125g Ground Almonds

75g Self Raising Flour

175g Unsalted Butter

200g Light Muscovado Sugar

4 Medium Sized Eggs, lightly beaten

1tsp Vanilla Extract

Flaked Almonds

Cake-baker extraordinaire and creator of Cocolicious cake company, Lucinda Hamilton, shares her deliciously different recipes for the perfect afternoon tea

  1. Preheat oven to 180C and grease a 12 hole muffin tin.
  2. Cream butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
  3. Mix in flour and almonds. Add eggs and vanilla essence bit by bit and making sure it is well incorporated before adding the next bit (best done with food processor or mixer). If the mixture is looking like it is curdling, add a spoonful of the flour and scrape down the sides.
  4. Add the rest of the flour and almonds and mix gently until you have a smooth batter.
  5. Divide equally into the muffin tin and scatter with the flaked almonds. Bake for 20 minutes until cooked and turn out onto wire rack and cool.
  6. Cut in half just before serving and fill with crème Chantilly ( whipped cream mixed with icing sugar and vanilla essence) or lemon curd mixed with mascarpone in equal quantities, and some fresh raspberries or strawberries. Dust with icing sugar.

 

  • 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.