Mediterranean Orange Almond Cake

                              Simple, moist, full of goodness, scrumptious and gluten free to boot.

Ingredients: 4 oranges
                   6 eggs
                   pinch of salt
                   1 and 1/3 cups or 250g sugar
                   3 and 1/2 cups or 300g ground toasted almonds - can be lightly toasted
                    in the oven as ground or toasted whole then ground in a food processor
                   2 Tablespoons of brandy or Cointreau        
                                               
                                               
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             

                                               

1. Preheat oven to 190C 
2. Spray with oil a 20cm spring-release tin and line with baking paper.
3. Grate the zest from 4 oranges.
4. Separate the eggs, beat the yolks, salt and 1 cup /175g sugar until thick and creamy.
5. Fold in the orange zest and ground almonds.
6. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture
7. Put batter into tin and smooth top slightly.
8. Bake in middle of oven about 45 minutes, until a thin skewer comes out clean.

Cover with foil after 30 mins if looking too brown. Leave to cool.

1. Squeeze the juice from the oranges to make 3/4 of a cup.
2. Put the juice and any orange bits in the strainer with 1/3 of a cup of sugar in a pan.
3. Boil until reduced by half. Add brandy or orange liqueur to the syrup, cool a little.

Prick top of cake with the skewer and pour the syrup over,  gently spreading it.

Serve with Greek yoghurt .

Food For Thought

Hospitality = Kindness in welcoming guests or strangers.
                     But remember,

"Giving a dinner party is very much like having a baby; its conception is more fun than its completion"

Spicy Apple Cake

         This cake is crunchy on the outside - moist in the middle and is very easy to make.

Ingredients: 2 medium cooking apples

                    3/4 cup sugar or substitute eg Splenda

                    1 cup plain flour

                    1/2 cup wholemeal flour

                    1 teasp baking soda

                    1 teasp cinnamon

                    1/2 teasp nutmeg

                    1/2 teasp mixed spice

                    125g butter

                    1 egg

                    1/2 cup sultanas.                

1. Peel, core, and dice apples
2. Place in a large bowl, sprinkle sugar over
3. Sift flours, add chaff,  baking soda and spices into the bowl
4. Add sultanas
5. Melt butter, remove from heat, cool
6. Beat egg and then add to cool butter, add to dry ingredients
7. Mix everything together
8. Tip into a square 20cm baking paper-lined tin, spread to fill
9. Bake at 180C 45 min or until cooked or 150C fan, 35 min
10. Cool a while in tin

Dust with icing sugar and serve warm as a dessert with custard/cream, or cold, as a cake.

Oaty Nut Biscuits

Delicious, healthy and very easy to make.

Makes 20.

Ingredients:   125g unsalted butter

                      2tbs treacle

                      1tbs water

                      1tsp baking soda

                      1 cup plain flour

                      1 and1/2 cups rolled oats

                      3/4 cup walnuts, almonds or pecans, chopped

                      3/4 cup brown sugar

1. Stir butter, treacle and water in saucepan over a low heat until melted.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda.
3. Put flour in a large bowl, stir in oats, nuts and sugar.
4. Add butter mixture, stir well to combine.
5. Roll heaped tablespoons of mix into balls.
6. Place about 5cm apart on baking paper covered oven trays or sheets.
7. Press to flatten slightly.
8. Cook in moderately slow oven [160 C] about 15 minutes, or until golden.
9. Cool. Store in airtight container when cold.