Showing posts with label competitions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label competitions. Show all posts
I wanted to do a special bake for Easter this year. Something sweet to celebrate this special holiday.
I wanted it to be fresh and different and spring-like . . . and yet at the same time something which I could use to convey the joy that is felt during this holiest of holy holidays of the year.
I settled on my Orange and Sultana Cake. I had not made this in years. It was something which I made frequently when my children were growing up, but something which I had not made in recent years.
I settled on my Orange and Sultana Cake. I had not made this in years. It was something which I made frequently when my children were growing up, but something which I had not made in recent years.
And I don't really know why . . . it's a fabulous cake really. Handwritten on a yellowed piece of paper, spattered with use . . . a tell-tale sign of it's fabulousity! (Yes, I know that's really not a word!!)
Fabulous because, not only is it buttery and moist . . . but it's also fruity and spicy . . . with nice orange flavours, from two sources . . . the juice from the orange, of course, which is mixed with sour milk to make for a lovely moist cake . . .
Fabulous because, not only is it buttery and moist . . . but it's also fruity and spicy . . . with nice orange flavours, from two sources . . . the juice from the orange, of course, which is mixed with sour milk to make for a lovely moist cake . . .
And then there is the peel and flesh of the orange, that you chop together with sultana raisins and then fold into the batter . . . so good . . . and the spice coming from the addition of mixed spice.
Almost like the flavours of our favourite Easter treat . . . the Hot Cross Bun.
Almost like the flavours of our favourite Easter treat . . . the Hot Cross Bun.
The joy goes on in the frosting, which is a delicious and simple butter-cream, into which you fold some of the sultana/orange mixture which not only gives it a bit of texture, but delicious fruity flavours as well.
It makes a fabulous cake any time of the year, but dressed up for Easter??? Well . . . you just can't get much better than this.
It makes a fabulous cake any time of the year, but dressed up for Easter??? Well . . . you just can't get much better than this.
I created little Easter Egg Nests, by shaking flaked coconut with a teensie bit of green food colouring in a jam jar, which I then placed as nests over the top of the cake, filled with little candy covered chocolate eggs and guarded by Lindt mini bunnies of course!
The end result being a moist and whimsical cake, full of the joys of Spring and Easter. Perfect for an Easter weekend Brunch or Coffee Time, or as a dessert option after that delicious Easter dinner we will all be enjoying on Sunday.
The end result being a moist and whimsical cake, full of the joys of Spring and Easter. Perfect for an Easter weekend Brunch or Coffee Time, or as a dessert option after that delicious Easter dinner we will all be enjoying on Sunday.
In any case I do hope that you will give it a go. Here, it only has my husband and I to admire it's fabulous qualities, but in your house . . . I am sure there will be oodles of kiddies and grown-ups to go gaga over it! This truly is a special treat.
*Orange and Raisin Cake*
*Orange and Raisin Cake*
Makes one 9 inch square cake
A deliciously moist and buttery cake with a fabulous fruity butter-cream icing.
For the cake:
1 orange, washed well to remove any wax
115ml sour milk (1/2 cup)
150g of sultana raisins (1 cup)
115g of butter, softened (1/2 cup)
190g of caster sugar (1 cup)
2 large free range eggs
280g of plain flour (2 cups)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp salt
For the icing:
140g butter, softened (10 TBS)
280g icing sugar, sifted (generous 1 1/3 cups)
1-2 TBS milk
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a nine inch square baking pan and line with baking paper, leaving an overhang to lift out.
Measure out the milk. (If you don't have sour milk, add 1 tsp of lemon juice to your measure and fill with milk to the amount you need. Let stand 5 minutes.) Squeeze the juice from the orange and add to the milk. Set aside. Put the rest of the orange (all of it, peel and everything) into a food processor along with the raisins and pulse several times, until you have a mixture which resembles gravel. Reserve 2 TBS of the mixture for the icing. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Sift the flour together with the baking powder, soda, mixed spice and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour, beating until smooth. Fold in the sultana/orange mixture. Turn into the buttered and lined pan. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. When done allow to sit in the pan for ten minutes before lifting out to a wire rack to finish cooling.
To make the icing, beat the butter with an electric whisk until nice and creamy. Add the icing sugar, half at a time, and 1 TBS of milk, Beat until creamy only adding the remaining milk if needed. Beat in the reserved orange/raisin mixture. Spread this frosting on top of the completely cooled cake.
Make Your Own Mixed Spice:You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Make Your Own Mixed Spice:You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.
Win a copy of Jo Pratt’s Madhouse Cookbook worth £20
Jo Pratt, TV chef and author of Madhouse Cookbook, is helping families create some quick, delicious and nutritious meals on The Ideas Kitchen website with Panasonic. We know how tough it can be to create a meal from scratch that the kids will enjoy, so throughout September Jo’s here to help with some easy to follow video recipes. She’s also got a brilliant cookbook with lots of family friendly meal ideas so you can focus on spending time with the ones you love.
To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of Jo’s new book, just pop over to The Ideas Kitchen website and have a look at her video recipes. One cookbook will be given away in two weeks time. In the meantime, do hop on over and have a look at her video recipes and answer the following question in the comments section of this post. Unfortunately this offer is only open to UK residents at this time. Good luck!
Question:
Name one starter Jo made?
NOTE YOU NEED TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT HERE! I won't know if you leave it at the other page!
This month on The English Kitchen, I am very excited to organise a Viners Cookware giveaway!! Viners have been a cutlery manufacturer since 1901 based in Sheffield, the erstwhile steel city of UK. They have a heritage and tradition of making quality stainless steel cutlery as well as cookware.
With this competition you can win a very high quality, high anodised heavy gauge aluminium pan, 20 cm in diameter with a glass lid. The pan is triple coated with a reinforced Protec non-stick coating. 18/10 Stainless steel handles, and riveted for maintenance-free durability. In order to win this Techtonic omelette pan from the Viners Professional Cookware collection, all you need to do is answer this simple question below:
Viners is part the world’s largest cutlery company. What is its name?
Click here for a hint.
To post your answers, please visit this page:
The English Kitchen Viner's Competition.
Good Luck and keep your fingers crossed! The winner could be you!
It's all very exciting is it not!!
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