Thursday, 25 June 2009

cherry cake recipe from my mum

my darling mum gave me this recipe for a cherry cake yesterday and i couldn't wait to see what would come out of it and quickly baked it.

what came out of it was a very yummy cake indeed.

a very easy, quick (well, apart from pitting one kilogram of cherries - this requires a lot of patience and a black apron!) and light cake, great for eating on a balcony with a cup of coffee or in the garden or on the beach. great to eat with friends in the park, great to eat alone while writing in a blog, great to eat when reading a book, great to eat when watching tv, great to eat when not doing anything special, great to eat for lunch, great to eat for breakfast, great to eat every time, just because it's so great to eat!

did i give you enough reasons to pit one kilogram of cherries yet?

here is the recipe:
you'll need:
around 1 kg of cherries (or other summer fruits, that don't require pitting, for example)
250 g unsalted butter or margarine (i used butter)
4 eggs
200 g sugar
250 g flour
4 tbs potato starch
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

plus for the topping:
5 tbs of unsalted butter
5 tbs of icing sugar
200 - 250 g flour

how to make:
1. wash and dry the cherries (easy)
2. pit the cherries (not so easy)
3. melt the butter or margarine in a pan over a low heat (don't let it boil!) and leave to cool (easy)
4. in a large bowl beat the eggs with sugar and vanilla extract (very easy)
5. stir in melted butter or margarine little by little (very very easy)
6. slowly stir in the flours, baking powder and salt (also very easy)
5. stir really well (easy...)
6. pour the mixture into a medium size square greased baking tray (piece of cake!)
7. arrange the cherries on top (should be lots, don't leave any gaps!)(easy)
8. prepare the topping: work all the ingredients rubbing in the butter until the mixture becomes crumbly and crumble it all on top of the cherries (very easy)
9. bake in the oven for around 50 minutes at 170°C (very very very easy)
(see, only 8 easy steps and just 1 not so easy one!)

here is what the finished product looks like:
there, you don't really mind pitting one kilogram of cherries after all, or do you....

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

my dear sister Monika

i love you lots and i’m thinking today about you double than usual (and you know i think about you a lot!) because today it’s a special day – your birthday! so, i’m thinking about you special things.
i’m thinking that you are so sweet and lovely and considerate of other people. i’m thinking how i love the list of your little pleasures and how it’s similar to mine. i’m thinking about our past, when you were little and really funny and how we didn’t have much in common at that time. and i’m thinking how nice it is that we’ve become such good friends recently. and i’m thinking about how i love getting and reading your e-mails (i read them a few times always!) and i’m thinking how i love writing to you too. and i’m thinking how it’s wonderful to always talk to you – we seem to always have lots to talk about. and i’m thinking how it’s nice that we inspire each other. and i’m thinking how it’s nice that you always think about me and always want the best for me, and for my parents and my brother and actually – for everyone. and i’m thinking how it’s wonderful that you love our grandma so much. and i’m thinking what delicious things you always make when i come to visit you. oh yeah, and i'm thinking about how i love sushi parties at your house and i’m thinking about your yummy fruit vodkas and i’m thinking how you like some of my recipes too. and i’m thinking what you would like to get for your birthday that i could send to you. and i’m thinking how it’s wonderful to have you as a sister. and i’m thinking how much i miss you....

and i’m thinking how it would be nice if we could see each other soon.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SISTER!

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Damla

kemal's mum and his niece Damla are staying with us this month...
damla is 5 years old and her mouth never shuts.
she's either talking or singing or shouting or screaming or....
eating...
or all of the above at the same time!

(i like her best when she's eating)