Marketman’s Birthday Cake…

bday cake3

I have been meaning to try Bettyq’s famous chocolate cake recipe for the past year. But somehow I just never got around to it. So the Teen took it upon herself to bake the cake last night and decorated it this morning for my birthday. Betty, it was DELICIOUS. Really nice and moist and chocolatey. Thank you so much again for sharing that recipe. The Teen had a pretty easy time with the recipe, and used chocolate milk instead of buttermilk. She used unsweetened chocolate because that’s what we had in the house. For those of you who wanted to try the recipe, it is in an old post, here (scroll down to the comments section to look for the recipe).

bday cake2

The teen decided to make her own icing for the cake, rather than use a chocolate icing, because she wanted to add color to the cake. It was really good. And a second cake was decorated with a Jackson Pollock style splattering of icing… :) Thank you Betty for the recipe. Thank you to the Teen and Mrs. MM for the fantastic cake!

bday cake1

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Marketman

Marketman is a well-traveled management consultant who loves buying, cooking and eating good food. Read more »

182 Responses

  1. Happy Birthday, MM!! Looks like a delicious way to celebrate, courtesy of the Teen and prepared with a huge sprinkling of TLC!

  2. Teen: when you get the chance and if your dad can find the other one buried among his “messy files”, I urge you to make that one!!!!!

    OH, you’re very welcome, MM and May the Good Lord continue to Bless you with happy, healthy years to come!

  3. Happy birthday, MM! I liked the top photo. Jackson Pollock to you looks like Bird’s Nest to me! :-)

  6. whoa! you did not hide your age??? i attest that cake is soooo good.. i also made it almost 2 months ago.. eventhough i’m not so good at baking, felt like a pastry chef after baking and tasting betty q’s chocolate cake recipe.. followed it to the letter except for the brewed coffee i used espresso instead with the same amount.. thanks betty q.. and thanks MM for this wonderful site.

  11. happy birthday marketman! easy on the calories old man. hehehe. cheers and many returns! :)

  12. happy birthday marketman. easy on the calories old man. hehehe. cheers and many returns! :)

  14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MM… I was born in August also but under the Leo sign… You’d be a Virgo na, right?

  17. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May GOD shower you with good health, peace and happiness. More power, Mr. MM!

  23. Hi Marketman:

    Happy Birthday!!! Am new to your site and I just have to say I luv it, am an amateur cook who loves to eat so I like the features in your site.

    Will try your bicol express recipe this weekend, will let you know how it goes :)

  30. Happy Birthday from Cebu! I am older than you by 9 days…wonder if we were in the same hospital nursery?!

  31. happy birthday MM!!!

    and to The Teen, good job again on the cake. it seems that you are growing up to be one adept baker. =) it’s so nice to see you baking your folks their birthday cakes, so very thoughtful and loving of you.

  32. Susie, I was delivered at Cebu Doctors Hospital. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were in the same hospital… :) Thank you all for such wonderful greetings, I really appreciate them. Thanks!

  33. happy birthday MM! and I think The Teen will make great use of your baking equipment and that baguette basket you bought :D

  35. Happy Birthday MM!!! :) The cake sounds fantastic and am now rushing to that link to get the recipe (thanks BettyQ)!

  37. Happy birthday, MM! What a coincidence – my father and sister’s birthdays were yesterday, and mine was on the day before. And it’s Quezon City Day yesterday and Ninoy day tomorrow (no classes on both days hehe). I LOVE August! :D

  39. happy bday! =) the cake looks great. thanks for taking the time to maintain this wonderful site. ganbei!

  40. Happy Birthday MM! Have a great year ahead , and many posts for us to learn from and enjoy.

  41. betty q, this is very late but may i please have the recipe of your other, special choco cake? Or has that been posted here na?

    Just in case, Im at jgp_@hotmail.com

    Thanks in advance!

  43. Happy Birthday! May you have many more years of food and wine, markets everywhere, and other happiness.

  44. happy happy birthday mm!
    Good health & happiness…cheers to you!

    btw mm, i visited d area. It seems i made the right choice for my culinary studies. I’m enrolled.

