Cookery for every household

To Coat with Almond Paste. — Take the quantity of almond paste, given on p. 590, and spread it smoothly on the cake. Then take a fork and score the paste across first one way and then the other, and coat lightly with beaten yolk of egg. Place the cake in a moderate oven, or place it beneath the grill light on a gas stove until the almond paste is nicely browned. Note. — Sometimes a layer of almond paste is put in the middle of this cake. When this is desired, half the above quantity of the paste should be made before the cake is baked, and this should be made in a round the size of the cake tin, and laid in the middle of the mixture before baking. Simnel cakes are generally eaten at Easter, although in some parts of the country they are indulged in at Mid-Lent or on “ Mothering Sunday.” They also make good Christmas cakes. In olden days the simnel cake used to be boiled as well as baked. Time to bake, 2 to 3 hours. Probable cost, without almond paste, 2s. 9 d. 2823. Snow Cake, 1 J lb. fresh butter. | lb. fine castor sugar. J lb. arrowroot. | lb. Vienna flour. 3 whites of eggs. Flavouring. Juice of 1 lemon. Beat the butter to a cream in a warm basin, add the sugar finely sifted, and beat again for a few minutes. Whip the whites of the eggs to a stiff froth and add them gradually with the arrowroot and flour, which should be sifted. Beat all together for half an hour, flavour to taste, and add the lemon juice. Pour the mixture into a flat tin which has been greased and lined with paper, and bake in a moderate oven. Time to bake, about £ hour. Probable cost. Is. 1 lb. potato flour. 6 oz. butter. £ lb. sugar. Snow Cake, 2 4 eggs. The rind of 1 lemon. A few drops of vanilla. Cream the butter and sugar, add the grated rind of 1 lemon, and a few drops of vanilla, and then the eggs and potato flour by degrees. When all are in, beat the mixture steadily for half an hour, pour it into a rather shallow tin lined with greased paper, and bake in a good oven until firm to the touch and a pale brown colour. Time to bake, about 1 hour. Probable cost, la. ' sand placed on a baking tin, or put a tile or briok under the tin. Time to bake, about | hour. Probable cost, &d. 2825. Soda Cake 1 lb. flour. £ lb. currants. 2 oz. candied peel. 1 tea-sp. carbonate of soda. £ lb. sugar. 3 oz. butter. 2 eggs. A pinch of nutmeg. A little milk (about 1 gill). Sieve the flour, sugar, and nutmeg into a basin, and rub in the butter with the tips of the fingers until free from lumps. Add the fruit, carefully prepared, and make a well in the centre. Beat up the eggs in a smaller basin with a fork, and pour them in, then the soda dissolved in the milk, slightly warmed. Mix quickly, beat for a few minutes, and pour into a greased tin. Bake immediately in a good oven, until the cake is well risen and feels firm to the touch. This cake should be eaten the day it is made, or the day after ; it soon becomes dry. Note. — A few caraway seeds may be added to the above mixture if wished. Time to bake, 1£ to 2 hours. Probable cost. Is. 2826. Spice Cake (Plain) 1 lb. flour. 1 egg- 1 dessert-sp. baking powder. £ lb. beef dripping. £ lb. sifted sugar. £ lb. currants. 2 oz. candied peek 1 tea-sp. mixed spice. Milk (about £ pt.).