My daughter Tanvi was born on Diwali. It was such a surprise….I had lots of visitors and while Hetal, my first princess, received baby blankets and bibs…Tanvi hit the jackpot! Most Indians believe that the Goddess of Wealth visits on Diwali and Tanvi became the ‘auspicious baby’. She received coins, earrings, pendants and necklaces in gold! I am sure that Hetal will at some stage need some therapy sessions…all thanks to our Indian community!

I was just delighted that she was a happy, healthy and perfect. Like most things in life, there is always trouble brewing in paradise. Most of the people know by now, that I am divorced and re-married to a man who is not just a husband….he has been amazingly supportive of everything I do. Sometimes I do forget this…Sorry ROB! He is the ‘wind beneath my wings’ so to speak! My divorce was ugly…it took forever and the nastiness will remain with all of us forever and trust me ‘Forever is a very long time!’ With all the ugliness, my kids still remained close to their dad…they loved him without reservations…like the marriage this did not last!

Tanvi is the easiest, most loving kid out of my lot. She has been her dad’s greatest supporter/defender and it’s caused her lots of heartache. My ex husband got married, way before I did, and like most second marriages (mine included), his relationship with the kids changed. Last year, a few days before her birthday, Tanvi plucked up the courage to say that she would like to see her dad but requested that he visit her and take her out to movies….she was just not comfortable visiting him in his home….the result was that her dad never contacted her again. She waited for his call on her birthday but there was nothing….she will always be heartbroken!

The reason for this sad, and long story is that there are always new beginnings! We have built a new family with Rob as the captain…kids have become the swashbuckling pirates. It’s made Rob and I more committed to rebuilding what has turned into a mad, crazy home filled with love and laughter…giggles actually!

On Tanvi’s birthday, we have started a new tradition….which is not only a celebration of her birthday, its a celebration of our family…there are added extras like Michael and Julia (Rob’s kids) and my mom….the more the merrier…its become the perfectly rowdy home and we, the Sujanani’s and L’Etangs have built it! Tanvi did not get a call on her birthday…but with all the festivities and new birthday traditions, she is getting better at dealing with it all the time. We decided to have a formal sit down dinner, and even got dressed up….a big thank you to Arwen Swan and Ben Skinner for sorting out my brand new wardrobe…dressed by these incredibly talented people makes me feel like royalty (who wouldn’t in a beautiful animal print pussy bow dress?). I know that the clothes are going to fit perfectly….my curves are becoming a delicious issue! Contact Arwen on 011 447 0247 0 she is based in Parkhurst.

I made a six layered cake…one for every person in our home that has been a special part of her life and loved her happy again. It’s one for Rob, my mom who she calls Amma, Rushil, Tanvi, Hetal, one for her loving herself and one for me!!! Each layer was a different colour to represent what they bring into her life!

This cake is a whopper…six layers, cream cheese frosting, and macaron sprinkles. Do not prepare the macaron filling just the plain ones will do.
For the macaron recipe click here: https://yudhikayumyum.com/2013/10/31/wanted-yudhika-sujanani-fed-or-alive/

Here is the recipe for Tanvi’s Celebration Cake….

Makes 6 layers…make it in two batches

Ingredients for the six layers:

12 eggs
450ml sugar
750ml cake flour
30ml baking powder
180ml cold water
10ml vanilla essence
350ml oil

6 different gel food colors

1 batch of plain macarons – not sandwiched

Beat 6 eggs in a large metallic mixing bowl until foamy.
Gradually add 225ml sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light in color and tripled in volume.

Sift 375ml cake flour and 15ml baking powder into the mixing bowl.
Light fold the ingredients together and ensure there are no floury ‘pockets’ in the batter.
Pour the cold water, vanilla essence and oil into the mixture and continue folding.
The oil sinks to the bottom of the mixing bowl so lift the mixture and scrape the bottom of the bowl when folding to combine.
Divide the mixture into 3 x 20cm greased and lined cake tins.

Drizzle a little gel food coloring into the cake tins and swirl the mixture through with a fork…lift the mixture from the bottom of the tin.
Bake for 12 – 15 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees celsius.
You will know when the cake is done…when you can smell cake!
The cake should be light golden brown and shrink away from the sides of the tin.
Remove the cakes from the oven, leave to stand for 5 minutes and then turn onto a wire rack and leave to cool.
Refrigerate the cakes for an hour or two to firm them up….makes frosting them much easier.

For the cream cheese frosting…

350g soft butter
500g icing sugar
2 tubs Spar Cream Cheese (this is the one in the box and not the tub!!!)
50ml fresh cream
2ml vanilla paste

I beat the butter in my trusted Kenwood on medium speed.
Then reduce the speed and add icing sugar….please reduce the speed to prevent clouds of icing sugar rising from the mixing bowl.
Once the mixture is light and fluffy, add the Spar cream cheese.
On a low-speed continue beating until the butter and cream cheese are combined.
Scrape down the sides of the Kenwood mixing bowl.
Add the fresh cream and vanilla essence.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl again and beat for 30 seconds.
Leave the frosting in the refrigerator until the cakes have cooled…please cover the bowl with plastic wrap so it does not absorb ‘fridge odours’.

To assemble the cake…

Frost and sandwich the cakes together – I scoop a bit of frosting on each cake to ensure that I do not run out.
Frost the sides of the cake.
Crush the macarons by putting them in a plastic bag and working out some anger by bashing them with a rolling-pin.
Sprinkle the macarons on the side of the cake.
Finish the cake with fresh roses on top – you could also use berries.