Mango Lassi

My normal choice of lassi is just spiced sweet lassi, but I have a tub of frozen mango I am slowly working my way through... This takes seconds to throw together but really does add another dimension to an Indian banquet at home.

For 2 tall glasses of thick, luscious, cooling comfort you need:
1/2 tub value runny yogurt
handful ice cubes
handful frozen mango
1/2 yogurt tub of cold water (or more if you want a thinner lassi)

Lob everything in to a blender and blitz till smooth (about 1 minute or so). Serve.

Northern Indian Curry (v)

This is a recipe adaptation from Anjum Anand's recipe for Northern Indian Chicken Curry. The sauce it makes is delicious and very versatile. I added quorn chunks but next time I think it'll be chickpeas :)

For 4-6 portions you need:
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 can chopped tomatoes
7 cloves
7 bashed cardamon pods
1/2 stick cinnamon (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
salt and pepper
1 fresh chilli, chopped
2 dried whole chillies, bashed
1/2 tsp hot chilli powder
2 tbsp ground corriander
1 tsp ground cumin
30g crushed garlic (yes I know that's a lot but it's worth it)
2 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp tumeric
3 tbsp oil

Begin by frying the whole spices in the oil for a few seconds. Add the onion and cook over a moderate heat for about 20 mins till browned. Add everything the dried spices, chilli, garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Add everything else including the main protein (e.g. 1 can drained chickpeas or 1 packet of quorn chunks). Add 1/2 can water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 mins or so until thickened and cooked and delicious. Serve as you would normally with rice or roti and sit back basking in gut busting satisfaction :)

Marmite Pasta (v)

This is a Nigella recipe, and one that's done the rounds recently between some of my online friends. It's utter simplicity, utter savoriness and utterly delicious.

For one person you need:
100g pasta
1/2 tsp marmite
1 tbsp butter/vegan marge

Cook the pasta in water as per usual. In a separate pan put the fat and marmite and meld together with a little of the pasta water. Bubble gently and then add the pasta, taking care not to drain too carefully. Toss thoroughly and scoff. If you're not vegan add lashings of grated cheese to it :)

Chocolate Orange Cake

This should have been Nigella's marble cake but I didn't read the recipe properly and added all the cocoa powder at the beginning thereby making chocolate orange cake instead. It still tastes nice but Lex was disappointed Mummy hadn't made his request. Oops...

For 2 loaf cakes you need:
250g butter, softened
250g caster sugar
250g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarb
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
zest and juice of one orange
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp milk

Cream the butter and sugar and then add the eggs, flour, raising agents and cocoa. Mix in the orange zest, juice and milk. Scrape into 2 lined loaf tins and bake for 30 mins or so in a moderate oven.

Veggie Eggs Benedict

I adore this, and still hanker after the real thing, but this is an acceptable veggie substitute.

For one person you need:
1 english muffin, split and toasted and lightly buttered
2 eggs, poached (see perfect poach egg recipe for how)
2 tbsp hollandaise sauce
2 rashers veggie bacon, cooked

Place the bacon on the muffins, trimming to make it fit. Place a poached egg on top and then drizzle over the hollandaise sauce. Serve as a lazy brunch or late supper and feel suitably decadent.

Perfect Poached Eggs

Remember, this blog is to teach my son to cook. That is all.

For a perfect poached egg you need:
1 egg
1 pan simmering water
1 tsp vinegar

Place the vinegar in the water and bring to the boil, then reduce to the barest simmer. Crack the egg into a glass and pour gently into the water. Cook for 3-4 mins till the white is set and the yolk is runny. Drain, pat on a tea towel to absorb the excess water and serve as you wish.

Fruit Flan

I have always scorned those ready made sponge flan bases in the supermarket but for some reason I brought one last week along with a carton of creme patisserie. Lex was delighted. Apparently this is one of his favourite puddings (who knew...). For mummy and daddy I raided M&S for the last of the British berries.

For 6-8 slices you need:
1 ready made sponge flan base
1 carton proper posh creme patisserie
Assorted seasonal berries (we had strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries)

Place the custard on the base and then decorate with the berries to make a pleasing pattern. Leave some flan and custard bare for Mr Fussy Pants.

