I have been a Mary Berry fan ever since my parents bought Barnford, their house in south Devon, which had a very old Aga complete with a very old Mary Berry Aga Cook Book.
- 4 eggs
- 250g soft margarine
- 250g caster sugar
- 350g self-raising flour
- 3 level teaspoons baking powder
- 6 tablespoons milk
- grated rind 2 lemons - or limes, see below
- 350g caster sugar
- Approximately 5 tablespoons lemon juice (I usually simply use the juice of the 2 grated lemons used for the cake.)
- Heat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. If you are lucky enough to have an Aga, use the top oven, not forgetting to use the cold plain shelf above.
- Grease and line a baking tray 30 x 23cm/12 x 9in
- Measure all the ingredients straight into a bowl (the bowl of an electric mixer ideally) and beat until the mixture is quite smooth - at least 2 minutes if using a wooden spoon or hand held electric mixer.
- Pour the mixture into a baking tray and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the cake feels spongey when you press it gently, and the sides of the cake are beginning to come away from the tin.
- Take it out of the oven and leave it in the tin for five minutes or so.
- While you are waiting mix the sugar and lemon juice and warm it gently in a saucepan.
- Pour this over the cake as soon after it has rested for the recommended 5 minutes.
- Limes make a delicious alternative to lemons
- For a Lemon and Poppy Seed version add 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds to the cake mixture.
Hailing from Africa/boarding school etc none of us had ever had much cooking experience, and we had never met an Aga, let alone at such close quarters before, so in order to eat we had two major hurdles to overcome: first how to light, keep alive and actually use the solid fuel Aga – which even then in 1959 was ancient and easily provoked – and secondly and rather crucially, how to cook.
We followed Mary Berry’s instructions slavishly as she guided us throughout. Fortunately her recipes are completely foolproof and I have never yet tried any that haven’t tasted good, except when the Aga went out on us and you can hardly blame her for that…
It was a long time before we dared branch out into the luxury of cake-making, but we got there, eventually.
The Lemon Drizzle cake I make is a variation on her ‘Sharp Lemon Slices’, page 103 under Home Baking in my copy of the Aga Book. It quickly became one of the favourite ‘welcome tea tray’ cakes that I used to make for all our holiday cottage guests, and I know that Angela Dunlop, the new owner of Orchard Farm, has followed suit. So to sample it you’ll have to call in here – you’ll be most welcome – or book a holiday at Tom’s and Douglas’s Barns!
Hi Marion, my Lemon drizzle is just about to come out of the oven! I’m a big Mary Berry fan too, and I use a recipe adapted from hers, although I often use a mixture of lemon, lime and/or orange, in which case it becomes my St. Clements Downpour cake as I’m very fond of the juicy topping and tend to overdo it a bit!
I’m really enjoying all your posts and, of course, the beautiful photos.
Marilyn x
Thank you so much, Marilyn – very heartening to hear you are enjoying the posts (lots of people say nice things or send emails, not so many actually comment on the posts so it is extra lovely when they do!) I am really enjoying doing the blog, and being able to share John’s pics with everyone, and will always remember you were one of the encouraging souls who got me going!
Yum!
Thanks Tim. It’s very easy to make, but maybe not very kind to Pippa?
Marion, I’m really enjoying your musings- and recipes! I always remember your delicious Hazelnut Meringue… so recipe please!! xx
Goodness, Sarah – how absolutely lovely to hear from you, and what a long memory you have! I do remember the Hazelnut Meringue well – we all loved it too but for some reason I haven’t made any for a while. Thanks for the reminder – I’d be delighted to dredge through the old recipes to find it – or perhaps just experiment and enjoy any mishaps as we go. Do hope you are all well – enjoying the sailing and everything else?