Walnuts

Walnuts

We have four gorgeous huge walnut trees on our property which give us lovely shade in the summer and an abundance of nuts in Autumn.

Here are a couple of cakes I have recently made using walnuts that are delicious.

Walnut Cake

150 g softened butter (unsalted is best)

4 eggs, seperated

150g castor sugar

200g shelled walnuts chopped (I use the rolling pin and give them a bit of a bash)

150g plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

Grated rind of 1 lemon

pinch cinnamon

1 tablespoon rum (optional)

Pre heat the oven to 180 C and grease the cake tin with butter.

Cream the butter the beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Stir in the sugar and walnuts, sift in the flour and baking powder and mix well. Add lemon rind, cinnamom and rum. Stiffly whip the egg whites until they form peaks and fold into the mixture. Pour into the prepared cake tin an bake for about 1 hour. Leave to cool and then turn out.

Delicious as a dessert with custard or icecream, or by itself with a cup of tea.

Lovely Date and Walnut Loaf

240g pitted dried dates, halved

310ml water

100g dark brown sugar

80g butter cubed

extra butter for greasing

300g self raising flour

1 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

2 eggs, lightly whisked

100g walnuts chopped. 

Place the dates, water, brown sugar and butter in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour in to a heat resistant bowl and allow to cool for about half an hour.

Pre heat oven to 170 C and grease a loaf pan with butter.

Sift the flour and mixed spice into a large mixing bowl and combine with a wooden spoon. Pour in the date mixture and add the walnuts and stir well to combine. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 50 - 55 minutes