    Betty q, remind ko lng ur award winning recipe pls. Tnx again

  48. Happy Birthday Marketman. My wish is that you will no longer encounter irritating rants… sorry to bring it up but just read your post about Power Mac. Congrats to The Teen for that good-looking and -tasting cake! :) Blessings

  51. The first cake reminds me of the Beijing Bird’s Nest. Happy Birthday, MM.
    Nice job, Teen. I’m sure it tasted extra delicious because you baked it for your dad.

  52. Happy birthday Marketman!! I’ve been reading your blogs for sometime now. I seldom leave a comment but since it’s your day my fingers force me to write one. Keep it up!! ;) Gob Bless

  53. Happy Birthday MM.
    just like cumin, the cake reminds me of the Bird’s Nest – the stadium of the Beijing Olympics.

  55. Happy Birthday MM!!

    Mrs. MM & the Teen did an excellent job with the cake. It looked so yummy!

  56. Happy birthday MM. Enjoy your day. May you have many more.
    I, too, tried bettyq’s recipe and everyone loved it.

  60. For each new morning with its light,
    For rest and shelter of the night,
    For health and food, for love and friends,
    For everything Thy goodness sends.
    ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Happy birthday, MM.

  63. I am celebrating MM’s birthday by baking bettyq’s chocolate cake today. I already got the buttermilk and will slather ganache on it. Yummm. We might eat it the next day. As bettyq says, it is better the day after.

    Happy B day again, MM! you know already how your blog has made a difference in a retiree’s life like me, so have many many more happy blogging days ahead, rants and all!

  67. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MM!!!
    Congrats to the Teen for her awesome interpretation of BettyQ’s cake.

    MM, you were probably born in Chong Hua Hospital or Perpetual Succour Hospital. Cebu Doctors Hospital was still a pipe dream of my father 45 years ago.

  75. Happy birthday MM! I think between you and Bettyq, (and other recipe sharers) you have enough material for a couple volumes of a MM “community” recipe book. =)

  76. Happy birthday, MM! May you have many, many more years of exploring markets :)

    Nice job on the cake, Teen. I’m sure it was extra special because you made it for your dad.

    Thanks, Betty Q., for always sharing your tips and recipes.

  77. Hey. . .I didn’t know there was another “special” chocolate cake. If you find the time, would appreciate if you could forward me that recipe, Betty Q. Or perhaps MM could post? Pretty please?

  79. Greetings and wishes for a happy birthday and many more years of happiness and good health! God bless you!

  88. Happy Birthday, MM! Thanks for sharing the culture and cuisine of the Philippines with the world.

  101. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you MM! MAY GOD BLESS YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS. Since the teen has announced your age,will the MM identity now be revealed too?

  102. happy birthday, MM! you are a gift to us all.. thank you.

    hi mam bettyq. i admire you so much. i was able to follow the comments section where you gave a chocolate recipe but then you also mentioned of another recipe which you will just send by email? if so, may i be emailed that one too please? thanks a lot!

  103. Mom-Friday: you pasta dish there sure looks nakakagutom! I will make it for supper tonight…don’t have much bottled aligue left but have lots of XO so maybe I will mix them together…HAAAAY! Paano na ba papayat people like me! OK: this is really deadly….aligue with XO pasta! MM….if I don’t comment on anything in the next few dys, that means I croaked!….hahaha….

    Doc,…when you make the XO, huwag mo ako sisisihin pag medyo napadami ang kain mo. Better yet, ipamigay mo na lang . Send some to San! On second thought, better not…pati ikaw sisisihin if she ends up eating more because of it!

  105. Happiest Birthday wishes to you MM!

    God bless you for your generosity. Thanks so much for your help in finding the flower supplier on 28th st in NYC. I made a lily of the valley bouquet for my sister’s wedding. The place really like a Dangwa in NYC. Except the choices are really awesome. Thank you! :)

    By the way, we’re both August birthday celebrators. Mine is on August 29.

