Three cakes, Five Gumnuts

Last Wednesday was the regular Gumnuts (my quilt group) meeting and this time it was at my place.  It wasn't supposed to be at my place but someone was away so I volunteered. 

You never know how many people are coming - could be three - could be 10 - could be more but that is unlikely.  We ended up with 5 this time and a bit much food but better to cater for too many than too few.

First I made a Banana Walnut Cake.  

Note to self - don't use the fancy bundt tin if you want to ice the cake.  didn't think of that till the cake was in the oven.  Oh well!

I didn't have walnuts so I substituted choc chips!

BANANA WALNUT CAKE

125g butter

¾ cup caster sugar

2 eggs

3 very ripe bananas

1 teasp vanilla

½ cup  chopped walnuts

¾ cup SR flour

¾ cup plain flour

1 teasp bicarb soda

Mash bananas finely with fork – you need ¾ cup.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add bananas and vanilla, beat on low speed until well combined.  Stir in walnuts, then sifted flours and soda in two lots.  Mix well.  Spread mixture into well-greased 20cm ring tin.  Bake in a moderate oven 40 minutes or until cooked when tested.  Stand a few minutes and then turn out onto wire rack.

I also made a Boiled Fruit Cake.  This is a recipe from my high school cooking class days!  Still a good one - very spicy and moist!  The only fruit cake that I actually like!

 BOILED FRUITCAKE

½ cup sugar

½ cup cold water

1 cup mixed fruit

½ cup plain flour

¼ cup boiling water

½ cup SR flour

½ cup plain flour

¼ teasp salt

1 teasp cinnamon

1 teasp mixed spice

1 teasp ground ginger

½ teasp bicarb soda

30g marg

Put fruit, butter, sugar, salt and ginger, spices and cold water into a saucepan and bring to boil, stirring till margarine melts.  Allow to cook 3 minutes.  Sieve plain flour and SR flour together and mix in bicarb soda.  Check boiling water.  Line and grease tin.  Allow mixture to cool slightly.  Add flour and stir in ½ at a time.  Measure water and stir in carb soda.  Add to saucepan.  Bake in moderate oven 375°F approx 30 minutes

The last cake I made is deadly!  It is called Melt and Mix Chocolate Mud Cake.  This is just the best - if you can let it cool in the tin till it is just warm, then slice it and serve it with cream or ice cream you will be happy.  If it has completely cooled down just microwave it a little and it will be perfect.

MELT AND MIX CHOCOLATE CAKE

250g butter

200g dark chocolate roughly chopped

¼ cup milk

1 cup caster sugar

3 eggs

1 cup SR flour

¼ cup cocoa

100g milk chocolate, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 160°C/140°C fan forced.  Grease 6cm deep, 22cm base round cake pan.  Line with baking powder. 

Place butter, dark chocolate and milk in a saucepan over low heat.  Cook stirring for 10 – 12 minutes or until melted and smooth.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Cool for 5 minutes. 

Whisk egg and sugar into chocolate mixture.  Sift flour and cocoa over mixture.  Whisk to combine.  Stir through half the milk chocolate.  Pour into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with remaining milk chocolate.  Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.  Cool completely in pan.

Some time ago I shared the quilt that Del was working on.  I showed you most of the blocks as she worked on them.  Well, she has finally finished all the blocks and sewn them together into a top and here it is in all it's glory!  Isn't it amazing!

I am including a few close ups as the main photo just doesn't do all that work justice!

That little Shoo Fly block is about 3"!!!

And this green is the backing with pink binding!

Finally - this was our homework on the day - to get the borders on this quilt top and get the corners mitered!  This will be a raffle quilt for the local bush fire brigade.

Till next time...............happy stitching!