Lemon and almond Christmas cake

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy, add theeggs 1 at a time, then the lemon zest and juice. Stir in the ground almonds and sift in the flour and baking powder.

Place in a cake tin lined with greased baking paper (keep butter wrappers folded up in the fridge to grease baking paper when needed) and bake for 45 – 50 minutes. Test by inserting a skewer – if it is clean when removed the cake is cooked through. Leave it to cool for 15 minutes, removefrom the tin and leave to cool totally on a rack.

This cake is blissfully plain – for a festive touch decorate with glacé or dried fruits and nuts.