Orange Drizzle Cake
Being a keen baker I’ve recently started to expand my repertoire into adaptations of other peoples recipes. As baking is more science & precision than other cookery forms you can’t deviate too much without drastic changes in results. I’m a great fan of The Hairy Bikers cookbooks, as after extensive usage for all sorts of meals they’ve never let me down (are you listening Gary Rhodes & Jamie Oliver!). Having recently used their Lemon Drizzle Cake recipe with a great response from family & friends I thought I may try the same recipe using Oranges instead. Official verdict is that the Orange Drizzle Cake is even better, not quite as sharp but with a longer lasting and rather lovely aftertaste. Below is the adapted recipe I use for my cake.
Ingredients: 1 Orange ,well scrubbed. 275g granulated sugar. 175g unsalted butter softened, plus extra for greasing. 200g self-raising flour. ½ tsp baking powder. 3 large free-range eggs. 1 tbsp poppy seeds
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C/350˚F/Gas 4. Base line a 900g (2lb) non-stick loaf tin with baking parchment and butter well. Finely grate the orange zest. Put the 175g sugar, butter, flour, baking powder and lemon zest in a food processor and blend on the pulse setting until just combined, thick and smooth. (Make sure you read the sugar amounts correctly & don’t mix the full 275g). Pour in the poppy seeds and give the mix one more quick spin to distribute them
2. Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin and level the surface. Bake for 35 minutes or until well risen and pale golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Squeeze the orange and mix the 3 tbsp of the juice with the remaining 100g granulated sugar.
3. Invert the cake on to a wire rack set above a small tray or plate. Remove the baking parchment and gently turn the right way up. Make 50-60 deep holes in the cake using a skewer.
4. Slowly and gradually, spoon over half the orange sugar, allowing it to thoroughly coat the top of the cake and drizzle down the sides in plates. Stand for 5 minutes then do the same with the remaining orange sugar. Leave to set for at least an hour or until the icing has crystallised. Serve the cake in thick slices, (it goes rather well with a cup of Tea).
Next weekend (21st/22nd April) will see the next installment of the ‘Great langdale Road races‘. The St Georges’ day 10k Race is the first event of the year , followed in September by both the full & half marathon routes then the ‘Christmas Pudding 10k‘ is contested in December. Started in 1988 by ‘Rocket Ron Berry’with 38 entrants the races have grown over the years to include a large field of highly accomplished athletes whilst retaining the sense of fun and all level participation that they started with. Running in Langdale Valleys is more than simply a sporting event it also gives a unique opportunity to enjoy the landscape of the valley in a very hands on (or should that be ‘feet on’) way. Having spent a lot of time running in Langdale recently (training for ‘Tough Mudder‘ which can be seen in a previous blog post) it really has given me a new sense of appreciation about the beautiful valley I live in.
Cooking with a view at Dale End Farm
It’s taken a great deal of time and effort but the major refurbishment to Dale End Farm, Daw Bank & Pilgrims Rest has all been completed. We are still waiting for the internal photography for Pilgrims Rest to be done but we couldn’t resist showing everyone the new look to both Dale End Farm & Daw Bank.
As large Lake District cottages go we think it’s hard to beat a stay in Dale End Farm,. With loads of great walks from the door, views over the lake at Grasmere and enough space to accommodate 11 it’s a superb house for a gathering. The new kitchen (fitted by Kirkland Kitchens) is solid oak with a traditional tiled floor, white work-tops & a new, gas, range-style cooker. During the work on the kitchen we’ve taken the opportunity to redesign & refit the en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom (which has also had a makeover), new carpet throughout the hallways & stairs and decorated many of the rooms.
Waking up to the Lake District, Dale End Farm master bedroom
Daw Bank dining area & lounge
Daw Bank is new to The Good Life Cottage Company although it has been let for many years. Howard & Jen (the owners) have had the house completely redecorated throughout,with new curtains, blinds & carpets giving it a fresh look for 2012. Daw Bank now benefits from WiFi access for future guests to enjoy. This years guests also benefit from new garden furniture so we’ll pray for a warm summer to get the most out of it.