Tempura (v)

I have never ever made tempura before. I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was difficult. How wrong I was. It's easy peasy and tastes delicious. Pass the batter!

This is based on the delectable Ottolenghi's recipe...

For 4-6 people you need:
About 1.5 kg of different vegetables (I used onions, peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauli, courgettes)
80g cornflour plus a little extra
80g self raising flour
200ml sparkling water
2 tsp oil
pinch salt
oil for frying

Chop the veggies in to bite sized pieces, taking care to make sure the harder ones are sliced quite thinly.

Mix the flours with the oil, salt and water. Mix lightly. Toss the vegetables in a little extra cornflour and then dip them, one at a time, in the batter. Heat some oil for frying in a large wok. Drop the batter coated veggies in one at a time, taking care not to crowd the pan or the temperature will drop and everything will go soggy. Turn in the oil to ensure even cooking and then drain. Serve with soya sauce and sweet chilli sauce for dipping.

Beghrir (Moroccan Pancakes)

Yet another variation on the pancake theme... These were served in our hotel for breakfast with lashings of butter and honey. They were very very good indeed.

For 12-16 pancakes you need:
2 eggs
125ml warm water
2 tsp yeast
125ml warm milk
250g plain flour
225g semolina
1/2 tsp salt
vegetable oil for frying
honey and butter to serve

Begin by adding the yeast to the water and leaving it for 5 mins to dissolve. Put the flour, semolina and salt in to a bowl. Add the eggs to the milk and mix well. Pour the eggs and milk in to the flour mixture and then add the yeasted water. Mix well to form a very sticky dough/very stiff batter. Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for at least 2 hours (I leave it overnight in a cool room).

When you're ready to make the pancakes, mix the batter again and heat a large frying pan. Add a little oil and then pour some of the batter into the pan. Spread out to make a pancake about the size of a side plate. Cook gently until bubbles perforate the top. Eat topped with honey and butter.

Saganaki

OK OK I know this isn't strictly middle eastern an' all but it tastes nice and goes well with the other offerings on the mezze table...

For 2 people you need:
1 pack feta
fine breadcrumbs
lemon juice
vegetable oil

Coat the cheese in the breadcrumbs and chill for about 30 mins. Heat a pan until very hot and add a little oil. Briefly fry on both sides till golden brown and the cheese is warmed through. Serve with lemon juice. Delicious!

Baked Figs with Moroccan Spices (v)

I had a holiday of a lifetime in Morocco a few years back. I adored the sights, smells and of course THE FOOD!!! This is a Moroccan themed dessert to finish our Middle Eastern inspired menu for tonight.

For 2 people you need:
4 ripe figs
1/2 tub ricotta or 1/2 tub vegan cream cheese/silken tofu
1 tsp fragrant honey (preferably Moroccan but I'll let you off if you can't find that) or agave nectar if you're vegan
1 tbsp pine nuts
1 tbsp flaked almonds
3 cardamon pods, seeds extracted and ground to a fine dust
1 tsp rose water
1 tsp orange flower water

Begin by cutting a cross in the top of the figs and gently squeezing the sides to make them open out. Place them in an oven proof dish. Mix together the other ingredients (aside from the pine nuts/almonds). Dollop a tbsp of the sweetened mixture per fig in the middle. Top with the pine nuts and almonds. Bake in a moderate oven for 15 mins or so until warmed and the fig juices are running. Serve.

Fart Soup (v)

As so called by Lex due to the effects on his digestive system... Beware.

For 4-6 portions you need:
1 butternut squash peeled, deseeded and cubed
500g jerusalem artichokes, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp oil
1 onion, chopped
1 litre veggie stock
1 tsp italian seasoning

Fry the onion and artichokes in a little oil. Roast the squash in a hot oven for about 30 mins (or add to the pan if you want to save time). Add the stock and seasoning and cook for about 10 mins till the veggies are cooked through. Puree when cooked and serve with bread.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach & Ricotta

I adore baked mushrooms, and these were thrown together during the week to use up a glut of spinach that arrived in the veg box. Very tasty they were too :)

