High Tea at the Beach House Featuring an Ab Fab Apple Slice

So we've been doing this alot lately.  Breaking out the good china and doing tea and cakes with good friends.  People are asking me how I have lost all that weight if I eat like this.  Well the truth is, if I keep on going on like this, I shan't loose any more.  However, if I have to, and lets just say sometimes I have to, I do find the best way to indulge in this kind of stuff is in company.  Why? because it all get eaten in one sitting and you can't look too piggy and have more than 2 slices for yourself.

   This recipe actually came about from my last high tea.  My mum dragged out the old kindergarten cook book published from when I was a toddler.  The social mores have changed a lot, with recipes contributed by Mrs so and so.  The measurements have too.  I learned that 1 cup is 8oz, therefore I concluded that 4oz must be half that.  It's not rocket science!!!!!  What hasn't changed is the that home cooked is definitely best and tastiest.  One of the guests at our first high tea was bemoaning the fact that she had had the same cook book as my mum, but had unfortunately chucked it out.  Luckily I grew up in a house where nothing was ever thrown out, for which these days this vintage lovin' gal is eternally grateful.  Anyway Mary said in passing that she very much regretted off loading the cook book, owing to the fact that there was a fabulous apple slice contained therein.

I love a baking recommendation so of course, got her to point it out.  The book was literally falling apart so I didn't dare ask to have it, but dutifully copied it out for a later date.  Another neighbour had given mum some lemons from her beautiful tree and as this slice had lemon in the filling and icing and I had all the other ingredients in my pantry,  I made it for this high tea on a rainy afternoon of the long weekend past.

As I was preparing it, I asked Mr Beach House should we invite Jan and Shelley over for tea.  As usual he ignored me so I ignored him back.  Not five minutes later the phone rang and  it was our best man Jan on the other end, asking us over for tea.  Weird.  I said well I've got a slice about to go in the oven and I like my china better than yours, so why don't you guys come here.  Ha ha!!!!

I mentioned at tea that I didn't think I'd blog this one as it was a little crumbly and when I was making it it felt wrong.  But Shelly piped up and said 'No this is fabulous you have to blog it'.  And I have to agree mum's old neighbour Mary was right it is truly fabulous.  So even if you are making it and it feels like you don't have enough cake mixture, press on because the baking process makes all the little gaps come together and turn out great, if a little rustic.  I guess that's just the way it was 40 years ago.  Personally I like it!!!!

Apple Slice

For the Cake Mixture

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup plain flour

1/2 cup of softened butter

1/2 cup corn flour

1 egg lightly beaten

1 teaspoon baking powder

For the Apple Filling

3 peeled and grated apples

2 tablespoons sugar

grated rind of one lemon

For the Icing

1 cup of icing sugar

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar add the egg.  Stir in sifted flours and baking power. Mix to combine. Divide the cake into 2 portions.  Spread half the mixture onto a greased and lined 9inch/23cm cake tin.  You will need to use a hot knife to spread it evenly and thinly.

Cover the cake mixture in the tin with the apple filling ingredients which you have previously combined in a separate bowl.

Using a hot knife to spread the remainder of the cake mixture over the top of the apple mixture.  

Bake in a moderately hot oven (375 F/180 C) for 20 to 30 minutes until golden brown.  Cool for 20 minutes in the tin.  Lift out using the baking paper, ice and sprinkle with cinnamon and slice.

So I dare you to add some sweetness to your weekend and give this a go.  Oh and if you like a baking recommendation too go here to my baking recipe list.

Today I am linking up here

Foodie Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Pink Saturday
Weekend Wrap Up
Say G'Day Saturday
Sunday Scoop
Home Maker on a Dime
Sunday Showcase
Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesday
No Minimalist Here
Tablescape Thursday
Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons