Getting Ready for Easter?

Easter has been on my mind the last few week, taking part in Bella Enchanted's Easter Basket Swap gave me a chance to enjoy looking around all the Easter goodies out there! Yesterday was spent gathering family's chocolate eggs and I sent off my partners swap parcel.Which I thoroughly enjoyed gathering items for! With Easter on the brain I thought I would share a recipe I found for a traditional Easter Simnel cake with a twist.

Simnel Muffins

250g mixed dried fruits
grated zest and juice 1 medium orange
175g softened butter
175g golden caster sugar
3 eggs, beaten
300g self-raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice
freshly grated nutmeg
5 tbsp milk
175g marzipan
200g icing sugar
2 tbsp orange juice for mixing
or mini eggs

1. Tip the fruit into a bowl, add the zest and juice and microwave on medium for 2 minutes (or leave to soak for 1 hour). Line 12 deep muffin tins with paper muffin cases.

2. Preheat the oven to fan 180C/ 160C/gas 4. Beat together the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, spices and milk until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes) - use a wooden spoon or hand held mixer. Stir the fruit in well.

3. Half fill the muffin cases with the mixture. Divide the marzipan into 12 equal pieces, roll into balls, then flatten with your thumb to the size of the muffin cases. Put one into each muffin case and spoon the rest of the mixture over it. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until risen, golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool.

4. Beat together the icing sugar and orange juice to make icing thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Drizzle over the muffins and top with a cluster of eggs. Leave to set. Best eaten within a day of making.

This week I made a birthday cake for a friend of my grandmas who turned 88 yesterday, I made this cake for her as a surprise gift. She loves to sew and embroider, I found the beautiful silhouette of a girl sewing which suited Eva nicely.....

Have a good week, I hope you enjoy the recipe,

Priscilla x