Gluten free Almond & Orange Cake

Its gloomy day in the mountains - perfect weather to do some baking.  Since I went gluten free a few years ago because of health issues  - I am on the hunt for easy, tasty, gluten free recipes. This Almond & Orange Cake ticks all the boxes - perfect with a generous dollop of cream and a cup of tea :)

Almond & Orange Cake

125g butter + grated rind of 1 orange
1/2 cup castor sugar + 2 eggs
125g packet almond meal
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 cup self-raising gluten free flour
1/2 cup milk

Orange syrup
1cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar

Place butter, rind & sugar in a bowl & beat with an electric mixer until light & fluffy
Add eggs, one at a time , beating until combined
Stir through almond meal & poppy seeds
Stir in half flour with half milk, then remaining flour & milk
Spread mixture into a greased and lined 20cm round tin
Bake in a moderate oven, 180c for 40 minutes
Combine Syrup ingredients in saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved, then increase heat & simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove cake from oven, insert a few holes in cake with skewer. Pour hot syrup over hot cake. Cool cake in tin.

Charles Darwin Walk

Today, my daughter got her first pair of hiking boots .....

We took them for a 'spin' down Charles Darwin Walk at Wentworth Falls. Charles Darwin walked this track in 1836.

The walk follows the beautiful Jamison Creek South, which cascades down a number of small waterfalls.

The area is home to a variety of birds and the endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink

We came upon a skink catching some afternoon sunshine on the path, and saw a few Yabbies in the clear water.

The bees were busy gathering nectar from the pretty Grevillia flowers

It was a delightful afternoon walk.

Australia Day Weekend

Australia Day Weekend in the mountains was a mixed bag - after a nasty headache went on a lovely bush walk to Leura Cascades with house guests. I am sure the fresh air, sunshine and cascading water helped.

 

 

Enjoyed a special treat on Sunday afternoon, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The play was presented by Sport for Jove Theatre Company at Everglades Garden. The production was a thoughtful interpretation with contemporary costumes. The children in the audience seemed to enjoy it and a little girl's interjection made both actor's and audience laugh.

 

 

 

Outdoor stage at Everglades Garden



This treasure from the 1930s sits in twelve and a half acres of European-style gardens and native Australian bush with breathtaking views over the Jamison Valley

 

 



 

 

We celebrated Australia Day at the Glenbrook Gnome Convention. Though the day was cold and wet the community was warm and enthusiastic. We were entertained by an excellent acapella group from the local high school.