Orange Poppy Seed Cakes

It was one of those weekends that I stayed home. While hubby napped, I decided I craved Orange Poppy Seed Cake and didn't have the heart to wake him up to head out for tea and cakes. So I opted to bake (for humans this time). Yes I baked my own orange poppy seed cake from scratch. Its quite simple except that I should have just monitored my cake a wee more during the baking session:P

Ingredients:

• 125ml milk

• 1/2 cup poppyseeds (original called for 1/3 but I love poppy seeds so I added more)

• 1/4 cup sunflower seed (I added this for some added bite and flavour)

• 180g unsalted butter

• 200g caster sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3 eggs

• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (optional)

• 125ml freshly squeezed orange juice

• 375g plain flour

• 2 teaspoon baking powder

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (depending on oven).

• Grease baking tray / pan. And if you're using a silicone pan, skip the greasing and merely sprinkle some flour on your silicone tray.

• Stir poppyseed into milk.

• Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer until light.

• Add eggs one at a time. Beat well before you add in the next egg.

• Fold in orange zest, orange juice, sunflower seeds and poppyseed mixture.

• Add flour and baking powder to above ingredients. Fold well.

• Bake 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

I mentioned that I should have monitored my oven during baking. This cracked cake is due to me baking at too high temperature. Nevertheless it was yummy (well my parents and hubby loved it). I shared a little with furkid Shalom as I wasn't all too sure about poppyseeds and dogs.

Serve your cake with a dollop of good vanilla ice cream and tea or even eat it on its own. Its a brilliant tea time idea!