Nov 23

Nov 23 Date & Lemon Cake

Storm Bert has arrived bringing filthy tidings.

It's been a while since the weather has been as gloomy, wet & windy as this.

For me, this is a day to hibernate. The essentials are in & there are plans later for a Sausage, Borlotti Bean & Tomato Stew.

It feels like there's about 25 minutes of daylight in these November days so, then, how about filling the kitchen with the aromas of a cake & bringing some culinary joy to banish the darkness?

Guaranteed to gladden the soul on a dank Saturday afternoon.

Cupboards checked & a plan hatched.

Date & Lemon Cake.

Oven 160/140/Gas 3

175g Dried Dates chopped

2 Lemons Unwaxed zested and juiced

175g Butter softened

175g Caster Sugar

3 Eggs beaten

280g Self-Raising Flour

Butter & line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper

Get the fruity part of the cake started first. Into a pan go the dates, lemon zest & juice

Heat gently, stirring frequently. The dates will absorb everything

The butter & the sugar need beating until a lovely light colour

Slowly add the eggs

Flour next & it needs to be folded in

Pimped up dates are added

The concoction goes into the loaf tin

Wait (patiently) for 50 minutes to an hour then cool for 10 minutes before taking it out of the tin

Let it cool

By five o'clock there was a pot of tea on the go & a slice of the freshly baked cake.

I sat by the window watching the heavy rain lash down and listened to the wind ravage through the trees.

From The Tempest ..

'Another storm brewing; I hear it sing i’ th’ wind. Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. If it should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head..'

Indoors I'd say. With home made cake.

AMM