For 2 people (as a starter) you need:
4-6 portabello mushrooms
250g spinach, washed and finely shredded
25g butter
1 clove garlic
1/2 tub ricotta cheese
salt and pepper
freshly grated nutmeg
1/3 cup finely grated gruyere

Begin by peeling the mushrooms and trimming the stalks. Place them stalk side up on a baking sheet and top with a little garlic and butter and seasoning. Bake in a moderate oven for 5-10 mins. Meanwhile wilt the spinach in a bowl in the microwave. Season and add some grated nutmeg. Mix in the ricotta. Take the mushrooms out of the oven and place the spinach filling on them. Top with a sprinkling of cheese and bake for a further 20 mins or so until hot and bubbling. Serve with lots of crusty bread to soak up the juices.

Gooseberry Crumble (v)

I am slowly working my way through the glut of fruit we have in our freezer. Tonight was the turn of the gooseberries.

For 6-8 portions you need:
1kg of frozen gooseberries
200g self raising flour
100g vegan marge
100g demerara sugar plus 2 tbsp for sprinkling

Place the fruit in a baking dish. Mix together the fat and flour till it's like breadcrumbs and then mix in the sugar. Sprinkle over the gooseberries, and then add the final 2 tbsp sugar on top. Bake at 170 degrees for 45-60 mins till bubbling, hot and browned. Eat with swedish glace or vegan custard.

Culinary Crack

or salty sweet and nut crunch as Nigella calls it. Do not make this if you are on a diet. Or don't want to eat your bodyweight in good things! I am in the process of tinkering with this to make a vegan version. I'm thinking glace cherries to replace the crunchies...

Anyways. This is from Nigella's Kitchen and is another variation on the theme of add things to melted chocolate and butter and scoff...

For about 24 squares you need:
150g plain chocolate
150g milk chocolate
250g salted peanuts
125g UNsalted butter (this is important due to the amount of salt in the nuts)
3 tbsp golden syrup
4 40g crunchie bars, roughly chopped

Begin by melting together the butter, chocolates and golden syrup. Once melted add the nuts and crunchie bars and then spread out in a foil lined swiss roll tin. It's important to use foil and not clingfilm unless you want to pick minute pieces of plastic out of the chilled article...! Leave to set overnight and eat. OMG.

Nutty Apple Loaf

Guess where this recipe is from.... yeah, that's right! But it's another good one.

For 8-10 slices you need:
175g butter
140g soft brown sugar
2 tbsp strawberry jam
2 eggs
140g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
100g shelled mixed nuts
100g chocolate chips
2-3 apples, peeled and cored and chopped into bite sized chunks

Begin by creaming the butter and sugar and then adding the eggs and jam. Mix in the flour, baking powder and cinnamon then fold in the apples, nuts and chocolate chips.

Scrape in to a lined loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven for 30-40 mins. Leave to cool then slice and scoff.

Chocolate Cheesecake & Raspberry Brownie

This is _yet another_ Hummingbird recipe, but oh MY! it's good! I made it for a work fuddle and it went down a storm.

For 32 teeny tiny portions you need:
Brownie Base
200g dark chocolate
200g butter
250g icing sugar
3 eggs
110g plain flour

For the Cheesecake Layer
400g cream cheese (don't be tempted to use half fat like I did, it doesn't work as well)
150g icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

For the raspberry cream mousse topping
300ml double cream
1 punnet raspberries, defrosted if frozen

Begin by making the brownie base. Melt the chocolate. Beat the butter and icing sugar together and then add the flour a dollop at a time. Mix in the chocolate and splat into a lined baking tin.

Whisk together the cream cheese and icing sugar and eggs and vanilla. Pour over the brownie base. Bake in a moderate oven for about 30 mins.

Once cooked, leave to cool and then chill in the fridge. Just before serving whip the cream and raspberries till very thick and fluffy. Smear on to the cooked base and then sigh in pleasure as you devour each. Little. Bite. Utter, utter bliiiiiiiiis!

Sort of Egg Fried Rice

We're at the tail end of a zero waste week which basically means we have no veggies left and not much of anything else. This is a good thing, but it's called for some creativity when making meals! This was a quick, tasty and filling dish thankfully!

