A nasty surprise welcomed us on return from our golf weekend last week. We had taken a long weekend and left on Friday so hadn't collected the mail. Will returned from the mail box looking furious with a handful of opened mail. Someone had broken in.
It seems they felt for cards and only opened those letters. Apparently Will's golf-link membership card was of no interest to them but my $20 Woolworths voucher, a reward for doing online surveys, had been stolen. Luckily that was all they got.
I've been getting a lot of cards with my new name and was expecting my license and credit cards. It would have been handy for them to activate the credit cards with all my license details.
I'm a big believer in karma so I'm sure one day they'll get what's coming to them. We went and got a Po Box the next day so they won't get us again.
Just in case my passionfruit 'finding' brought me bad karma I thought I'd gain some good back and make delicious cake for my grandma (ps I would have made it for her karma or no karma!).
I've been reading my Edmonds Cookery Book a lot lately and have so many recipes ear-marked. I had picked a lemon fresh from the tree (at mum's house so no bad karma from that) so the fresh citrus loaf cake seemed perfect. You can't get much fresher than straight from the tree.
The cake was a little bit more dense than a tea cake but not quite like a pound cake. The citrus was subtle but delicious. It's the perfect afternoon treat and it's really quick to whip up.
Finally a recipe that starts with something a little different. Not only do you beat butter and sugar together but there is lemon zest involved too! Beat them all together in an electric mixer until they are light and creamy.
One it's all mixed up, add the eggs and give them a good beating.
Alternate between adding a little flour and then a little milk until it is all mixed together.
Take the bowl off the stand and gently fold through the nuts. I personally think pecans and walnuts are pretty interchangeable. I hope that's not like saying Australians and New Zealanders are same same.
Spread the batter into the prepared in. Make sure you've lined it with the long sides extending out of the pan.
It makes it much easier to take it out of the tin plus I think it adds a nice vintage-looking touch. Pop it in the oven at 180C fan-force for 45-50 minutes or until it is golden on top and a cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.
While it's baking away, make the syrup. Pour the sugar and lemon juice into a small saucepan and heat them over low heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved.
Crank up the heat and bring the mixture to a boil and then take it off the heat and set it aside to cool.
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour over the syrup. You might want to do this on a plate in case the syrup goes everywhere - yet another thing I learned from experience.
Leave the cake in the tin to cool completely.
I think the best way to serve this cake would be in heated slices with a nice spread of butter. Enjoy!
What about you? Have you ever had anything stolen?
Recipe
Ingredients
- 125 g ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup caster superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups self-raising flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts I used pecans
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C(356F) fan-forced and grease and line a loaf tin. Line it so that the paper extends over the long sides.
- Beat the butter, sugar and lemon rind together until they are light and creamy.
- Add the eggs and mix until they are well combined.
- Alternate between adding the milk and the flour until everything is mixed in.
- Take the bowl off the stand and fold though the nuts.
- Spread the batter into the tin and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, make the syrup - place the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the pot to a boil and then take it off the heat and set it aside to cool.
- Leave the cake in the tin and pour over the syrup.
- Leave it to cool completely in the tin.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Ugh! People that steal are just the lowest. I don't understand why someone can't just get a job or do something else. Stealing from someone that has worked hard is just loathsome :(
Claire says
That's exactly how I think of it. It's one of the lowest of lows in my book!
Jo Smith says
We had our letterbox stolen! My husband cut up an old beer keg and it was screwed to a tree stump. Someone decided they needed it more than us. Lots of citrus here at the moment so this looks perfect for baking this week.
Claire says
The whole letterbox?!? That's terrible!
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
I hate that feeling of being violated, poor things. We haven't had any problems up here and our mailbox isn't locked. Must be fairly safe around here because not much is locked up in the neighbourhood. Time will change that, I know.
Lovely cake!
I had to click the passionfruit link. I went out to put stuff in the recycle bin and I found a big bag of passionfruit sitting beside my car door. I suspect I didn't hear the doorbell when I was in the shower this morning. Your cupcakes would be perfect and there are enough to make passionfruit curd too.
Claire says
Yes it's the violated feeling that's the worst! I hope it doesn't change for you.
What a lovely surprise! Enjoy your passionfruit creations.
Corrie says
Oh you poor thing!!! Our friend were broken into just after being married and moving into a unit, so everything was new. They even stole the boxes still in the wrapping paper. Then after waiting three months for the insurance to pay up and they had all new things.....they had it all stolen again!!! needless to say they thought it best to MOVE! Here is a hint... don't put the boxes your purchases came in, out for all to see!!!
Claire says
Oh that's terrible but yes you are quite right. I drove past a garage the other day and they had a mac computer box sitting against the window. It was like an advertisement.
KrisJ says
It is horrifying to arrive home and discover your property has been trespassed - I used to collect and cellar wine in a purpose built room in the garage of the third home of my marriage (we lived and renovated a few over the 27 years I was married). I came home after work, to find the entire room had been ransacked - the padlock had been cut open - dozens and dozens of wine taken. I have never invested my time and money in cellaring wine ever since. (What was worse we suspected the neighbours!!!)
I hope to try this recipe in the next week- I will let you know the verdict...
Claire says
What a horrible story! You just can't believe that anyone could be so mean can you?!
Good luck. Yes please let me know how you go.
Hotly Spiced says
I've heard mail theft is on the rise. It's not something our culture has ever previously had to worry about. Thank goodness they only got $20.00 but they deserved to get jury duty - that's about all we get in our letter box besides the bills! I love my Edmonds Cookbook. Isn't it fabulous. And this is a great loaf that would be full of wonderful citrus flavours. Something to cheer you up I'm sure xx
Claire says
We never had a locked mail box growing up and ours was at the bottom of a very long driveway. I don't think we ever had a problem. My street seems to attract a lot of crime. Not our unit but a few in the block have been broken into recently. It's rather worrying.
Edmonds is fantastic. I have another batch of cookies cooling on the bench as I write. x