Happy Birthday Dad!

I've been really busy with cake this week so only just now getting to put this post up. Last weekend I visited my dad for his birthday, which was actually wednesday but this way I got to spend the week with them in Southampton.

My dad is a very strange creature...he doesn't really like fondant...or buttercream. Madness! So when it comes to deciding what cake to make I knew there was only one choice, his favourite - my lemon drizzle! When I told him it must have been the only time I've ever heard him say he can't wait for cake! I did put him to work chopping the lemon zest as they didn't have a fine enough grater! :)

As it doesn't need decorating it meant I got to spend more time with them than in the kitchen, though of course my little brother wanted to help me make it, he's getting quite good now bless him - he was also having a pj day so did it all in his new Batman ones, complete with detachable cape!

You can find the recipe for my lemon drizzle cake here - I have to say, it's one of my favourites too. And while I couldn't decorate it properly, we did still add some candles and a little 'Happy Birthday' sign.

My little brother was a little grumpy this weekend (see above), but he loves it when I visit as I'm basically his toy. We play his games, have massive bubble bath fights and even had a dance off to 'Gangnam Style' thought somehow he ended up changing the words to 'Catch a star'.

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The Lemon Drizzle Smuggle

I'm going back to Norway for the weekend tomorrow night to see my nan. I've heard it's about -12!! So not sure how I'll cope with that, being half Norwegian doesn't mean I have proper fish blood, I need heat!

I haven't seen my nan since Christmas so it'll be great to see her, and all she has asked me to bring in a lemon drizzle cake. She loves cakes and demands it in her home everyday, which I absolutely love - cake is clearly in the genes.

I have posted this recipe before but who cares, it's gorgeous! And it helps remind me that spring is indeed on its way and will be here soon...I hope.....please? I also got an iPad this week, yay! Which I've also found is very useful to use as a cookbook (mainly because I couldn't find the book I got this recipe from to just brought up my blog!)

It's also means I got to use my mixer my nan got me again, I'm afraid there will be lots of 'mixer shots' in my future posts, unfortunately it was really dark last night so the pictures aren't too bright and sunny which they should be when you think of lemon drizzle.

I have heard you're not allowed to take food in hand luggage....which is all I'm taking. I did take a cake in August and that went fine so I hope it doesn't actually turn into a smuggling job! Could you image being caught in customs with cake...I'd look like a maniac...and you know they'd only eat it later! (p.s if you're reading this lovely airport people... please don't take my cake!)

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 240g caster sugar
• pinch of salt
• 180g plain flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 70g butter, salted
• 100ml double cream
• grated zest of two lemons - please, never use artificial flavourings, use real lemons people!

Drizzle

• 100ml water
• 80g caster sugar
• juice of one lemon

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. Grab a mixing bowl and slowly whisk your eggs, now slowly add the sugar, flour, salt and baking powder. Grate the zest and add to mixture,  melt the butter and add that too along with the cream and whisk. Grease and line a loaf tin, pour in mixture and bake for about an hour...sometimes you may need more.

About 12 minutes before it's done make the drizzle. Boil the sugar and water together at 140 degrees (measure with a sugar thermometer), add the lemon juice and let boil for 10 minutes. When you take the cake out of the oven immediately lacquer on the drizzle, use all of it too, it will sink in.

Once it's cool -if you can wait....eat! Nom! Or do what I do and sneak it in your hand luggage to Norway. Pin It Now!

Old School Post Of The Month - Lemon Drizzle Cake!

OK so I thought I would set up a regular post as I see a lot of bloggers are doing, I really want to try more old school recipes so I thought this would be a great way to inject some retro tastes into my blog.

I have done this particular lemon drizzle recipe a million times, I love it - it made me fall in love with lemons. I wasn't sure how a cake without icing would work as I'd never had a plain loaf cake as such. However this was in one word - incredible. I also love making it in the summer as it just instantly makes you feel happy that you don't even think about calories as you tuck into another slice! Don't be fooled by it's simple look, people will probably wonder what the fudge you are serving them, but when they try it...game over - no other lemon drizzle will do.

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 240g caster sugar
• pinch of salt
• 180g plain flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 70g butter, salted
• 100ml double cream
• grated zest of two lemons - please, never use artificial flavourings, use real lemons people!

Drizzle

• 100ml water
• 80g caster sugar
• juice of one lemon

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. Grab a mixing bowl and slowly whisk your eggs, now slowly add the sugar, flour, salt and baking powder. Grate the zest and add to mixture,  melt the butter and add that too along with the cream and whisk. Grease and line a loaf tin, pour in mixture and bake for 45 minutes... I find mine needs about 15 minutes more! But every oven is different.

About 12 minutes before it's done make the drizzle. Boil the sugar and water together at 140 degrees (measure with a sugar thermometer), add the lemon juice and let boil for 10 minutes. When you take the cake out of the oven immediately lacquer on the drizzle, use all of it too, it will sink in.

Once it's cool -if you can wait....eat! Nom! Pin It Now!