The simplest, lightest Victoria Sandwich Cake

Ingredients:

• 150g [6oz] softened butter or margarine [not reduced fat]
• 150g [6oz] caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 125g [5oz] self raising flour
• 25g [1oz] cornflour
• 1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
• [1-2 tablespoons milk - if necessary]
• jam [and whipped cream if desired] to sandwich together

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C
2. Line the base of two 20cm [8"] sandwich pans with baking parchment.
3. Sieve all of the dry ingredients [caster sugar, flour, cornflour and baking powder] into a bowl
4. Add the softened butter and eggs
5. Beat all of the ingredients together using either a wooden spoon, hand-held electric mixer or food processor
6. The mixture should be a 'soft-dropping consistency' which means that it gently drops from a spoon when held up. If the mixture is too stiff, stir in a little milk.
7. Divide the mixture equally between the two sandwich pans
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes
9. Allow to stand and cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack
10. Sandwich together with jam [and whipped cream if desired]

The best chocolate cake ever

Ingredients:

• 50g [2oz] cocoa, sifted
• 6 tablespoons boiling water
• 120ml [4 fluid oz] milk
• 175g [6oz] self-raising flour
• 1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
• 100g [4oz] softened butter or margarine [not reduced fat]
• 275g [10oz] caster sugar
• 3 eggs

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C
2. Line the base of two 20cm [8"] sandwich pans with baking parchment
3. Into a mixing bowl or food processor place the cocoa, and add the boiling water
4. mix to a paste and set aside to cool a little whilst you weigh out the other ingredients
5. To the bowl containing the cocoa paste, add all of the other ingredients
6. beat until a smooth batter, using either a wooden spoon, hand mixer or food processor
7. Divide the batter between the two sandwich pans
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes
9. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Filling and Topping:

• 140g [5oz] plain chocolate
• 150ml [quarter pint] double cream

1. Break or chop the chocolate into pieces
2. add to cream in a heatproof bowl
3. Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water
4. DO NOT let the simmering water get into the chocolate and cream mixture
5. stir until the chocolate has melted
6. Remove the bowl from the pan and allow to cool until it becomes thick
7. Use to sandwich together and top the cake
8. Finish with grated chocolate curls

A Mary Berry recipe.

conveyed to beloved daughter phoning from Sweden in a panic.

the best way to clean glass and mirrors

1. dampen two soft cloths
2. add a tiny amount of washing up liquid to one cloth
3. clean glass or mirror with the detergent-laden cloth
4. wipe clean with plain dampened cloth
5. take a sheet of newspaper and crumple it into a pad
6. use the newspaper pad to dry and polish the surface...

Guaranteed to leave glass and mirror surfaces sparkling and smear-free.