Spicy Cakes and Spring Flowers

My lovely daughter brought me a little posy from her garden. So pretty and so much appreciated.

Easter treats are on my mind. I was thinking I might make some hot cross buns. I could make the dough in my bread making machine and then allow them to rise before baking. I might just do that but as an alternative I also fancied making some spicy cakes. Got my thinking head on and when I ‘d invented the recipe I got baking. Very pleased with the result, so here is the recipe.

Spicy Easter Cakes

140g Raisins or Sultanas
50g Mixed Candied Peel
100ml Water
4 large Eggs
200g Caster Sugar
200g Self-raising Flour
20g Bran
2 heaped teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon Dried Milk
1 teaspoon ground Ginger
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
half a teaspoon ground Cloves
200g Sunflower Oil

Icing Sugar

You will need a large baking tin. I use a roasting tin.

Put 100ml of boiling water into a heatproof jug and add the fruit and peel. Leave to soak while mixing other ingredients.
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan oven.
Beat eggs and sugar. Add other dry ingredients ( except icing sugar). Add oil. Add the fruit and water. Mix well.
Spread into the greased tin and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until it springs back in the centre when pressed.
Allow to cool, then cut into squares. Mix icing sugar with a drop or two of water to make a spreadable but not runny icing. Ice each square.
Will freeze well, before icing.

They are light but satisfyingly textured with a sweet spiciness. Nice as they are but the icing gives them a special kick.

The garden continues to delight with flowers opening every day. Vegs are good too with some really tasty salad leaves, lettuce, carrots, leeks, kale and turnips to enjoy.

Parsley and chives are green and fresh again. So appetising and full of goodness, chopped and added to a sandwich or sprinkled over a cooked meal. The kale took a bashing during that cold spell but has revived. I harvested some, added a few sprout leaves and some leeks, to make our favourite cheesy potatoes.

The Ladybirds were out in full force with the sunshine. They seemed to be everywhere and many had obviously found mates. Butterflies were visiting the hyacinths.

The hyacinths’ scent is amazing. It wafts around the garden and sitting close to them is very pleasant, especially when we can watch the butterflies enjoying them too.

When the garden comes back to life I’m spoiled for choice when I take out my camera. There are so many lovely things to see and Summer hasn’t even started yet. Here are some little treasures I snapped this week.

I couldn’t live now without a garden. In the past we had lots of different homes, some without a garden and some with a very tiny one. This garden is our biggest. Big enough for our needs but not so big we can’t manage it now we’re getting old. It’s never perfect and weed free but it has enough beautiful flowers and delicious food to keep us very happy. The best kind of exercise in my opinion. Bending, stretching and walking about and all in the fresh air, listening to the birds and observing the natural world.

I hope you are enjoying the Spring sunshine and lovely sights. With you again soon.