Tuesday 12 January 2010

Cherry and Sultana Loaf with Fresh Lime and Ginger



One of the films we just love to watch here at Oak Cottage during the winter months, and especially at Christmas, is Little Women. I just love the period costumes and the story. It bewitches me completely, and weaves a magic spell around my heart. When I was a little girl I loved the book, and, I read it over and over again. One of my favourite scenes in the film is the scene where Meg, Jo and Amy are walking and Amy trips, dropping her school slate into the snow.

Shelooks up at Meg and says, " I'm so degradetated, I owe at least a dozen limes." to which Meg replies, " Are limes the fashion now?"

Feeling a bit sorry for her after this, Meg gives Amy the money she has saved from selling rags so that she can purchase some limes to take to school, thereby enabling her to save face with the other girls. (As the story continues, the limes are taken away from Amy and she is struck by her teacher, causing her to be removed from the school by their mother. But . . . we won't think about that right now . . . )



Sometimes I like to sit and imagine what it would have been like to live in a society where the accumulation of limes would be a status thing amongst school girls . . . and I wonder . . . would I have been able to afford to buy limes? Or would I be permanently left on the side lines . . . wanting limes and envying those who had them.

And then my imaginations take me even further . . .



If I had limes, and lots of them . . . would I be content to just carry them around, and boast about how many I had to my friends, showing off to all and sundry . . .



or would the creative cook that resides deep inside me be tempted to sacrifice just a few of them to the creation of something delicious and ludicrously tasty . . .

and then . . . were I rich enough to have oodles of limes . . .

perhaps I would be rich enough to be able to purchase another exotic ingredient as well . . . preserved stem ginger . . .




and . . . lets face it . . . were I wealthy enough to buy the ginger . . . it's a dead shoe in that I would also be able to afford candied glace cherries and lucious dried sultanas . . .

Why then I expect . . . I'd be in full possession of all the ingredients needed to create a delicious cake!!!



Mmmm . . . just think about it . . . a tasty and moist loaf cake, absolutely stogged full of glace cherries and sultanas, the zest of limes and preserved ginger . . . and slathered in a luciously sweet, yet tart lime frosting. Oh, how lovely that would be . . .



I dare say the other girls would want to be my friends even more than if I just had some old limes. It sounds good to me anyways . . .



This is a cake for cosying up with next to the fire . . . a woolen blanket thrown over your knees, and a warming mug of spiced apple tea on the side. MMMM . . . Moreishly scrummy . . .

But don't just take my word for it! Bake it for yourself, then sit back and enjoy . . .



*Cherry and Sultana Loaf with Fresh Lime and Ginger*
Makes 2 (1 lb) loaves
Printable Recipe

A refreshingly light cake with a tasty lime icing. Chock full of glace cherries, sultanas, preserved stem ginger and lime. Delicious! Make one to eat now and one to stick in the freezer to enjoy at a later date. (Don't ice if you are putting it into the freezer. Save that for the day you want to serve it.)

6 ounce self raising flour
4 ounces butter, softened
4 ounces caster sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
2 ounces raisins
2 ounces glace cherries, quartered, washed and dried
5 ounces sultanas
4 bulbs preserved stem ginger, finely chopped
the finely grated zest of two limes

For the icing:
4 ounces icing sugar, sifted
2 TBs lime juice
1 bulb of preserves stem ginger, chopped
the finely grated zest of one lime

Pre-heat the oven to 160*C/325*F. Butter and line two (1lb) loaf tins with parchment paper. Set aside.

Place all the cake ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well together on low speed of a mixer to start with, and then medium speed until well mixted together and smooth. Divide evenly between the two loaf tins and smooth the tops.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the centre should come out clean and the top should spring back when lightly touched.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tins. Once completely cold, remove and ice.

To make the icing mix together the icing sugar, lime zest and lime juice until smooth. Spread over top of the cakes. Sprinkle with the chopped stem ginger. Cut in slices to serve.

swede Pictures, Images and Photos

PS - For those of you who asked yesterday, a Swede is a rutabaga. They call it a Swede over here. (It's like a large turnip which is orangy coloured)

15 comments

  1. The Little Women is one of my favorites! :) That bread looks so delicious! I want a bite! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I also read and reread Little Women (and the rest of the series) again and again! Thanks for the memories!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GORGEOUS... simply beautiful and delicious... I would love a slice right now...LOL! Happy Day, dear Marie--LOVE YA :o) ((HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think I will read Little Women again, it's years since I did and I have never seen the film. That book really did make a big impression on me, specia\lly the part where Beth dies. I felt that I knew each of those girls personally and I had lost a friend!

    That cake is a bit seductive isn't it.

    love, Angie, xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. One of my favorites books is LITTLE WOMEN I read it many times and saw the movie a lot of years. Never bored me. An I cried again when Beth die or when Jo...you know.
    This cake is really awesome Marie and I love ginger flavor, huggs to you and Todd

    ReplyDelete
  6. oh man... I'm so glad you posted this! I had temporarily forgotten about Little Women. That is one of the best books and movies EVER! I have limes too, so I will have to make this cake in honor of the March family!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love Little Women, Jo is so feisty. But I am glad that you sacrificed some of your limes to share that lovely ginger cake with us.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a lovely post, and what memories to share by the fire. I always loved Little Women. This recipe looks fantastic and I am going to have to make it! My mom is bringing some nice, Michigan, dried cherries when she comes to Florida in a few weeks. I think they'll work beautifully in this! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the movie Little Women and I really should read the book again too. I've got the "thing" for limes lately and I don't know why. Usually in the winter I crave Orange...anything Orange! I think it's this crazy winter that is causing the lime craving!

    Gorgeous photos and I love the luscious icing dripping down the sweet bread!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your cake looks wonderful. Little Women is also my fave tale from the classics and like you I love to watch it at Christmas time too. The poem to Beth makes me cry for days and days but I imagine a slice of this cake would help me to ger over her parting a little bit quicker!

    ReplyDelete
  11. These pictures are absolutely gorgeous! And the recipe sounds scrump-delecta-licious.

    I plan to publish a post on my blog (www.picturebritain.com) about the difference between sultanas, raisins, and currants this Saturday; may I have your permission to feature this recipe and an accompanying photo?

    Thank you!
    Abby

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that I would be more than willing to provide links back to your site and full attribution to you as the author of the recipe!

    Thanks,
    Abby

    ReplyDelete
  13. That would be fine Abby. Thanks for asking. I look forward to seeing your post! xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely cake - I swapped mixed spice flavour for limes and baked it all in a 2lb tin for 5 mins longer thank you for the recipe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad that you enjoyed it Gill! You're welcome! xo

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!