Lazy holiday mornings in Daw bank
For pictures of Pilgrims Rest you’ll all have to wait (cue boos) we weren’t quite quick enough and felt it a little rude to leave the guests standing waiting for us to take photos, but we have taken a few shots of the outside showing the new garden and windows. The work done has included a new window in the large double bedroom (overlooking the garden), heating has been added to the utility room and downstairs toilet (which used to be a little chilly in winter). The master bathroom has been completely refurbished and now offers a separate bath & shower with lakeland slate tiling, polished wood floor & improved ventilation. The en-suite shower-room has been enlarged with a wider shower and greater floor space (the old room was just a little too cosy).
For a look at each property individually take a look at the Our Cottages section on the website where we will post all our new photos for your perusal.
Breakfast on the Terrace at Pilgrims Rest (Daw Bank is the left hand cottage in the row below)
Birch Tree Cottage (13 Firgarth)
Following the Easter Holidays we will be letting Birch Tree Cottage at Firgarth in Chapel Stile.
Birch Tree Cottage is a little gem! Up a private driveway, hidden on the fellside with wonderful views over the Langdale Valley and across Baysbrown to Lingmoor Fell and Oak Howe. Perfectly formed, the end of a small row of cottages. Birch Tree Cottage (13 Firgarth) has everything you could need for a comfortable stay.
Birch Tree Cottage Lounge
Sleeping up to four people in a double bedroom and a twin bedded room (please note 2ft 6″ beds), most suited for a small family or couple with occassional guest. Main entry is into a small but perfectly formed kitchen leading through to the lounge with bathroom and twin bedroom on the ground floor. French doors from the lounge open up onto a large communal grassed area. A bench seat is perfectly placed for taking in the stunning view and watching the many birds and abundant wildlife that visit the area. Upstairs is the double bedroom which is light and airy, an ideal place to hide away with a good book. If you’re not looking for escapism and need to stay in touch with the world Birch Tree Cottage also benefits from WiFi.
The cottage is a small stroll from Chapel Stile village centre, conveniently close to Langdale Co-op, Brambles Cafe, Wainwrights Inn and also the bus stop if you plan to leave the car behind. Parking is close by in a private carpark for the Firgarth properties only.
View from Birch Tree lounge
Anyone following us on Facebook or Twitter will know that I (Ben) have signed up to take part in ‘Tough Mudder Scotland‘. Tough Mudder hold events around the world, in this case challengers face an 11 mile military style assault course involving plenty of hideous obstacles along the route. The event takes place on July 14th/15th at Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfrieshire. I’ll be taking part with a small team from around the South Lakes, we have christened ourselves ‘The Mud Muppets’. Each of us is collecting sponsorship for our chosen charity which in my case is ‘The Charles Sykes Epilepsy Research Trust‘ (Registered charity 1118760. CSERT).
During the event I will be covered in mud, soaked, frozen, slightly singed, stung, electrocuted, half drowned and physically exhausted. I am aware that plenty of people will find this immensely funny, some people may think me a little unhinged and hopefully some will see fit to sponsor me 
Not one to miss an opportunity, I’d love to point out to other ‘Tough Mudders’ that The Lake District is a perfect location to train for the event. Straight from the front door you can be out onto the surrounding fells, cross country running, wading through rivers, climbing, ghyll scrambling, mountain biking or even just getting a few extra miles (and burning a few calories) by walking the dog. If anyone reading this is taking part in any of the ‘Tough Mudder’ courses in the UK this year why not come for a holiday in our cottages and combine it with your training schedule. Or if you have a partner doing Tough Mudder come for a nice relaxing break while your other half runs him/herself to exhaustion. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting a few running routes in Langdale and the surrounding area, if I get my training right these routes should get longer as the event draws closer.
Great Langdale Valley - the perfect Tough Mudder training place
