Mr S has been working hard. So hard that I’m feeling a little guilty. So, to ease my guilt and give him something nice to come home to, I got baking.

All went well and a delish, fluffy cake emerged from the oven. No time to decorate before his return, so he tucked into the nude cake after dinner.

The next day, I decided to decorate. No problem that the cake was cut, I made mini sandwiches by cutting shapes with cookie cutters. Then I doused them with melted chocolate.

As I was cutting and dousing, it occurred to me that the extra bits of cake from between the cookie-cut bits, could be used for a trifle.

Ah yes, I thought, a lemon trifle (lemon cake and lemon curd). Yum. But there was no sherry. Opening our recently replenished drinks cabinet, I spotted a nice new bottle of Drambuie. Just the thing.

Two small bowls with cake at the bottom, each covered with a tablespoon of Drambuie.

“Hmm,” I thought as I licked the spoon*, “Perhaps one isn’t enough. But what time is it anyway? Oh, after four, fine, it’s not too bad to be licking the spoon, it’s G&T time.”

Another spoon of Drambuie.

“Oh, I do like Drambuie,” I thought, licking the spoon again, “I’ll just add one more.”

Over the smooth gold went. And yum, another spoon of Drambuie for me. Then I saw a problem: not all the cake was wet. I mixed it all up, but to no avail.

“Gosh, looks like more is needed,” I mused. “Oh, well, it tastes good anyway.”

More went on.

At this point, logic prevailed and I decided that it had to be enough and continued with the other ingredients.

About ten minutes later, it was time to whip the cream.

“A spot of Drambuie would add some symmetry^ to the dish.” thought I and proceeded to add a few drams.

Plus one for the cook.

Everything was finished in time to be chilled before Mr S’s arrival and the kitchen to be tidied in good housewife fashion.

It wasn’t until he had eaten a few mouthfuls of the drenched cake at the bottom that Mr S deduced the reason for my overtly cheerful behaviour that evening.

And politely left the rest.

And fair dos, so did I.

*I do not lick the spoon and reuse it if I’m cooking for anyone other than Mr S!
^Symmetry? Must have been the Drambuie!