Friends and Friands!

A group of my friends and I have decided to make time to practise the lovely creative crafts we learn to do at various workshops. So, every month or so, we choose and evening to get together. Last night, we learnt how to weave willow with my lovely friend Nicky Rowling. She showed us how to make heart-shaped and circular wreaths, and lovely little spiral bird-feeders. I had such a lovely time, just being there, drinking coffee and creating lovely things using such an ancient skill.

I baked some friands for the occasion and they went down so well that I have given you the recipe. Friands are little almond cakes which are very popular in Australia to have with morning coffee, and they are little bites of heaven! Not only that, but they are VERY easy to make; no beating or creaming or folding - EASY!! I realised this morning that they are almost identical to French Madeleines, just subsitute vanilla essence for the lemon zest (easy to whip up in the morning while you are in the shower!).

Have fun!

Friands (Makes 6 big ones or about 12 smaller bites)

4 oz butter, melted

4 1/2 oz icing sugar

1 oz plain flour

3 oz ground almonds

3 medium eggwhites

grated zest of one lemon

3 oz blueberries or cubed apple or pieces of pear or plum

Heat the oven to 200 degrees/Gas Mk 6

Sift the flour and icing sugar and stir in the almonds. Whisk the eggs whites until floppy.

Tip into the dry ingredients along with the lemon zest, stir in the butter.

Grease the tins and pour in the batter. Sprinkle some pieces of fruit on the top and bake for about 18-20 minutes. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes then turn out and cool.

ps, turn your computer (or your head) around to view the picture the right way up!