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Sunday, 22 November 2009

Sugar and Spice and everything nice...

I love spices and they are very much a part of the winter season bringing warmth to your cooking and baking. So when my DH requested a cake, I thought I would make a Gingerbread. Also it doesn't require any eggs and I only had two left!
The recipe is the Gingerbread Slab from The Good Housekeeping Complete Book of Home Baking.

Gingerbread Slab
Gingerbread should always be wrapped tightly in greaseproof paper and foil, then stored in an airtight tin for 2 days before eating. This allows the cake to mature and become moist and sticky. We managed to leave it for 1 day and it is moist and sticky, but I am sure will get better as the week goes on!

125g (4oz) black treacle (molasses)
125g (4oz) golden syrup
50g (2oz) butter or margarine
50g (2oz) lard ( I used all butter)
225g (8oz) plain white flour
1.25ml (1/4 level tsp) bicarbonate of soda
5 ml (1 level tsp) mixed spice
5ml (1 level tsp) ground ginger
100g (4oz) dark brown soft sugar
150ml (1/4 pint) milk

1. Grease a deep 18cm (7in) square cake tin. Line with greaseproof paper and then great the paper.
2. Put the treacle, golden syrup, butter and lard into a saucepan and heat gently until melted.
3. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices into a bowl and stir in the sugar. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk and treacle mixture. Beat well until smooth and of a thick pouring consistency.
4. Pour into the prepared tin and bake in the oven at 170C (325F) mark 3 for 1-1 1/4 hours or until a fine warmed skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 1 hour then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Wrap in greaseproof paper and foil and store in an airtight tin for 2 days before eating.

I also made some mincemeat for Christmas consumption. I used a great recipe from Uma Wylde's blog . Although I did make some changes to the mixture of dried fruits. I used a 300g bag of Testco Island Mix which has dried apricots and pineapple in it as well as raisins. I used a couple of Pink Lady apples rather than the Bramleys, glace cherries instead of cranberries and chopped pecan nuts instead of flaked almonds. I also substituted Cherry Brandy for the cointreau or grand marnier, just because I already had it for my Christmas cake. I had a little lick of the spoon and I have to say it was absolutely delicious and very, very easy to make.

Labels: , , ,

posted by Janice @ 18:14

13 Comments:

At 22 November 2009 at 19:51 , Blogger Kaz said...

You can have the mincemeat and I'll have the gingerbread. I'm surprised you managed a day Janice!! xx

 
At 22 November 2009 at 20:17 , Blogger tracy said...

looks very nice janice,just needs a bit of custard :) (another winter food :))

 
At 22 November 2009 at 22:22 , Anonymous Weekend Carnivore said...

That gingerbread looks *so* good. I may have to add it to my ever-growing list of recipes to try for Christmas.

 
At 22 November 2009 at 22:38 , Blogger chow and chatter said...

this looks heavenly and so moist send some to me!

 
At 23 November 2009 at 13:46 , Anonymous umawylde.com said...

Your gingerbread looks very appealing Janice. I'll make it over christmas when the kids are home.

 
At 23 November 2009 at 15:22 , Blogger Angelnorth said...

With that many substitutions on your mincemeat I think you should just call in your own recipe and be done! the ginger slab looks scrummy!

 
At 25 November 2009 at 00:49 , Blogger Judy said...

The gingerbread looks delicious, and the mincemeat does also. I love the ingredients in the mincemeat.

 
At 25 November 2009 at 22:22 , Blogger Traceyr said...

You did substitute a lot of items Janice so really it is your own recipe.

The gingerbread looks delicious. I could happily eat a slab now. :)

 
At 26 November 2009 at 20:38 , Blogger Wendy@The Omnivorous Bear said...

Last night I was sitting reading cookery books and thought I might do gingerbread... then tonight I looked at your blog .....you have made up my mind! Looks delicious!

 
At 28 November 2009 at 17:24 , Blogger Judy said...

Hi Janice, I just realized you said you had an award for me, but I've looked all over your blog and can't find it. Did I read wrong?

 
At 29 November 2009 at 09:32 , Blogger Chele said...

Gingerbread Slab! What a great idea, love the sound of it. Great pics too ;0)

 
At 1 December 2009 at 12:40 , Blogger Maggie said...

I have just checked out her blog it's great.
The gingerbread looks wonderful and warming and the recipe came from a great book.

 
At 4 December 2009 at 11:04 , Anonymous cookeaze said...

Excellent idea! You've totally inspired me.

 

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I love to read your comments and try to reply when I can. I have had to enable comment moderation due to high levels of spam, so it may take a little time before your comment is visible. Please let me know if you make one of my recipes or if you have any questions I will try to answer them. Janice

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