Orange Cake

We had a little evening tea for a friend's birthday the other night and I made this cake.  Now, I don't consider myself to be much of a baker AT ALL so you can trust me when I say it was really very simple.

CAKE INGREDIENTS

2 eggs

125g softened butter

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 and 1/2 cups sifted self-raising flour

1/2 cup milk

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

SYRUP INGREDIENTS

1 orange sliced in the round

1 cup caster sugar

1 and 1/2 cup cold water

METHOD

Combine syrup sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat.  

Stir for about 8 minutes or until sugar has dissolved.  

Bring to the boil then cook for a further 5 minutes or until syrup thickens slightly.  

Add orange pieces and cook for another 5 minutes.  

Using tongs remove orange pieces and line base of greased cake tin with them.

Combine all cake ingredients in a bowl and beat thoroughly for 3 minutes (my sister had my electric beater so I did it by hand and it was fine).

Pour mixture into greased cake tin.

Bake in centre of 180C oven for 45minutes.

Turn onto wire rack and allow to cool.

Serve with cream.

The cake looks so pretty when you turn it out.  Am thinking I might try this recipe with pink grapefruit (just so I can weave a different ribbon around my little cake stand) next time.

Really scrummy and I will definitely be making it again!

Nicolex

Recipe: Fish Sticks

I don't know if it's because I haven't had breakfast yet but when I saw this recipe over at Sweet Paul (his grandmother used to make them for him) I had to immortalize it here so I could easily find it again.  It looks deliciously simple and I'm going to make it for lunch tomorrow.

FISH STICKS
Serves 4

2 cups panko crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 tbs melted butter
450g white firm fish fillet

Mix panko, salt and pepper in large bowl.
Cut fish into 7.5cm x 2.5cm pieces.
Dip pieces into butter then into panko.
Place on non-stick oven tray covered with baking paper.
Bake in a moderate oven for 15min or until golden.

Serve with lemon, steamed bok choy or salad.

Image from here

A casual alternative for the Good Friday fish meal.

Nicolex