  106. Happy Birthday MM! Wish you many more celebrations to come! That’s so sweet of the Teen to bake you a cake. This is priceless! The cake looks delish! I had to jump to bettyq’s recipe so I can copy it try it out one of these days. Looking at your yummy cake makes me crave for a slice right now :-)

  107. Hi BettyQ. so far so good. My temperance genes are ruling out, thanks to my Mom.

    I only snack on XO (store bought) pag mamamatay na ako sa gutom, I’ll try it with pasta or Chinese noodles or udon with a dash of seasoned rice vinegar. But first, I must get hold of the dried scallops, still traveling in midair or train. I hope postal services don’t close up on them….P.O. having financial diffculties here. But don’t croak yet. I am trying to be good to be in glutton mood come EB. I am already buying my plane tickets. How ’bout you?

  111. Happy Birthday, MM !!! we look forward to more food adventures in the coming years : )

    MS BETTY Q … this is the same recipe i saved from the old posts … can i also have “the other one” pls ??? i might try both when i go on maternity leave : ) pls email to smapinmo@yahoo.com … thanks in advance !!!

  112. Doc, I am beginning to think maybe Canada Post sent it through PONY EXPRESS at sa bigat ng package, maybe the PONY had to take several rest stops!!!!!…hahahahahaha

  114. Happy Birthday MM! More power to you! Good health and many blessings to you! May you continue to share your knowledge on everything that you encounter with food.Love the Teen’s chocolate cake for you.

  123. Cannot miss this opportunity to wish you a very happy birthday, MM! You and your family bring much delight to this shared blogosphere! You are a Renaissance man to me, with your varied interests.

  124. Happy Birthday, MM!

    MM/BETTQ: clicked on the old post for the chocolate recipe where BettyQ posted a recipe. Is that the same one the Teen used? Other readers were giving their email address to BettyQ for a chocolate cake recipe–WAS THERE ANOTHER CHOCOLATE CAKE recipe? If so, would appreciate it if you could send to me at calukban@yahoo.com

    Thanks and best regards!

  128. BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My internet on the blink these days so missed your special day…gee…so much catching up to do….hope you had lots of fun…great cakes there!!!

  131. Cheers to you, MM. Thank you for the wonderful blogs on food, flowers, places, etc…..I’ve learned so much from your blogs. Kudos to your feeding program. You know how to live life to the fullest and at the same time sensitive to those in need. God bless.

  133. All the best, MM and many many more to come.
    I got hooked to your blog the very same day I found it and life has never been the same. My day starts with reading your
    blog and it is so varied, true, interesting and sensitive and of course, yummy most of the time.
    Cheers! Happy, happy Birthday!

  134. I think I missed the post on Betty Q.’s award-winning chocolate cake recipe. I tried to search it but was not able to. If anyone has a copy, would you please forward it. Thanks.

  137. Happy birthday, Marketman!! I’ve been reading your blog for such a long time now :) Thanks for all the great entries :)

  139. mm happy birthday. i want to send you gift but dunno your place. anyway i just give you something more lasting best wishes.

  148. Excuse me MM for using this to ‘talk’ to Betty Q :) Betty- thanks and hope you enjoy the aligue pasta…I think i missed the XO thingy here, hehe – do you have a recipe for that or i just buy the bottle sauce? and your award-winning Chocolate cake receipe,kindly post or email: weddings.michelle@gmail.com thanks! Also, i’m sure MM and lots of followers here would like to have you create your own blog filled with your treasure trove of kitchen delights and vast knowledge on food, I will be watching out for that! ;)

  152. Mom-Friday: Can I just call you M-F? Ang haba your name lalo na si Artisan! Yes, you can make your own XO. Please just type in XO at MM’s search engine.

  154. happy birthday to you! august ka rin pala…mine was 11….happy bday to us! cheers…

  161. Belated birthday greetings, MM!

    Here’s to more wonderful food discoveries and less “FISH PAN-TASTIC” encounters for the next year!

  163. Belated Happy Birthday Again MM!!!
    Prepared your Bicol Express recipe and served it for Family, Significant Other and Friends last Saturday. Family found it too spicy but they aren’t really into the hot stuff, but Significant Other and Friends loved it. And for me that’s all that mattered.

    Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!

  165. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to my favorite blogger! Sorry have been silent lately but have been inundated with work.

  166. belated birthday wishes, MM. it must be a thrill to have such a wonderful surprise from your daughter. my son is only three years old, so i can only venture a guess at the warm, fuzzy feeling you must have gotten after seeing the Teen’s handiwork :)

  170. Belated Happy Birthday, MM!!!
    That cake looks like the chocolate cake I usually bake – double layer chocolate cake from epicurious. Love that cake!

