(Theguardian) – CWA members have contributed classic recipes to a new cookbook celebrating the quality and diversity of their food
The Country Women’s Association is well known for its members’ desserts and baking. A new cookbook of country classics includes many favourites, such as Billie Trethowan’s beer cake and Anita Knight’s pavlova roll.
Beer cake
250g butter
4 cups self-raising flour
4 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup mixed dried fruit
2 cups beer
1 tsp lemon essence
Pinch of nutmeg
Topping
250g butter
2 cups plain flour
1 cup caster sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 180C and grease a 25cm square tin.
For cake, rub butter into sifted flour, beat eggs and sugar and add to the flour mixture. Add fruit, beer, lemon essence and nutmeg. Pour into prepared tin.
For topping, rub butter into sifted flour, sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the cake mixture.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Pavlova roll
4 egg whites
3⁄4 cup caster sugar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
Whipped cream
Your choice of filling – grated chocolate and coffee, passionfruit, or strawberry jam and strawberries
Preheat oven to 180C. Line and grease a 25cm × 35cm Swiss roll tin and dust with cornflour.
Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar to form a meringue. Spread into prepared tin. Sprinkle with combined sugar, cinnamon and almonds. Bake for seven to 10 minutes or until firm and golden tipped.
Turn out on to a wire rack covered with greaseproof paper. Allow to cool for five minutes or longer.
Mix cream with your choice of filling. Spread on cooled meringue and roll up as for Swiss roll. Refrigerate until set.