Colour it green

simnel cake

for the marzipan:

1 egg, beaten

6 oz ground almonds

6 oz sugar

for the cake:

4 oz margarine

4 oz soft brown sugar

3 eggs

5 oz plain flour

1/2 tsp mixed spice

14 oz mixed dried fruit

a little apple jelly or similar

Line and grease a 7" cake tin. Make the marzipan by mixing the ingredients, then divide it and roll out one half to a circle the same size as the tin.

Cream the sugar and margarine, then add the eggs and beat. Add the flour and spice, and mix well, then add the dried fruit.

Spoon half the mixture into the prepared cake tin, then add the marzipan disc, then top with the remaining mixture.

Cook in a preheated oven at 130C (fan) 140C (conventional) for one and a half hours.

Remove and leave to cool.

Roll out the remaining mazipan into a disc. Remove from the tin, then brush the top with apple jelly, then put the marzipan top on. decorate with knife marks. Put in a hot oven - 180C for about ten minutes, until the top is just lightly brown.