There’s a long tradition of home cooking in my family; specifically my Mother’s side. While rooting through the remaining possessions of my great aunt Vi little over a week ago, we stumbled across a recipe for Scripture Cake written either by her or my great great grandmother on my grandfather’s side. What else was there to do but give it a try?
Cake isn’t something I often bake. Usually, my preferred treat is a gooey flapjack or batch of crunchy biscuits. But sometimes an idea comes along that is so devastatingly tempting that it’s impossible to resist. Chocolate Treacle Cake is just such an idea. The thought of viscous black treacle in league with bitter chocolate, sweetened using an unrefined brown sugar proving too much to contain. If you’ve never baked with treacle, this autumn is the time to start.
The first thing to note is that Swiss rolls are deceptive; they have nothing to do with Switzerland. And though I’m usually deeply offended by misnomers, the Swiss roll more than makes up for it aesthetically and in terms of flavour. Moist but deceptively light – on account of a lack of butter – you’ll find yourself unable to stop rolling once you’ve realised just how simple this cake is to make. My recipe for Blackberry and Basil Swiss Roll is no exception.
A popular home-grown food, courgettes – or zucchini, if that’s your thing – come into abundance around this time of the year, especially as we get closer to autumn. Instead of making plate after plate of ratatouille, or courgette fritters, try something new. Courgette Loaf Cake is an intriguing and delicious way to make use of surplus summer squash – give it a go!
There are many ways to enjoy a batch of truly scrumptious jam. In a sandwich, with a bowl of yoghurt or slathered over too little toast; you can’t go wrong. This recipe for Rhubarb and Ginger Jam Cake, with its delicious hidden layer of homemade jam, is another to add to that list. It’s simple, rustic and absolutely divine.