In addition to the issues I have been having with the wunderkinder at Blueberry, I am adding TalkTalk to my list of Most Wanted. I actually had a Cutomer Representative laugh at me a while ago. And not because I made a joke. I’m thinking of a word and it rhymes with Banker…
To soothe the soul, and feed the many visitors we are enjoying since the arrival of our little Burrito, I have been baking. I can hear the gasps from here. It’s been so long since I was able to really enjoy baking, the SPD I had during my pregnancy made it very hard for me to stand for the periods of time required in the baking process. I am still suffering the after-effects, but not to the same degree, and as I have the luxury of a part-time husband and full-time mother on hand to help run the house, walk the dog and cuddle my baby daughter, I have been able to indulge in almond-cake-making.
Almond & Prune Cake
Ingredients:
200g each butter, sugar, ground almonds
3 tbsp plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1.5 tsp almond essence
12-14 stoned prunes
Method:
1. Grease a round baking tin (one that you’d use for your christmas cake) and preheat oven to 160C.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat eggs in one by one (add some of the flour after each egg to stop splitting.) Add almond essence and beat well.
3. Fold in almonds, baking powder and remaining flour.
4. If mixture is too stiff, then stir in a small amount of milk until mixture is of the ‘thick double cream’ consistency.
5. Arrange prunes on bottom of cake tin, pour over cake mix and bake for about an hour. Check with skewer- if it comes out clean, then the cake is done.
6. Cool, then turn onto a plate so that the pruney side is on top, dust with icing sugar and serve. Should stay moist for several days, though the cake probably won’t last that long!
7. NB: Alternatively bung all the ingredients except prunes into a Magimix and whizz until blended. Again, add a little milk if needed. Follow instructions from item 5.
I think I have a little left over- perfect for my mid-afternoon pre-feed snack. I shall enjoy it in the garden with a glass of cordial and this week’s Hello! magazine, and stare in amazement at my sleeping baby until she wakes! Life doesn’t get much better than this….well, that is if you forget all about the useless Bankers at TalkTalk.
So if you have a little left over perhaps you could send some my way!
CJ xx
I’ll see what I can do CJ!
Welcome to Cecily Jean Olivia! I’m sorry I’ve been away so long, but I bet you’re so busy you haven’t noticed. What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. You both must be so thrilled. And I’m so happy for you. And you still have time to bake!
Baking moments are few and far between Wakeup, but thank you- she is heavenly.Hoping things are a little brighter in your life xx
Ahhhh almond cake.. I shall dream about it while I enjoy the Baileys Ice Cream cocktail that DP has just provided for me