Hello my fellow foodies and welcome to another recipe.
This month I would like to share with you a fresh and zingy lemon cake it is the perfect antidote to all those Chocolate Easter Eggs – if it is indeed possible to have too much chocolate? Coincidentally, this cake happens to be gluten free so happily it is safe for celiacs although it is made with almonds so to be avoided by people with nut allergies.
Preheat the oven to 170° and grease and line either 1 x 20 cms loose bottomed round cake tin or 2 x loaf tins and we are good to start cooking.
Lemon Polenta Cake
• 200g ground almonds
• 100g polenta, dried
• 200g butter, room temperature
• 200g caster sugar
• 3 eggs, from health and happy free running hens
• 4 lemons
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 80g caster sugar
Begin by creaming the butter and sugar together until it becomes pale in colour and light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, do not worry if the mixture curdles slightly simply add a spoon of the ground almonds and continue to beat the mixture. Then add the remaining almonds, the Polenta and baking powder. Next stir in the grated zest of one lemon and the juice of half a lemon. Pour the mixture into the tin and place in the center of the oven for approximately 45 minutes to an hour until the mixture has risen slightly and is golden brown in colour.
While the cake is cooking zest 2 of the lemons and juice the remaining 3 and half lemons. Add this to the 80g of caster sugar and heat enough only to dissolve the sugar. When you remove the cake from the oven prick the surface all over the cake and pour the lemon juice mixture all over the cake and let it soak in, there may seem to be too much liquid but, trust me, it will soak in! Leave to cool in the tin then store in an airtight container until it is needed.
If you are serving at a dinner party I would suggest polite sized wedges from a round tin with lashing of whipped cream or crème fraîche and a few fresh raspberries or blueberries, but if it is something a little less formal you are looking for then a little square served with a cup of tea is always well received! I am sorry but I have no idea how long this beauty will keep as once it is discovered in our house it disappears!
Until next time dear reader…
