When Nigel Slater baked this cake on his tv show last year I couldn't wait to try it, and for some reason it has taken me until now to actually do it! It is not like I haven't looked at the recipe about a million times...sheesh...I just haven't managed to do anything about it. But I have been thinking extra hard about it over the last couple of weeks, especially after seeing all the fat beetroots on display at the farmer markets here in Edinburgh. And so...this weekend...it finally happened!
Good ol' Nige says that the beetroot in this cake acts like carrots in carrot cake...you can't really taste them. Well, I don't quite agree. This cake has a deep earthy flavour...which does taste like beetroot. But, that's fine with me...cause it tastes great! The poppy seeds add a great texture and the cake itself is really moist. The glaze on top is a icing sugar and lemon juice mix. I've been using unrefined icing sugar...and although it looks white in the picture, is actually a tan colour (the poppy seeds really cover it up though!).
I'm entering this cake for Karen and Kate's Tea Time Treats challenge for November. I think it is a bit of a stretch on the Ginger and Bonfire treats theme...but...if I had been on task it would have been made yesterday for Bonfire Night...and it is so earthy, and smokey and Autumny! I'm also entering it for Jac from Tinned Tomatoes Bookmarked Recipes November round up.
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