1 lb ground almonds
4oz caster sugar
4oz icing sugar (sifted to get the lumps out)
1 large egg
Juice of half a small lemon
half teaspoon each of vanilla essence and almond essence
Mix the dry ingredients
Whisk the wet ones together and mix into the dry. Can be done in a processor or mixer or by hand. If using a machine beware of over-processing. Work it too hard and the almond oil starts to flow and it becomes nasty.
Once it starts coming together as a dough (like pastry) use your hands to work it into a lump. It benefits by being wrapped and refrigerated before being used.
It is easiest to roll out between two sheets of non stick liner, or baking parchment. This year I got lovely straight lines with the edge of my steel ruler. A pizza wheel also does a good job.
That amount is enough to cover a nine inch cake. I only do a seven inch one, and the leftovers will last as long as my daughter is around to help by clearing them up - at least a week.
Shut up, I'm counting
Shut up, I'm counting
Trying to enjoy life as it is
Shut up, I'm counting
There you go then - I had a feeling there was some way round it. It's just that, when Edwina made that famous statement, we were keeping our own hens, and I started to worry - then realised that if there was anything to be caught from them we had been in trouble long ago = so decided not to worry. I can't say we have had any upsets that I can pin down to eggs.
Shut up, I'm counting
Home is where the heart is.
Shut up, I'm counting
Nothing particularly lovely about my icing - I am of the wild-blown snowfield class. However, it is good to have it white. Have been informed by my daughter (who goes into these things), that using raw eggs is safe in this situation, due to the high sugar content, and also because there is no air incorporated. Even so, Delia Smith gives a receipe using cooked egg, but it is quite tricky to make. So that is something to investigate for next year, at this late stage, though I shall just continue as I have done for the last forty five years.
Shut up, I'm counting
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