Photo: su-lin, Flickr
What "looks twee and smacks of tea parties and pinkies out," according to blogger tamarindandthyme? Consider the rock cake, a sometimes beloved, sometimes reviled, craggy-textured, spiced scone-like snack of English schoolchildren and expats, and a purported teatime favorite of fictional boy wizard Harry Potter.
Another blogger, bakingforbritain, finds that even the revered 19th-century cookery writer Mrs. Beeton, in her Book of Household Management, offers up a rock cake that's "dry... hard, and bland." However, also included in the post is an Elizabeth Craig recipe, calling for orange rind and juice, that satisfies. Tamarindandthyme's recipe favors a mix of currants and a glace cherry topping, satisfying a nostalgic yearning and an appetite for a tender treat.
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3-19-2010 @10:57AM Chris said... Am I the only one who was brought up to call these Rock Buns rather than Rock Cakes?
Some of the happiest memories of my childhood was going on holiday to my grandparents and helping granny make Rock Buns and Coconut Mountains... :)
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