DAY 115 - Today was a cake walk

Been a bit rainy lately, so we decided to take advantage of a break in the weather and from work to walk up to the Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre. We had to skirt the edges of a couple of the fields we had to cross due to the mud, but it wasn't too onerous. The sheep we passed didn't seem to mind, who ignore the rain mud and us to keep chomping at the very, very green fields.

At the garden centre we had a cup of tea and shared a slice of orange upside down cake. It reminded me of the pineapple upside down cake my Mom made when I was younger. Delicious, and it developed my lifelong love of pineapple. Mmmmm. It also gave me an idea for today's blog!

Every country has its traditional cakes. Here in England, wherever cakes are being sold, there are a few types that are almost certain to be on the menu. They include:

Source: The Answer is Cake

Victoria Sponge: Sometimes, this cake is called a Victoria Sandwich cake. It comes, as the name suggests, from the time of Queen Victoria. In fact, it is thought this sponge cake with raspberry jam and whipped cream in the centre was her favourite Tea Time treat. The top is dusted with confectionery sugar. Simple, but as Queen Victoria claimed...a great pick-me-up in mid afternoon. My kids hated this cake when they lived here...they loved vanilla cake, and thought jam ruined it. Here it is almost impossible to find a vanilla cake that doesn't have jam in the middle...so I had to bake them.

Source: BBC Good Food

Battenburg Cake: This very pretty cake is distinctive for its 2x2 checked pattern. Yellow and pink sponge cake is cut into the pattern and held together with apricot jam. The outside is iced on all sides with a thin layer of marzipan. It  is said to have been created in 1884 to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters to Prince Louis of Battenberg.

Source: BBC Food

Carrot Cake: In the middle ages, carrots were used as an alternative form of sweetener. During the Second World War, when sugar was rationed, carrot cake become very popular here (but the cream cheese icing is an 1960s addition).

Source: BBC Good Food

Lemon Drizzle Cake: Basically, sponge cake drizzled with a sweet lemony syrup. No idea when it first appeared on cake plates here, but it is my absolute favourite with a cuppa!

Source: BBC Food

Madeira Cake: This firm cake is more like pound cake. While it doesn't come from the Madeira Islands, it is named after the wine from the islands which the English initially drank when eating the cake. It usually has a hint of lemon to it, and more often than not has cherries added.

Now, go make yourself a lovely cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey and cut yourself a slice of something sweet. You know you want to.