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Friday 28 August 2009

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly!



I bet you are wondering if Rosie has lost her marbles. Fear not my friends, my marbles still are chinking around in my brain, well I hope so, *giggle*.

I will first start with the word ugly; this is just how I looked last Saturday. My ongoing back condition had raised its ugly head once again, and here was I walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame. I definitely had that distinctive hunch, lent over walking and it wasn’t a pretty sight, it did verge on the ugly! I am taking things slowly and each day as it comes with my back once again.

Bad, well this word came into play because Mr. R. (hubby) had promised me a treat with his - YES HIS – credit card, to a kitchen and home ware store last weekend! You see, because of the Notre Dame experience above, I did not have the pleasure of hammering his credit card; who me, no, not I, how could do such a thing – my lips are sealed *cough*....... Let’s see what this weekend brings *wink* *wink*.

Now for the GOOD, the lovely Katie over at Katiecakes had her first Blog Giveaway, I am SO thrilled and SO excited to tell you that I won!! I was totally shocked and taken back to learn this news; I had to pinch myself to see if it was true! The Giveaway is a gorgeous baking book from Harry Eastwood, Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache. I have been yearning to own this book since it first came out! Katie asked which unusual ingredient you have, or would like to bake with and how you would use it. This is my answer; my ingredient would have to be beetroot because I have been pondering on making a red velvet cake without all the red colouring. Hopefully the beetroot would stain the sponge enough and with veggies included it’s got to be healthy don’t you think ???

Thank you Katie SO much, I am extremely honoured and thrilled to be receiving this awesome book! If you have not visited Katie’s Blog yet, I fully recommend a visit as you are definitely missing out on such a treat of fantastic baked goodies.

*Phew*, now let us catch our breaths after all this news!!

I thought I would offer you a simple but delicious little bake today. This cake would be ideal to serve as a pudding with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream or even my favourite, lashings of custard. It has a seam of squidgy cherry conserve running through, (much akin to a jam-filled doughnut), the light fluffy almond sponge, with a little crunch from the flaked almonds scattered over the top. In my opinion, it has much of the distinctive flavours of a Cherry Bakewell cake and just as every bit as scrumptious.




Cherry and Almond Cake

Makes a 900g (2 lb) Loaf cake

Ingredients
175g (3 oz) softened butter
150g (5 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 – 6 tbsp milk
150g (5 oz) self -raising (self- rising) flour
100g (4 oz) ground (almond meal) almonds
6 tbsp cherry conserve
20g (¾ oz) flaked almonds
Icing sugar to dust

You will need a 900g (2lb) loaf tin – greased with a little butter and lined with baking parchment.

Method

Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan oven 140°C/325°F/Gas mark 3. In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add a little at a time of the beaten egg to the mixture until fully incorporated. Beat in the vanilla extract and 4 tablespoons of the milk. Fold in the flour and ground almonds with a spatula. If the mixture appears a little too thick, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of milk and incorporate it into the mixture until well combined. Spoon half the mixture into the loaf tin and level off with a spatula. Spoon over the cherry conserve leaving a gap all around the edges. Spoon the remaining mixture of the cherry conserve to cover and level off with a spatula. Scatter the flaked almonds over the top. Place in the preheated oven to bake for 1 hr - 1 hr 15 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Remove the baking parchment and dust with icing sugar.

Lastly, cut yourself a slice of this magnificent cake, and then sit back, relax and enjoy.

36 comments:

Katiecakes said...

Awh, thanks for the kind words Rosie! I'm elated you won the book, I just know you'll make good use of it :D I posted it today so it should be with you very shortly :D

That cake looks wonderful, cherry and almonds make my heart skip beats!

I hope you feel better soon! :)

Katie xox

Lucie said...

Rosie, sorry to hear about the back trouble - hope you shall be feeling better soon. This looks a wonderful bake,delish cherry and as you say would make a lovely pud. Pleased to hear about your prize - you are a most deserving winner:)

Best wishes
Lucie
http://cookingatmarystow.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Thats very disappointing to hear about your back pain..
But loved reading you..so much of fun..
The cake looks real delight.

