While it is cold, the urge is to cook! I am missing my Aga, but there is something quite nice about turning the cooking temperature to say 350 degrees, and knowing that you have that temperature. That is not to say that it is a better way to cook, but it is less instinctive and more predictable! I am missing that ambient warmth in my kitchen, and the certain way an Aga makes you feel, secure I suppose is the right word for it. Florida when is is 30 degrees less than normal, is quite a different place to be, and of course, we have packed all of the wrong clothes.
I have cooked a fool proof fruit cake. Here it is, in ounces still!
4 0z marg or butter (or could be half fat)
6 oz sugar
14oz dried fruit (I used chopped appricots and dates and sultanas)
8 fl oz water, 1tsp bicarb soda
1/2 tsp mixed spice (cinamon and nutmeg is good)
2 beaten eggs
4oz plain and 4oz S.R. Flour, pinch salt
AND COOK AT 350 degrees or in Roasting oven with cold shelf on second runners
Put marg/butter, sugar, fruit,bicarb, spice and water in a saucepan and bring to boil, then simmer for a minute, set aside to cool. Add beaten eggs, flour and salt, mix, then into a loaf tin and cook for one and a quarter hours but could be less in an Aga. Keep an eye on it! Go to Aga Twyford cookware site to see our special discounts at 15% off all cookware for January. And look at Betty Twyford cleaning kit - marvellous. Keep warm!
