Toasting the almonds makes the spikes taste delicious, but adding eyebrows makes a hedgehog cake look too anxious about being devoured!
 Meet Barry, created and mostly eaten on the 29th January, and completely eaten on the 30th.

One thing I must do this year is to crystallize my own angelica, as shop bought angelica lacks that vibrant 70s glowing green. (Look at Barry's eyebrows, they are a little insipid.)
There is another thing I also need to do this year, which combines one of my New Year resolutions, and the book I am starting to write.

In the sketch above, my green donkey gains a foal, plus kitchen accessories which grow as trees.  This image is appearing in my 'Cinderella' painting, in one of the windows.  

 Look at the green of the painted angelica (yes, the donkey is now on top of a trifle)  That is the intensity I am after, when I make my own.

This image will also form part of my entry for the Jerwood drawing prize, where it will become on of 6 jigsaw pieces about my life in 2014.

http://parkerharris.co.uk/artists/awards/index.php?ArticleID=277

So, what is the other important thing I have to do, as well as writing a book, writing a blog about why I am not writing a book, painting, drawing, cooking, being married, etc.

Well, if I am to enter the Pantomime Horse Race in London this year, (New Years Resolution) surely it would be better to enter as a Green Donkey? 

http://blog.newscom.com/blog/2014/12/15/weird-wacky-and-odd-the-pantomime-horse-race/

Which means making the complete outfit as well as growing and crystallising angelica!

We ate the Hedgehog Cake at bookclub.  It was called Barry, and seemed to get the hang of being eaten, as the night wore on.

Here is the recipe so you can make your own cake, and some pictures also to help in the construction.

Sorry it is all in Imperial, which is how many of my recipes are. 

6oz butter

60z caster sugar

3 eggs

6oz S.R flour, which includes 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder.

1 tablespoon milk

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Sieve in the flour and cocoa, then fold in gently, adding the milk to ensure a dropping consistency.

Bake in 2 x 7 inch greased sandwich tins at 180 degrees c for 25-30 minutes, turn out and leave till cold.

Make a butter cream by creaming 8oz butter then sieving into it 11oz icing sugar and 1 oz cocoa powder.  Mix until smooth and delicious.

Cut your cakes and assemble on a plate as follows below. 

When all the pieces are cut ready to assemble, use the butter cream to sandwich them together on a serving plate, and then to coat the cake to resemble a tall hedgehog.

Eat the off-cuts.

When coated to your satisfaction, add sliced almonds to provide the spikes (toasted or un-toasted, your preference) a cherry for the nose and smarties for the eyes.  Use angelica to provide eyebrows if desired.  These do add emotions to your hedgehog's face, be warned.

Then slice, serve and enjoy.

This cake is definitely designed for sharing, so gather together your friends and family.  

Speaking of which, a big wave hello to Margaret and Emily, it was lovely to see you again.