For 3-4 portions you need:
2 cups cooked basmati rice
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup sweetcorn
2 quorn sausages
1 tbsp soya sauce
1 onion
1/2 chilli
2 cloves garlic

Fry the onion in a wok for a few mins then add the garlic and chilli. Add the rice and cook through thoroughly. After 3 or so mins add the diced sausages, peas and sweetcorn. Beat the eggs and add those, mixing well to cook it properly. Season with soya sauce and serve with sweet chilli sauce.

Parkin (v)

This is an excellent vegan cake, that doesn't need any strange combinations of ingredients to replace the missing eggs. It's spicy, warming and gets better with age. Assuming you can keep it for more than a few days.

For 1 2lb loaf cake you need:
100g plain flour
100g butter/vegan margarine
100g dark brown sugar
100g treacle
100g golden syrup
175ml soya milk
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp baking powder
100g oats

Melt together the marge/butter, syrup, treacle and sugar. Leave to cool for 10-15 mins or until you can comfortably put your hand against the side of the pan. Meanwhile mix together the dry ingredients. Once the sugar/syrup/fat mix is cool enough mix them together along with the soya milk. Don't worry about the batter being very thin! Pour in to a lined loaf tin and bake at 160 degrees for about 30 mins till risen and cooked.

Quick Braised Red Cabbage (v)

We've had a lot of red cabbages lately, and I am growing tired of them as I am the only person who seems to like them. However this recipe was tried by Lex for the first time last night and (hold the front page) he loved it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact I told him he couldn't have any cos it had too much alcohol in it (a complete lie) but he tried it and loved it and now I can share my love of braised red cabbage with someone else...! This is a quick version as opposed to the one where you have to cook it for hours and hours...

For 4-6 people you need:
1 red cabbage, shredded finely
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp veg oil
2-3 good glugs red wine vinegar
2-3 good glugs sherry
salt and pepper
2 tbsp dark brown sugar

Begin by sweating the cabbage, apple and onion in the oil for about 5 mins. Add the sugar, vinegar and sherry and cook down for 15-20 mins. Season and serve. Simples.

Saute Potatoes (v)

Lex adores these. And I have to admit I do too... They're crunchy and sweet and savoury and moreish. What else do you want?!

For 2-3 portions you need:
2-3 baking potatoes or other fluffy potatoes
1 onion
salt and pepper
1 tbsp sunflower oil

Begin by chopping the potatoes into a small-ish dice. Leave to soak in a bowl of cold water to draw out some of the starch. Drain and dry well on tea towels. Meanwhile chop the onion. Toss the potato and onion in a bowl with salt and pepper and the oil. Tip on to a baking tray and cook in a hot oven for 30 mins or so until the potatoes are golden brown, sizzling and soft and yummy. Scoff.

Vegetable Crumble with Pine Nuts and Almonds (v)

This was a bottom of the veg box use-it-all-up idea which turned out good. Very good. It's not strictly a crumble I guess as I cheated and used bread crumbs on the top, but it worked well to give a crunchy, tasty, nutty crust to counter the vegetables below. Omit the cheese for a vegan version. The veggies given below are what we needed to use up. Other combinations would also work!

For 4-6 portions you need:
1-2 onions, chopped
1-2 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
1 squash, peeled and cut into chunks
2 ears corn, with the kernels stripped off
1 courgette, thickly sliced
2 tsp vegetable stock powder
3 slices brown bread with seeds
handful grated cheddar
salt and pepper
1 tbsp roughly chopped herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley)
1 can butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp light olive oil
2 tbsp pine nuts
2 tbsp flaked almonds

Begin by sauteeing the onion in the oil. Add the squash and carrot and cook for a further 2-3 mins. Add the courgette and sweetcorn and enough water to come half way up the sides of the pan (you don't want too much). Add the beans, stock powder, herbs and season. Cook for 5 mins or so.

Meanwhile blitz the bread in a food processor till fine crumbs. Tip the veggies and stock into a large oven proof dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs. Add the cheese if using and then the pine nuts and almonds. Bake in a moderate oven for about 20 mins until the veggies are all cooked and the crumbs are browned. Serve with saute potatoes and braised red cabbage. Yum yum yum.

