Year Two Day Fifty Three - Fig and Almond Cake

Dear all, 

I haven't much time to stretch my Kitchen Goddess inspired muscles of late so today I decided to use up a packet of figs we had lying dormant in the fridge. 

After a nifty search on the hallowed Google, I found this recipe and decided to give it a whirl. http://southernfood.about.com/od/datesandfigs/r/bl30225f.htm

So, for this intriguing recipe, I needed to find the following:

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup almonds ( they call for ground but I chopped up some whole almonds instead)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 tsp all spice

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup oil ( I also added a knob of butter)

2 large eggs

1/2 cup orange juice ( that we didn't have... so I used pineapple juice)

1 cup finely chopped figs ( fresh or dried - I used dried)

I greased a pan and mixed together the flour, baking powder, almonds, cinnamon, allspice and salt in a separate bowl. 

I then beat the sugar and oil together and added the eggs, slowly, one at a time, whilst beating furiously. 

I then mixed in the flour mixture to the egg bowl, a little at a time and alternating with the pineapple juice. I then stirred in the figs. 

I spooned the mixture in the pan and baked at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes (or until the cake is golden brown). For my first baking excursion in a while, I was fairly pleased with this recipe - Darren has discovered that it goes very well with a large dollop of Haagen Daz... (but what doesn't, really)