Labels

Happy Easter

Easter - my favourite time of year ....




.... hope, new life, lengthening days, warmer weather, flowers, lambs, chicks and ....chocolate.
 All great reasons to celebrate!





And cake ... there has to be cake at Easter.
Firstly, a chocolate almond marble cake. I used this recipe from Ruby Tandoh, contestant on GBBO 2013.
My pan was 1 litre rather than the 1.5 litre specified, so I reduced the ingredients by a third and it turned out well. The good thing, also, is that cakes with ground almonds keep well and even become more moist after a day or two.


Secondly, the traditional Simnel cake; a light fruit cake with a layer of oozy marzipan in the middle and another layer on top. Originally, it is thought Simnel cake was made by young girls working in service to take home to their Mothers on Mothering Sunday. But in late Victorian times, the cake started to be decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent the disciples of Jesus ( minus Judas, Jesus' betrayer ) and so became an Easter tradition.

I used a recipe by Mary Berry. I was intrigued by this recipe, as it uses an all-in-one method which is unusual for a fruit cake.
I am not able to report on its success, as we haven't tried it yet, but it looks deliciously moist.



Mr digandweed and I are enjoying a family get together for Easter.
The Simnel cake and chocolate goodies are packed and we are heading west to visit Mister Fudge and his family in the lovely city of Bristol.

Wishing you all a very happy Easter.

annjenny x



Labels:

Comments

  1. love those cupcakes26 March 2016 at 08:24

    Enjoy eating big slices of your bakes (and all the chocolate eggs, of course!) and time spent with family and Mr Fudge. Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. annie26 March 2016 at 09:39

      Thank you. Happy Easter to you and your family too x

      Delete
  2. colleen26 March 2016 at 12:37

    Your cakes are really pretty and I'm sure that they will taste equally delicious. I especially like the crepe paper binding. Quite hard to find crepe paper these days yet it's so versatile.

    Hope you have a wonderful and tasty break.

    PS Thanks for the links.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. annie26 March 2016 at 13:01

      Thank you. You are right about crepe paper - no-one seems to sell it now which is a huge shame. I eventually found some in Hobbycraft. Hope you have a happy Easter.

      Delete
  3. CJ26 March 2016 at 13:59

    Gorgeous Easter photos, you have outdone yourself. And those cakes look utterly divine. You've made me wonder if it's too late to make a simnel cake. I've never made (or tried one) before, but now I know it's fruit cake I'm very tempted. I hope you have a lovely Easter. Bristol is my home city (although I live outside it now) and it is indeed a great place to visit. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. annie26 March 2016 at 14:43

      Thank you. I don't think it's too late to make a Simnel cake and the Mary Berry recipe is quick and easy. I lived in Bristol until my early twenties and always enjoy going back. It has a great 'vibe'. Happy Easter to you and your family x

      Delete
  4. mamasmercantile26 March 2016 at 18:47

    Beautiful looking cakes. Have a wonderful trip and visit. Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Madelief28 March 2016 at 17:58

    Beautiful cakes and decorations! Hope you and your family had a good time.

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sarah31 March 2016 at 12:40

    Beautiful little posies of spring flowers, and I love those violas too.
    I bake quite often with ground almonds as I'm sensitive to gluten, and the cakes are indeed always nice and moist. Yours look delicious. I only managed to do some spiced biscuits - they didn't last though, which is a good sign!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment