☼ sunny weekend tastes

how does the song go?

♫ mad dogs and englishmen, go out in the midday sun ♪

not this english girl:

midday is the perfect time to whip up this tasty treat:

it's my own take on Madeira cake:

madeera cake:

you will need:

250g plain flour

1 heaped teaspoon baking powder

175g softened butter

175g caster sugar

3 eggs

the zest and juice of a large lemon

*or two small ones*

 heaped teaspoon of fennel seeds

some sugar for sprinkling

line and grease a loaf tin:

preheat your oven to 180°c/ gas 4:

sift the flour and baking powder together and set aside:

cream the butter and sugar until light in colour & fluffy:

add the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour with each :

mix well:

stir in the fennel seeds, lemon zest and juice:

then carefully fold in the flour:

pile into your loaf tin, smoothing the top slightly

and sprinkle with some more sugar:

bake for 1 hour 15 minutes ....

{as usual test it is cooked by sticking a skewer through

the cake ~ if it comes out clean it is ready}

leave in the tin to cool slightly before turning out onto a rack:

this cake needs to be cold before slicing:

will keep for three or four days in an airtight tin:

think I might try this with crushed cardamon seeds next time: