HOME MADE MARMALADE ROLL

250 grams Plain flour or maida
250 grams butter 200 grams sugar
3 eggs beaten
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon orange essence
2 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons marmalade
¼ teaspoon salt

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together. Cream the butter and sugar together in a suitable bowl. Add the beaten eggs, orange essence and mix well. Fold in the flour a little at a time. Add a little milk if the mixture is too thick. Pour into a greased and floured cake tin and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or till the cake is cooked and brown on top. Take a sheet of thick brown paper and sprinkle a little water on it. Sprinkle sugar liberally on it. While the cake is still hot, turn it out on to the dampened paper. Cut it horizontally in the center without going to the ends and open it out so that it becomes a square. Spread warm marmalade on it then roll it tightly with the paper to form a roll. Chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. When required cut into round slices and serve.

LEMON AND ALMOND CAKE

250 grams butter
250 grams sugar (powdered)
3 Eggs beaten
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon / lime juice
2 teaspoons grated rind of lemons
200 grams powdered almonds or almond powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
200 grams plain flour
A pinch of salt
4 tablespoons icing sugar
Preheat the oven to 160 degrees centigrade. Grease and line a 22 cm baking tin.Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the beaten eggs and mix well. Stir in the flour, almond powder, lemon rind and lime juice. Spoon the mixture into the greased baking tin and smoothen the top. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes till the top is golden brown and the cake is cooked. Dust the top with icing sugar. Serve hot or cold.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAKE

500 grams refined flour or maida


300 grams soft brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons spice powder

500 grams mixed dried fruits (equal quantities of currants, raisins and sultanas) chopped well and soaked in rum before hand

100 grams chopped orange / lemon peel

500 grams butter

3 eggs beaten well

4 tablespoons milk

½ teaspoon baking powder

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and spice powder in a bowl. Add the fruit, orange / lemon peel and brown sugar and mix well. Add the butter and mix with a fork. Add the beaten eggs and milk and mix well to give a stiff consistency. Pour the mixture into a greased and papered cake tin and smoothen the top. Bake in a moderately hot oven for about 1 hour or till the cake is cooked and the top turns brown. Turn out and cool

To prepare the Almond Icing, soak the 300 grams almonds in water overnight then grind to a thick paste. Add 500 grams Icing sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon almond essence and 2 tablespoons lime juice and cook with a little water in a heavy bottom pan till it solidifies. Remove from heat and cool. Knead it into a stiff ball.

To prepare the Royal Icing sift 200 grams icing sugar into a bowl. Beat two egg whites then fold them into the sugar. Add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and ½ teaspoon vanilla essence. Mix to a stiff consistency.

Brush the cake with a layer of Jam or Egg white to help the icing stick to the cake. Add a thin layer of the Almond icing over the cake, pressing it gently to cover the whole cake. Using a flat spatula dipped in water spread the Royal icing over the layer of Almond icing. Decorate the cake as desired

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE

300 grams refined flour or Maida
50 grams cocoa powder
400 grams sugar powdered
300 grams butter
5 eggs
2 teaspoons Nescafe or any other Instant Coffee
1teaspoon vanilla essence
2 level teaspoons baking powder

Sift the cocoa powder, Nescafe, flour and baking powder together. Cream the butter and sugar together well. Add the eggs one by one and mix well. Add the sifted flour and vanilla essence and fold in the mixture to form a smooth slightly thick consistency without lumps. Pour into a greased and papered baking dish or cake tin and bake in a hot oven for 30 to 40 minutes till done.

EGGLESS TEA CAKE

Serves 6 Preparation time 1 hour
Ingredients

200 grams flour / maida
200 grams butter
1 tin condensed milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon soda bicarbonate / baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Sieve flour, baking powder and soda bicarbonate together and keep aside. Mix butter and condensed milk together. Add vanilla essence. Slowly add the flour. Beat lightly till well mixed. Pour into a greased baking tin and bake in a moderate oven for about 25 minutes.