The Girl said...

Sorry to hear about the trouble you've had - but let's hope that trip with the credit card makes you feel better!

Congratulations on winning your book as well, nothing like winning a prize to make you feel better. Looking forward to seeing some of the recipes from it soon.

Donna-FFW said...

Cherry and almonds, how yummy does that sound.. so very!!

I hope you are well on the way to 100%!!

A_and_N said...

Hope all's well, Rosie!

I'm going to try this with blueberries :)

Snooky doodle said...

Oh I m sorry you have a back ache! Hope you ll get well soon. This cake looks so good, Cherry and almond are my favourite :)
Visit my new blog at http://snookysrecipedoodles.blogspot.com/

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I'm sorry to hear about your back bothering you... That cake looks so flavorful and delicious! A great creation!

Cheers,

Rosa

Heather said...

Your Almond and Cherry Cake looks delicious. I love both flavors. Congratulations on your win from Katiecakes.

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I would love to be able to cut myself a slice, sit back and relax!

Sorry about your back! Hope you're up and walking (upright) in no time!
~ingrid

Btw, I want to hear and see all the goodies you purchase with Mr. R's card. That is when you go.

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Rosie Im sorry you have again problems with yor back, I hope you will be fine soon dear.
This cake is absolutely wonderful and look delicious as always.
Dear Rosie if you have time stopping by at my blog Im making a giveaway, (LOL) and really hope your back will beOK .kisses,gloria

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope your back is better and you're no longer skulking around cathedrals! Just have some more of this tasty treat! :)

Rose said...

Looks delicious Rosie!
Hope you back improves real soon :)

Rose

Donna said...

Sorry about your back sweet Rosie!! What a "pain"!!!lol..my pun for the day...And Congrats on winning the book!!!! Isn't that fun?!!! And Hubby was very sweet as well!!
Happy baking girl!!hughugs

Hornsfan said...

Congrats on the winning - I'm sure you'll make good use of the book and get a chance to exercise your hubbie's credit card soon :) Hope your back is feeling better.

dabrah said...

Hi Rosie, that cake looks scrumptious. But I'm sorry to hear you're having back problems. It's so painful and exhausting. I hope you get better soon.

Reeni said...

Your cake looks so delicious with the cherries in it!! I hope your back is feeling better! Congrats on the book!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Congratulations Rosie on that win. Now you know you are most definitely a winner (if you had doubts, that is)!

And take care of yourself. Hope your back gets better soon.

Katie said...

Sorry to hear about the bad and the ugly parts but the good sounds very very good. I have had my eye on that cookbook too. You will have to bake some recipes from it to show us. The cherry dessert looks wonderful.
Hope your back is better soon

Unknown said...

lovely cake rosie....yummy..

The Caked Crusader said...

hope your back improves Rosie. Surely the thought of raiding a kitchen dept on someone else's credit card must be the best medicing going?

The cake looks fab - cherry and almond is such a terrific combination

Cakelaw said...

Get well soon Rosie! Congrats on your book win, and thanks for sharing this lovely cake with us. Hope hubby takes you for that credit card spin soon.

Mini Baker said...

yumm! cherry almond! sounds delish! just found your blog and i love it!
I'll be checking back often :)
-Mini Baker

Maggie said...

Congratulations on winning such a wonderful book Rosie!
The cherry and almond cake will definitely be made in this house, very soon.

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Feel better, Rosie.

Your did a great job with this recipe. It looks delicious.

brii said...

ciaooo rosieee..
I'm so glad I found you again!
will change link at once! :))
a big hug and hope you'll feel better soon.
baciusss

Trish said...

My goodness...this looks so very fine indeed! I hope this comment finds you much better!

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Rosie, I know you have probles at your back, I hope you are better we really missed you a lot! huggss! gloria

pixen said...

Dearest Rosie,

Thank you for your guidance for newbie like me in baking. Your words and photos posted will always be a reference and inspiration to me.

From time to time, I'm going to visit your blog even though you're now in safe hands.

I'm already missing you :-(

RIP Rosie... My Condolence to her loving family.

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