Cheddar and Leek Tarts

These were inspired by an @deliciousmag recipe which was very timely as I had some leeks and leftover filo pastry to use up in the fridge. Mine used cheddar and gruyere as we had no blue cheese. And very tasty indeed they were too :)

For 3 medium and 3 small tarts you need:
1/2 pack filo sheets
2 eggs
about 1/2 cup double cream
good handful grated cheddar
2 tbsp gruyere cut into small chunks
2 leeks, sliced
knob butter
salt and pepper

Begin by suateeing the leek in the butter till soft. Line some individual tart tins/muffin tins with the filo pastry. Lay the sheets in the tins - you'll need about 4-5 sheets per tin to ensure no gaps/holes. Mix together the eggs, cream and seasoning and then add the cheddar. Place the cooked leeks in the base of the lined tins. Pour over the eggy, cheesy, cream mixture and then stud the top with the gruyere. Bake in a hot oven for about 15 mins till puffy, golden and crispy. Serve with salad and potatoes.

Mississippi Mud Pie

I am working my way through the Hummingbird Bakery book at the moment and am trying out some of their pies. I love pies, but hardly ever make them due to the perception that it's lots of hassle. It's not. And the resulting pies have been to die(t) for. I am getting so fat from all of this! This pie is all you'd expect from the genre. Oozing, bitter chocolate base, crispy pie case and fluffy mounds of cream on the top studded with chunks of bitter chocolate. Heaven.

For 10-12 slices you need:
Filling:
150g bitter chocolate
50g butter
30g golden syrup
6 eggs
300g soft light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
350ml double/whipping cream

Pie crust:
260g plain flour
110g butter
2-3 tbsp water

Make the pie crust by pulsing the butter and flour together in a food processor and then adding the water. Form into a dough and leave to rest for a bit wrapped in cling film. Then roll out and line a pie dish. Bake blind with beans for 10 mins and then without the beans for a further 10 mins.

Meanwhile make the filling. Melt the butter, chocolate and syrup together. Leave to cool slightly. Whisk the eggs and sugar till fluffy and combined. Add the melted chocolate and mix well. Pour into the dish and bake in a moderate oven for 30-40 mins taking care not to burn the filling. It's done when the middle is set but still a bit wobbly. Leave to cool completely then refrigerate overnight. Just before you want to serve whip the cream and pile on the top. Sprinkle over grated chocolate before serving.

Coleslaw with Red Cabbage

This just substitutes red cabbage for white and makes a pretty pink colour to the sauce.

For 10-12 portions you need:
1/2 red cabbage
1 onion
2 carrots, peeled
2-3 tbsp salad cream
2-3 tbsp mayonnaise

Shred the cabbage and onion in a food processor. Grate in the carrot. Mix together with the salad cream and mayo and scoff. Simples.

Spinach and Cheddar Muffins

These are savoury muffins (obviously...) which I have never made before but they were lovely. Great on their own, as part of a meal or as a side for soup instead of bread. Make sure the batter is loose enough before baking. The first time I made them, the quantity of milk given made a very stiff batter which couldn't rise properly. Add some more milk if in doubt... This recipe is from the wonderful Hummingbird Bakery book

For about 18 UK muffins (as opposed to the giant USA sized ones) you need:
30g butter
1 red onion, finely diced
360g plain flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 hot chilli powder
250g strong cheddar, grated
220ml milk
1 egg
130g baby spinach leaves

Begin by sauteeing the onion in the butter till lightly golden and cooked. Leave to cook slightly. Meanwhile mix everything else together. Add the onions towards the end and mix thoroughly. Spoon into cases and bake in a moderate oven for about 30 mins till risen and golden. Serve warm. These also freeze well.

Bagels (v)

I don't have much confidence with making bread. Cakes? Yes. Bread? Not so much. However I was inspired after watching the Great British Bake Off, and learning about proving and rising and baking so thought I'd give it a go. One of the contestants made bagels, and given that we have moved in to a very Jewish area it would have been rude not to try them. They worked. Very well in fact!

For about 8 bagels you need:
2 tsp dried yeast
1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
300ml warm water
500g bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

Begin by dissolving the yeast and sugar in 100ml of the water for 5 mins. Mix well and add to the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add as much extra water as you need to make a stiff, very firm dough. Knead for about 10 mins, working in extra flour if you can. The dough needs to be very very stiff and firm. Place the kneaded dough into an oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise for about an hour until it is doubled in size.

