Category Archives: English

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Easter Simnel Cake

The Simnel cake is a cake traditionally baked during Easter in the UK. It's a light fruit cake that has two layers of marzipan, one in the middle and the other on top. The eleven balls of marzipan on top represent the 12 apostles minus Judas (for obvious reasons).

This fruit cake is lighter than the Christmas cake and the marzipan layer in the middle of the cake gives it a unique taste.

My Hubby loves fruit cakes and he has been bugging me for years to bake it for him. I finally caved in and made it for him this year. It got the thumbs up :)

The recipe, I used was Mary Berry's though I did change the number of lemons. I also changed the ratio of the dried fruits though the combined weight is still the same.
  • recipe:
  • 100g glacé cherries, cut into quarters
  • 225g softened butter
  • 225g brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 225g self raising flour
  • 375 mixed dried fruit (sultanas, currants, fruit peel)
  • zest of one lemon
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 500g marzipan/almond paste
  • 2 tbs apricot jam, warmed in the microwave
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten, to glaze
  1. Preheat oven to 130degC Fan forced. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl, until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, to prevent them from curdling. Sift the flour and mix it in a little at a time.
  3. Add the cherries, mixed fruit, mixed spice and the zest and mix until well combined.
  4. Spoon half the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface.
  5. Take one third of the marzipan and roll it out to a circle the same size as the tin. Place it on top of the cake mixture. Spoon the rest of the cake mixture on top of the marzipan and level the surface.
  6. Bake for 2- 2/12 hours until well risen and equally browned on top. Check after 2 hours. Leave to cool in the tin for about 10mins before turning out onto a cake rack.
  7. When cooled, brush the warm apricot jam over the top of cake and roll out half of the remaining marzipan to fit the top of the cake. Press firmly on the top and crimp the edges. Lightly brush with the beaten egg.
  8. With the remaining marzipan, form eleven balls and arrange the balls around the edge of the cake. Brush the balls with the beaten egg.
  9. Place the cake under a hot grill to turn the marzipan golden-brown. Alternatively, you can use a blow torch,

Happy Easter and Bon Appetite,

Cherrie

 

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Kedgeree with Kippers

Don't you love breakfast for dinner? Kedgeree, which usually contains cooked smoked fish, rice, eggs and curry, is known to be eaten for breakfast throughout the UK.

It is believed that the British soldiers brought it back home after enjoying eating it in India. It is now a popular breakfast meal using left over smoked fish though it can be eaten any time of the day.

I was really happy when I found this at a local fish monger. It's kippers. Kippers are smoked herring that has been split, salted or pickled and cold smoked. It reminds me of the Filipino smoked fish, tinapa. If you can't find kippers, you can use any smoked fish you like or even just used poached salmon.

I knew I wanted to make kedgeree as soon as I saw the kippers. I made it for dinner and my English hubby loved it. It now makes the dinner table often. For this recipe, I used a few different recipes I had and combined it to make my own.

Recipe: (serves 4)

  • 20g butter
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 tbs curry powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 350g basmati rice
  • 600ml chicken stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 hard boiled eggs, quartered
  • 200g kippers
  • 1 tbs lemon juice
  • Handful of parsley leaves
  • Salt and pepper

 

  1. Melt the butter in a heavy based pan, add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes
  2. Add the curry and turmeric powder and cook for a further minute.
  3. Add the rice and stir to mix. Add the stock and bay leaves. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, boil the kippers according to packet instructions then flake gently.
  5. Uncover the rice and gently fork the kippers and boiled eggs through.
  6. Cover and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
  7. Add the lemon juice, parsley leaves and salt and pepper to taste.

Bon Appetite,

Cherrie