I’ve been making this cake since I was a teenager, and that’s a long time ago now! Talking About Cakes by Margaret Bates was first published in 1964, and my copy dates from 1978. I’ve made quite a lot of the cakes and biscuits in this book. Reading through its yellowed pages, which are falling out, takes me on a journey back in time. I can remember making a meringue layer cake – layers of meringue, sponge and coffee cream – for my grandad’s birthday when I was probably about 15. Very “Bake Off”! And my first excursions into Danish pastry were from recipes in this book. This cherry cake was a particular favourite of my uncle Jack, and I made it for him a few times. It is based on a pound cake really, with added ground almonds. It’s moist, with a lovely lemony flavour. Even when it’s getting a bit stale (I made it over a week ago, and we are just finishing the last slice!) it still stays quite moist because of the juicy cherries.
I did actually have a slice for breakfast on Boxing Day. Cake for breakfast. It’s what Christmas is all about.
I had to make this cake in a loaf tin, not my first choice. I just could not find my 8”/20 cm round tin anywhere. As it was Christmas Eve I didn’t have time to turn out all the cupboards in my search. I hope I find it, as I have had it for about 35 years!
Luckily for me the recipe fits onto one page, so I don’t need to write it out for you! It is so old it’s in ancient imperial measurements.
Now it’s January and the whole of media land is awash with salads and vegetable shakes. I will carry on baking. Someone has to!
I love running, and I love cake. I started running again in 2011 after a break of some time due to ill health. I began with Couch to 5k (highly recommended), and progressed to half marathons. Third time lucky in the ballot I ran London Marathon in 2016 and vowed "never again". My challenge for 2019 was to complete 12 half marathons/ten milers, start writing a blog and raise money for JDRF (https://jdrf.org.uk)- a charity dedicated to funding research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
From 2020 - 2022 I am continuing with all of those things, except I am not going to run an official half marathon every month! Just some months ;-)
I have a new blog! Read about walking the London LOOP on walkingthelondonloop.uk
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Eat Cake And Run 
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