Simnel cake

As its Good Friday I made this Simnel cake as a present for for my very very favourite octagenarian, Tricia.

For those who don't know the glories of the Simnel, it is traditional easter fare in England. SImply, a light fruit cake with a layer of marzipan baked into it. The top is covered with browned marzipan, and it has to have 11 marzipan balls on top - one for each of Jesus's disciples, excluding Judas. (As clearly his part in the whole Easter business is not a matter for celebration)

Made it over the course of this morning (it takes two and a half hours to cook on a very low heat) and took it round to Tricia this afternoon.

And blow me, we had eaten a decent chunk of it before it was properly cold!

PS don't look too closely - the ribbon around it has snowmen and stuff on..