zebra cake with chocolate frosting

nothing as satisfying as baking a cake.

my very special friend Mini came to Bahrain from Kerala for a two week vacation.It was her daughter Nia's birthday and I decided to make a cake, I first thought i will stick to my no fail rich chocolate cake, then I came across a recipe for zebra cake from a famous blogger Divya (divyaseasycookbook.blogspot)
I thought of trying this out, though I was a little scared,coz I am not a great baker,pathetic at icing cakes and I don't like making cakes with more than 2 eggs(I just hate that eggy smell)I was worried that this cake will fail.
but Mini who is my motivation guru ;) said "don't worry, cakes won't fail a die hard chef like you", I knew she was joking,but I still felt motivated.so I went ahead.
The original recipe did not have frosting, since it was a birthday cake I thought of frosting it.

ingredients

• 2cups flour
• 2tsp  baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5tbsp cocoa
• 4 eggs
• 1cup sugar
• 1cup milk
• 1cup oil
• 1tsp vanilla

Method

1. Grease a 9 inch round baking pan and keep aside.Preheat oven at 180 degree c
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt ,keep aside.
3. Combine eggs, sugar and vanilla essence in a bowl, I used an electric whisk, beat well till the mixture is light yellow in color and creamy texture (about 6 to 7 minutes)
4. Add milk and oil and continue to beat until well blended.
5. fold in the flour mixture with a whisk or wooden spoon and blend well until you get a smooth batter.
6. Divide the batter equally in to two bowls. Sift in cocoa powder into one of the bowls and blend well, until you get a dark chocolate batter.
7. Pour 3 tbsp(or one small ladle) of plain batter in middle of the 9 inch baking pan, now pour 3 tbsp chocolate batter in middle of the pan on top of the plain batter, do not touch the pan, keep  repeating this layering till you finish all the batter.
8. 8.Slowly place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or check by inserting a toothpick to see if it comes out clean.

ingredients for chocolate frosting

• 1 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 6 tbsp butter(soften and unsalted)
• 4 tbsp icing sugar

Method

1. put the chocolate chips and butter into a heat proof bowl, keep the bowl on a double boiler, keep stirring till the chocolate chips melt. Take of the double boil and mix in the icing sugar. The icing will be thick. Frost the cake with a flat spatula.