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SIMNEL CAKE
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| This cake was traditionally made by servant girls for their mother's on Mothering Sunday in March, but gradually became associated more with Easter Sunday than Mothering Sunday. | |
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INGREDIENTS
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| 8 oz. unsalted butter | 2 large lemons | |
| 8 oz. castor sugar | 4 large eggs | |
| 6 oz. chopped, mixed peel | 6 oz. sultanas | |
| 1 lb. 4 oz. currants | 14 oz. flour | |
| baking powder | 1 level teasp. mixed spice | |
| salt |
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METHOD
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Cream
the butter with the grated lemon rind and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat the eggs in one at a time, then stir in the peel and the fruit. Sift
together the flour with a pinch of salt, a good pinch of baking powder and
the spice. Fold the flour into the creamed mixture, and if necessary, add
1-2 tablespoons of milk to give the mixture a soft dropping consistency. Grease and line a 7 inch round, deep cake tin. Spoon the mixture into the tin, and level the top of the mixture with the back of a wet tablespoon. Bake in the centre of an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees F, 175 degrees C, or gas mark 4, for 3 - 3 and a half hours.
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| 4 oz. ground almonds | 4 oz. icing sugar | |
| 4 oz. castor sugar | *1 large egg | |
| lemon essence | sugar or chocolate eggs |
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* NOTE - These days it is unwise to give raw egg to small children, old people or invalids. Instead either use pasteurised, dried egg or buy commercially produced marzipan which does not use raw egg as an ingredient.
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Meanwhile,
mix together the ground almonds and all the sugar. Add half the lightly
beaten egg, with a few drops of lemon essence and 3 teaspoons of the
strained lemon juice. Knead thoroughly until the almond paste is smooth, When the cake is thoroughly cooled, brush the surface very lightly with a little boiled water. Then roll out two thirds of the almond paste into a 7 inch circle and place on top of the cold cake, smoothing the paste where it joins the side. The remaining paste is shaped into 11 equally sized balls - to represent the Apostles, excluding Judas. These balls are placed around the top edge of the cake. The centre of the cake is then decorated with little chocolate or sugar eggs or even little Easter chicks, that can be purchased from grocery shops.
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Kindly contributed by Moya Page
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Last updated 26th May, 2002 |