The Recipe ...

... for an 'as-good-as-can-be-for-a-monday' Monday.


Dedicated to Mrs. Horrigans, in return for the secret of textured photos, that I have used here but am uncomfortable with and am thinking of changing. Who knew that with the secret comes the indecisiveness? ;)

Apple cake with almond paste:

One kilo apples
1/2 pound butter (real, no margerine)
1/2 pound white caster sugar (but I use light brown sugar as I've not been able to find caster)
1/2 pound self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
Lemonjuice
Zest of a lemon (but it's just as tasty without)

Peel apples and chop to small pieces. Drip some lemonjuice on 'm. A dash of something like Calvados is optional (again; haven't found it yet)
Preheat oven to 340F/170C
Mix butter and sugar together in food processor. Add salt, (sifted) flour and eggs while spinning, and (optional) the lemon zest.

Pour in greased up and flour dusted baking tin (I use a 9 x 14 inch)
Now, if you can't find almond paste in the UK you can make your own
(Almond Paste:
1-1/2 cups blanched almonds
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg white
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Put in food-processor and process till smooth)
but I'm lucky the Amish love the stuff as much as the Dutch so I can (usually) find it here.

Squish the almond paste into little not-too-flat bits of about 2 cm, and put them on top of the batter.
Put the apples on top and bake for about 40/50 minutes.
Take out of the oven and layer thick with powdered sugar and put under grill/broiler for just a tiny bit. It burns awful quick.

Eat with whipped cream or whatever you want.


I handed out some yesterday and received enthusiastic phonecalls begging for more today :)

4 More days.