Prep time:

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Total time:

Serves: 12

100g Caster Sugar

100g Softened Butter

100g Self Raising Flour

2 Eggs

1tsp Vanilla Essence

Celebrate in style with Jo Arnell’s unique take on a traditional Easter tea...

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (Gas 4). Place cake cases into cupcake tin.
  2. Using an electric whisk beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs – add a little flour towards the end of this if it looks like the mixture might curdle.
  3. Fold in the flour and vanilla essence, then spoon equally into 12 cake cases. Bake for approx. 15 mins.
  4. Once you’ve made the basic cakes (double/triple the above ingredients as necessary), use them to make the sheep or curd cupcakes.

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether

Peach & pistachio cake

This is an end of summer take on a Victoria sandwich, using peaches and mascarpone instead of jam and cream. Rose and lemon drizzle keeps the cake moist and rich, while pistachios add colour and a luxurious crunch.

Beetroot & feta salad

Beetroots are very easy to grow, and the great thing about home grown is that they can be picked when the roots are nice and small, which will make them sweeter when cooked (I roast them unpeeled in a low...

Grilled mackerel with roasted vegetables

It is the height of the mackerel season around our shores and this is such a tasty and very healthy fish, really easy to prepare and served on a simple dish of colourful Mediterranean vegetables.