Normandy here I come . . .
I'm getting excited about exploring Normandy. It was never part of my original plans to go there and in fact, when I think back I don't think I'd have ever planned to go there ever. I'm not sure why that is, but I just found other areas of France more appealing to me. Well, thank God all that's changed thanks in large part to reading two particular cookbooks by Jane Webster - My French Table and Family Ties. I know I've raved on about these books in the past on this little blog of mine, but the stories and pictures make me feel as though I'm already there. I can smell the country air and taste all of that delicious food.
So, of course, it wasn't long before I NEEDED to make something else from one of these cookbooks, and the winning recipe for the day was.......
Raspberry and Coconut Butter Cake
125g butter | 275g caster sugar | 1/2 tsp vanilla extract | 2 eggs lightly beaten | 125ml milk | 185g self-raising wholemeal flour | 70g desiccated coconut | 200g fresh raspberries | icing sugar, to serve
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees and butter and line a 23cm spring form cake tin.
- Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs and milk, then fold in the flour, coconut and raspberries. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 50-55 minutes. The centre of the cake should feel firm, not liquidy to the touch.
- Sprinkle with sifted icing sugar.
I love the dense richness of this cake from both the coconut and from the use of wholemeal flour. This is no light fluffy number, it is moreish and chewy cake with the raspberries adding a lively, fresh flavour.
A winning cake for my taste buds, but my niece and nephew didn't take to well to it....mainly for the fact it wasn't chocolate! It is almost Easter after all!