CHOCOLATE PRUNE AND MIXED FRUIT CAKE

 I came across this recipe from the book Feast by Nigella Lawson and as I love prunes and coffee liqueur and my husband loves fruit cake and we both love chocolate - what better way to make two people happy at the same time by baking this cake - two for the price of one as the saying goes.

 It was actually so easy to bake and I loved the fact that all the fruit, chocolate, coffee Kahlua, orange juice, honey, butter and sugar was boiled together and then left to infuse for a while.

What I did add to the cake that was not in the original recipe was 100g of dark chocolate.

I am not sure if it made any difference to how it would have tasted as I have not made this cake before or even if it took the taste up a level but what I do know is that the end result was a cake that was so moist and delicious and is definitely one to do again.

My husband's comments after eating this cake was that I need never worry about him ever leaving home as I am definitely the domestic goddess with the mostest.

Recipe for this divine cake to wow family and friends alike is as follows :

350g prunes

250g raisins

125g currants

50g piece candied orange peel

175g soft unsalted butter

175g dark muscovado sugar

175ml runny honey

125ml Tia Maria or other coffee liqueur

Juice and zest of 2-3 oranges (400ml juice)

1 teaspoon mixed spice

4 tablespoons cocoa

3 eggs beaten

150g plain flour

75g ground almonds

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

100g dark chocolate (my addition)

Put the fruit, butter, sugar, honey. Tia Maria, orange juice and zests, spice and cocoa into a large wide saucepan and bring to the boil gently, stirring as the butter melts.  Simmer for 10 minutes and then take off the heat and leave to stand for 30 minutes or longer if you like.

Add the beaten eggs, flour, ground almonds, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and if you are going to add the dark chocolate -  add that as well and stir with a wooden spoon to combine well to the boiled fruit mixture.  

Pour into a big cake tin (i used a square one) of least 20cm wide and at least 9cm deep and bake in the oven gas mark 2/150deg C for about an hour and a half or until the skewer comes out clean.  The cake will be still gooey in the middle and have a shiny and sticky look.  Place on a rack to cool completely.

The recipe suggests that you wrap it in baking parchment and then tin foil and place in a tin.....My suggestion - invite your friends around and eat immediately or as I am going to do - take it with me on a picnic I am having with my friends on Friday........

LUDLOW IN THE SNOW

Ludlow is according to me - aka - The Tipsy Tart one of the most beautiful towns to live in - and no more beautiful than when there is a bit of snow about and you go for a walk in the cold fresh air and it is so quiet that you can hear the crunch of the snow as you walk.  Everything becomes so magical and picture postcard perfect and the world and all its troubles seem so far away and it becomes so peaceful.

Life can be so stressful and we all want to lead healthy lives and what better way, than going for a walk that costs nothing and makes you feel good at the same time.

We have so many wonderful walks in and around Ludlow and when you have finished and your cheeks are glowing from the cold, there is nothing nicer than going to a beautiful pub and sitting by a roaring fire and having a glass of wine and sharing a packet of crisps with your nearest and dearest.

Could life get any more perfect or give you more pleasure?



HELL YES, especially when you come back home and get to eat a white chocolate and strawberry cheesecake that is possibly just the most delicious cake in the world.......and that when you start eating, your greed just overcomes you and nothing is more important than cutting another slice and then realising that you any eaten more slices than your scale wants to know about and you need to go on another walk.....

Like I said, could life get any more perfect.....I doubt it...

Love
The Tipsy Tart