ROCK CAKES ROCK

I often hear busy mums complain that they do not have time to bake, so if they want a treat for the family they buy a cake of biscuits. I can quite understand their predicament, many mums have to work these days and it is hard to find the time to more than the bare essentials of house work which does not include baking. Having worked full time myself in the past and having a family who refuse to eat convenience food I evolved a good many recopies that are quick, simple and very tasty. Today’s recipe has the advantage of being one which children will find easy to do and we all know how much children love to bake with mum or dad.

AVIES VARIATIONS ON A ROCK CAKE
For the basic mixture.
8 oz self raising flour
4 oz granulated sugar
4 oz butter or hard margarine
pinch of salt
I egg
a little milk to mix
4oz sultanas or raisins
Place the flour and butter into a bowl and rub in until the mix resembles breadcrumbs then add the sultanas. Add the beaten egg and enough milk to make to a stiff consistency then heap tablespoons full on to a greased baking sheet they should have a craggy appearance but it you have made the mixture too soft fear not, the cakes will be a little flatter but they will still taste good.
Bake in a pre heated oven at 425oC for10-15 minutes.
This amount makes between 12 -15 rock cakes

This recipe lends itself to variations so if you like leave out the fruit and add any of the following
4 oz chopped glacé cherries
2oz desiccated coconut
a hand full of marigold petals
4 oz chopped dates
The grated rind on a lemon
A teaspoon full of ground ginger
A combination of cherries and coconut is lovely.

You can even leave out he sugar and add 3 oz Cheshire cheese and a little pepper to make a savoury snack, a shake of paprika adds a colourful touch.
These are a real treat when eaten warm and can also be split and buttered.
I am sure that you can think of lots more things to add to the mixture to make these rock cakes your own.

If you have and fresh apples of plums cook them for about five minutes, place in greased dish and heaps spoons full of the plain mixture on the top to form a cobbler , bake for 15-20 minutes at 400oC and serve with cream ,iced cream or custard.

Today I harvested our Pink Fir Apple potato crop and I am more than happy with this years crop, the recent wet spell has encouraged the pumpkins to grow and every day now I bring in one or two/ Tonight we are having a salad with cold pork pie , cheeses and cooked meats with some of the new potatoes , straight out of the ground and on to the plate, wonderful.