No, you don’t close the curtains on the full moon – Anyone else excited about Taylor taking centre stage in New Moon, btw??

You let them eat cake – the family, that is –
(Now you know why I need an editor)

And, of course, you’re waiting for those promised photos from the Lake District…

Well, you can’t have them.

The weekend turned out thus: arrived late as was baby-sitting. Had a meal. DH got a stomach upset. We checked out the following morning. Fun? You have no idea

And now for something entirely sweeter – Sue’s Apple Cake…

There is no mystery to baking – If I can do it etc etc
And this is the easiest peasiest apple cake the world has ever known – nothing clever about it – So long as you remember to take it out of the oven…

Three eggs – same weight flour – same weight caster sugar – same weight margarine (feel I should call marg something posher – but that’s what it is)

Now – if you want to get fancy – grate a little lemon rind in too.

Beat it all up together for a slow count of sixty and then add the tart apple or two, which you have already prepared and chopped – just quarter them, nip off woody ends with your knife and make a slice slash incision in each quarter to get the core out. Now peel. Chop – not too small, you want to taste them. Fold in with your mixture and pour into tin (get yourself some of those ready made greaseproof paper cases to fit your cake tin – no messing about then)

Slam in heated oven – 160 – 180 – I don’t know – Maybe turn it up a bit if nothing’s happening or use baking oven in the Aga, which is infallible – check after 50/55 minutes – try and do this in situ so it doesn’t flop. Finger test – press/release – does it spring back into shape? Then it’s ready.
Or spear it with a thingy and see if there is any wet mix on the surface. If so leave cake in a little longer.

Once again – you’ll smell it when its right – get used to that method of judging things- so much easier as all ovens are different.

Now – and most importantly – WAIT until it’s cool before you sift some icing sugar over the top of your creation.
NEXT – apply some rouge to the apple of your cheeks so everyone can see how hard you’ve been working (not)

Serve with a beaming smile and some creme fraiche, cream or ice cream.

Hey presto! Growling stops.

I tell you, ladies – it works for me every time

Sxxx