Why not make a Simnel cake for Easter

With the warm weather we are motivated to work in the garden. The flower garden is a real pleasure and the vegetable garden really useful. It's a real pleasure to eat one's own vegetables & fruit, fresh & pesticide free. Well worth the trouble, and good for the insects & birds.

I promised you a recipe for Simnel cake, and if you are daring why not try a Gluten-free (or nearly) for a lighter more digest cake.

SIMNEL CAKE: Nearly Gluten free -use only gluten free flour for Celiacs

• 225 g  butter or organic margarine

• 175 g soft brown sugar

• 4 eggs

• 275 g of gluten-free flours (third of engrain**, rice, corn)

• 1½ teaspoon ground mixed spice 

• 1 finely grated lemon with zest and juice

• 400 g  mixed dried fruit (including raisins, currants, nuts of choice, handful of sunflower & courgette seeds

• 100 g dates, dried figs, dried apricots, chopped

• 1 kg  marzipan

• some apricot or other jam

• Grease and line a 20cm deep round cake tin. Preheat the oven to 150℃ 300°F /gas mark 2.

• Beat 225g butter or margarine with175g soft brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Then beat in 4 eggs one at a time. Add the 275g flours and 1½ teaspoon mixed spice, fold into mixture. Add lemon zest & juice, 400g of dried fruit and 100g of other fruit, mix well.

• Roll out 500g marzipan into a circle the same size as the cake tin. Scoop half the cake mixture into the tin and level the surface. Place the marzipan circle on top and press down gently.

• Now scoop the remaining cake mixture on top of the marzipan and spread level. Bake in the centre of the oven for 2½ hours approx. To test if the cake is cooked, insert a fork in the centre, it should come out clean when the cake is cooked.

• Allow the cake to cool in the tin for at least 1 hour then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

• Roll out the remaining marzipan to a circle the same size as the cake. Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam and place the marzipan on top.

• Place the cake under a preheated grill and grill until lightly browned. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

• Decorate with fluffy chicks & a few tiny easter eggs

  ** replace Engrain flour by a third flour which is gluten-free