  171. M-F: Thank you for having your vote of confidence in me about this blogging thingey. Unfortunately, I CANNOT go back on my word to the ALMIGHTY for I made a bargain when my oldest son was 10 years old. I think I already made a comment about it when MM lost his files or his computer crashed.

    Like any mother, I will give anything to make my son feel better…not sick! He developed these headaches that he didn’t know how to cope. He was only 10 years old then. I was at a loss what made hm sick and he would go into seizures. Pediatric neurologists couldn’t tell me anything. So, out of desperation, I asked HIM one day while I was driving not to take my son away yet for I waited for him a long time to come inot my life so give me a few years more and HE could take anything that I won and will give it with open arms even my life!

    Now,for the past 30 years, my whole career was in the 3 binders. Recipes given to me and pieces of paper just handwritten down and notes torn from pieces of paper, too! I know I where I stored it when we moved here to our new home. Then it just disappeared. Hubby was so apologetic for he took the bklame saying he might have thrown it away thinking it was garbage. He even offered to post a rewqard of a few thoussand $. Then I remembered the BARGAIN I made. Yes, when those binders disappeared, so did my son’s headaches and seizures stopped. My son of course, did not know anything about the bargain I made.

    It made me realize then that I did not need binders for what I know is already imbedded up in my head and in my heart! So, I do not anymore transfer recipes in binders or notebooks. When someone shares me their recipes, I just scribble them on a piece of paper and then stored in my TUPPERWARE….no CD or binders or folders! I made a bargain which I intend to keep no matter what!

    MM… I was cleaning my Tupperware when I came across this icing recipe. This is the one I learned back home when I was 14 years old. I think it is similar to Mrs. Polly’s based on the picture I have seen. My siblings prefer this frosting over ganache. It uses condensed mlk, evap. milk and cocoa powder. I do it over double boiler so it doesn’t scorch the bottom of the boil.

    I am relying on my memory here: 1 can condensed milk, 1/2 can evaporated milk (diluted), 6 tbsp. cocoa powder, i tsp. vanilla, 1 stick butter. I am sure of these propotions. This enough to frost 1 8 inch cake and some as palaman for pan desal! Just cook evertyhing in double npoiler until thickemed. Let it sit ovenight before using it so it will become really really thick.

  173. BettyQ, your story is very touching and heartwarming. And your Bargain not only blessed your son but also blessed us, MM’s readers.

  176. betty q. im so moved by your story. im thankful that even thnough i don’t know you personally, it seems that your 1 of a very close friend or relative.

    God Bless you and your family always.

  179. hi bettyq. nainggit ako sa cake ni teen using your recipe. will i be able to do justice to it if i try? will let you know. i will make it come september. and if maganda yung result, i’ll make kulit to your award winning choco cake. :)

  180. MM….sorry for being late…was out of town…a very Belated Happy Birthday!….May you have many many more to enjoy! San

  181. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARKETMAN!!! THAT LOOKS REALLY YUMMY!!!!

    Hi Ms. Betty Q., I was looking for a recipe for chocolate cake ala Mrs. Polly’s when I stumbled on this post. My fiance will have his birthday this November and he really likes Mrs. Polly’s cake. I don’t really cook or bake but I want to surprise him. If it’s not too much to ask, can you please email me (chesca26@gmail.com) the complete recipe of your cake. I also saw some of your recipes that you posted here and you inspire me to try to cook them for my love. God Bless and More Power!! Thank you!

  182. Hi Betty Q,

    Can I have a recipe of your famous Chocolate Cake and frosting? I’d be very happy to have it.

    Thank you.

    Mike Memo

BLOG CATEGORIES

Categories

MARKETMAN ON INSTAGRAM

Subscribe To Updates

No spam, only notifications about new blog posts.

    • Related Posts

    ZUBUCHON ON FACEBOOK

    ZUBUCHON ON INSTAGRAM

    FRESH OFF THE OVEN

    POPULAR POSTS

    · Copyright © 2024. WordPress Website Design by Squeesome ·
    Instagram