Knock back the dough and leave to rest for 10 mins. Cut into 8 equal sized pieces. Shape each piece in to a ball then form each ball in to a ring by twirling the dough on your index finger. Place the bagels onto an oiled sheet and leave to rest for 10 mins covered with a damp cloth.

Bring a large pan of water to the boil and drop each bagel in (do this in batches of 2-3). Poach the bread until it rises to the surface - about a minute. Drain and then bake at 220 for about 20 mins or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and feel humbled that you Have. Made. Bagels. Eat.

Sunday Lunch with Friends

We have some friends coming over tomorrow for a bike ride and lunch, and this is what I've made to tickle our taste buds and replenish our energy levels. Hope they like it!!

Potato wedges
Blue cheese dip
Cheddar and Spinach Muffins
Bean salad
Green salad
Crudites (for the kids ;-))
Pain de Semolina

And for pudding:
Mississippi mud pie
Apple and nut loaf
Gulab Jamans (at Lex's request, we didn't really need three puddings...!)

Sicilian Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Olives (v)

OK so this isn't strictly Sicilian pasta I am sure. But I saw Rick Stein make something like this on his Mediterranean adventure programme a few days ago and thought I like the look of that. The experiment worked and this was totally lush.

For 2 hungry people you need:
200g long pasta
handful fresh tomatoes
handful olives, sliced
pinch chilli flakes
salt and pepper
handful shredded basil leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, smashed

Begin by cooking the pasta. Meanwhile heat the oil in a saute pan and add the garlic. Stir to flavour the oil but don't colour the garlic. Strictly speaking you're supposed to remove the garlic now but frankly that's a heinous crime so keep it in and enjoy it in the sauce. Chop the tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds, discard the seeds. Roughly chop the tomato flesh and add to the hot pan. Season and stir well to cook down the tomatoes. Add the olives and chilli flakes. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce pan. Coat well, mixing in the basil leaves. Serve, scoff, smile :)

Brunch in one Pan

I love a good fry up, but this usually means lots of mess. My better half does not like this. I got a new sautee pan yesterday and was dying to try it out, so created this this morning to test out the reduced mess option. It worked.

For 3 hungry people you need:
1 punnet mushrooms, thickly sliced
handful cherry tomatoes, halved
3 eggs
1/2 tbsp oil
small knob of butter
salt and pepper
toast to serve

Begin by sauteeing the mushrooms in the oil and butter for 4-5 mins. Then add the tomatoes and cook for a further 1-2 mins. Clear 3 spaces and crack in the eggs. Cover with a lid and cook for 2-3 mins till the eggs are lightly set. I should mention here that you need a non stick pan...

Serve with toast and scoff. A perfect way to start the day.

Meal Plans for Next Week

Here we go again...

'Beef' fahitajs with tortillas, nachos, salsa and guacamole
Quorn tikka masala with dhal, rice and chapattis
Japanese omelettes with mushrooms and aubergines
Pasta and tomato sauce
Falafels, houmous and cous cous
Cheesy leek and potato pie with veggies and lashings of gravy
Tom yum soup with tofu
Pad thai

Blackcurrant and Lime Citrus Drizzle Cake

This is a variation on a theme but one that makes good use of the frozen glut of blackcurrants we have.

For 2 loaf cakes you need:
225g butter
225g caster sugar
250g self raising flour
3 eggs
zest of 1 lemon, 1 lime and 1 orange
juice of 1 lime and 1 orange
450g blackcurrants, plus 50g extra
150g sugar
juice of 1 orange, 2 lemons and 2 limes plus the zest of each

Begin by creaming the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and then mix in the flour. Add the zest, juices and 450g currants. Mix well. Scrape into 2 lined loaf tins. Scatter over the remaining 50g currants. Bake in a moderate oven for 45 mins or so.

Meanwhile make the syrup by gently heating the sugar, juices and zests. Leave to cool. Once the cakes are done, prick all over and pour over the syrup. Leave to cool and then scoff. Nom nom nom