingrid