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:
