Tomorrow is discussion day for our current book group book, William Maxwell's "They came like swallows". On page 42 of my edition is this passage:
"Weekdays he came straight home from school so that he could have his mother all to himself. At quarter after four Sophie wheeled in the teacart and there was a party: little cakes with white icing on them, a glass of milk for him and tea for his mother. Then he sat on her lap while she read to him from Toinette's Philip or from The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book. About Mr. Crow and the C-X pie. Or about Mr. Possum's Uncle Silas who went to visit Cousin Glenwood in the city and came home with a "man" and a bag of shinny sticks."
So here's a version of Bunny's little cakes with white icing. It's a basic fairy cake recipe (4oz. each of butter, caster sugar and self-raising flour, a pinch of salt and two eggs) but I filled the cases half full and added a small spoon of lemon curd, then topped them with the rest of the mixture and baked them at about Gas 6/200 C/top of the Aga baking oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
The icing is made with lemon juice instead of water and there's a tiny lemon balm leaf for decoration.
I won't win any prizes for the regularity of my icing, but the cakes do taste good.
Wicked, wicked Cornflower for showing me fairy cakes which I love, especially anything with lemon! But how have you lemon balm in leaf in winter? Does it grow on your windowsill in a pot, or in a conservatory?
Posted by: Margaret Powling | 15 February 2008 at 11:58 AM
Yum. I hope there are enough for all of us!
sherry
Posted by: sherry | 15 February 2008 at 01:14 PM
They look utterly delicious. Can't wait.
Posted by: Harriet | 15 February 2008 at 02:54 PM
My bun tins were pressed into action for some job in the garage recently - I shan't explain, it would take far too long - so I now have to buy new ones, which will be a wonderful excuse to make some lemon fairy cakes, won't it?
I felt so in need of something pudding-y when I saw this, that for lunch (for after our beef casserole) I made a baked apple pudding (Eve's Pudding I think it used to be called) which is just stewed apples on the bottom and your fairy cake mixture put on the top (i.e. 4oz of everything, or the equiv. weight of 2 eggs) and baked in a moderate oven and served it with custard - again, truly yummy and just the sort of comfort food one craves for in weather like this (today, Torbay is very cold indeed. Forget all those pictures of the English Riviera, it's bitter out there!)
Posted by: Margaret Powling | 15 February 2008 at 03:02 PM
Oh gosh they look good, I have some lemon curd to use up, I may try those over the weekend.
I am reading the book at the moment, only half way through so unable to contribute much to the discussion but will really enjoy reading what others have to say.
Posted by: Rebecca | 15 February 2008 at 03:51 PM
Yum, that sounds so good! :0)
Posted by: Charity | 15 February 2008 at 03:53 PM
Mmmm, I like the idea of the lemon curd filling. I find it so interesting, the difference between the typical frosting/icing on cupcakes/fairy cakes in the UK vs. the US. I generally use a fluffy buttercream, whipping butter with powdered sugar (icing sugar?), cream and vanilla.
Posted by: tara | 15 February 2008 at 04:08 PM
Oh dear... I didn't buy this book, as I'm not buying books in Lent - not sure what I hoped would happen; maybe that a copy would fall into my lap from the sky. So I'm going to have to miss the group read, BUT will read one day, and come back and see what everyone said...
Posted by: Simon Thomas | 15 February 2008 at 04:47 PM
What a good idea.When I read this passage from the book, it reminded me of the smartie topped fairy cakes I made for my family when they were young.I must try this with the lemon curd. Are shops now going to run out of lemon curd and lemon balm leaf?
( a la Delia)
Posted by: Anne | 15 February 2008 at 05:54 PM
What a coincidence that you have posted about fairy cakes. I listened earlier to last Friday's Afternoon Play on Radio 4 before it was replaced by this week's offering. In it, they made fairy cakes, which got a bit over-cooked in the oven, so they were covered with drizzled chocolate.
My daughter made some after school on Wednesday, and covered them with pale pink icing and sprinkles. I have been trying to ignore them ever since!!
Posted by: Carole | 15 February 2008 at 09:44 PM
you're nearly equally Nigella in food porn!
Posted by: Emma | 15 February 2008 at 10:25 PM
I look forward to the recipe and the cakes almost as much as to the book! That says a lot about your cakes, Cornflower, and my GREED! Heavenly bliss, these look.
Posted by: adele geras | 16 February 2008 at 11:22 AM
The little cakes are divine! I am afraid I did not purchase the book this month ... but next time! Sorry not to be part of the discussion.
Posted by: Becca | 16 February 2008 at 02:44 PM
What a nice idea to put tiny leaves to decorate cup cakes. Must try that. 'Fraid haven't read this book. I already belong to two 'real-life' book groups and one virtual one. Don't think I'll have the time to join this one, but I have taken a lot of reading recommendations from you!
Posted by: Nicola | 16 February 2008 at 05:02 PM
Wow, those cakes look yummy. The icing is so smooth - mine never works out like that.
Interestingly, the quote you have included in this post was one of the one's I used in writing up my summary of the book.
Posted by: Sarah | 17 February 2008 at 12:15 AM
May I just say that these tasted delicous!
Posted by: Harri | 18 February 2008 at 01:12 PM