Sunday 20 March 2011

Murder at the vicarage- a cup of tea and a slice of seed-cake like Miss Marple

Today I wanted to share with you the recipe for a nostalgic cake,which the world has forgotten : seed-cake -  which you come across often in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels quite often, like for instance
" Bertram's Hotel".
This delicate cake with a sprinkling of caraway seeds, is quite unassuming, like Ms Christie's modest sleuth, Miss Marple , and equally strangely additictive and charming.
There is nothing more cosy than a nice cup of tea in front of an open fire.
This tea-service, Wood's " Beryl" dates from the 1940's so you're already halfway there as far as Agatha Christie's atmosphere is concerned.
Then a nice " Miss Marple" book for reading and added enjoyment........ 
"The mirror cracked from side to side" is pretty good and full of English village atmosphere...
 
 And to top it all of, a couple of slices of lovely seed-cake, like Miss Marple herself used to eat.
Absolute heaven!!You really can't get better than that!

Here below is the recipe so you can bake and enjoy your nostalgic treat yourself- it's a pretty simple cake .

Ingredients:
250 gr butter
(  american weights:1 cup butter  = 227 grams butter->so take 1 cup and a bit of butter)
300 gr self-raising flour
( American weights: 1 cup flour = 125 grams flour  ->so take 2 and a bit cups self raising flour)
200 gr caster sugar
(American weights: 1 cup sugar  = 200 grams sugar-> so take 1 cup sugar )
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
grated zest of 1 lemon
3 eggs




Butter a rectangular cake tin, then sprinkle a bit of flour in it, and shake the flour around so the butter is coated with the flour.
Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees Centigrade.
Cream the butter and the eggs.
Then add the eggs- one egg at a time.

Add some flour after each egg.
Then mix in the rest of the flour, then the grated lemon zest and the two teaspoons of caraway seeds.
Bake for an hour, then check if the cake is done.I usually stick a knitting needle in , this should come out clean.
Enjoy your baking !!
And of course enjoy your nostalgic cake with a nice cup of tea in front of an open fire on a comfortable sofa.
Or , in case you have pets and the sofa is taken, make do with a cushion instead !!
Enjoy your cake.
Have a great week!!

XOXO
Bea

17 comments:

The Tablescaper said...

What a wonderful treat. Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Martha said...

I love seed cake although in America, we think it's POPPY seed not CARAWAY seed! Looks delicious and a very pretty tea set!

Scribbler said...

Looks good -- but I don't know how to convert the measures. The setting looks most inviting.

Sarah said...

Cake looks delicious! That photo of the pets on the sofa is too cute!
~ Sarah

Keetha Broyles said...

Ooooo I do love Miss Marple!

Anonymous said...

Dearest Bea,

Yeah, enjoy your cake and EAT it too! What a great blog you put together with a lovely recipe of days bygone. Living with you for sure never leaves a dull moment. Look at those pets; they're in heaven! Warmth and joy comes from your photos... Have a great week!

Lots of love,

Mariette

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Bea...

Mmmm...your Caraway seed cake looks and sounds sooo yummy! My grandmother had a wonderful recipe for this cake...I don't know whatever happened to it! I hadn't thought about it till now. Love your vintage tea set...sooo pretty! Yes, it really does remind me of Miss Marple! Thank you so much for sharing this lovely post with us for the Sunday Favorites repost party this week!

Warmest spring wishes...
Chari @Happy To Design

kara@elements-interiors.net said...

OK! YUMM!!! Love this post...thank you for linking up to Whassup Wednesday! Hope to see you tomorrow:)

xoxokara

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

Sounds delish and an open fire would sure be lovely! Sigh.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Bea!

Unknown said...

That's adorable...love Miss Marple---thanks for sharing!

Sarah

Rachel Rose Mercantile said...

Very nice! Love the play by play pics!

Samantha said...

I have to confess, I've never eaten a seed cake, only read about them.

Anonymous said...

This is PERFECT for my new linky party, Foodie Friday. My husband LOVE anything seed and or bread related so this will check both boxes on his list! Please stop on over and link up!

Miz Helen said...

I really enjoyed your post and the cake. I just love having tea with you, it is always a joy! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I love the Agatha Christie novels. Always a delight. The cake looks wonderful and your furry companions are just adorable.

Kari said...

We would love to make the seed cake but don't know how to convert for U.S. measures. Can you help us? Are the ingredients, as listed, measured by weight? How to convert? Can you tell us the size of the pan you are using?
Thank you so much. Sorry to be a pest.

Modern Country Lady said...

Hi Kari,I have added the American weights and measurements so hope this helps!