Pepper cake

This cake has other names, but we know it as 'Pepper Cake', but it is more commonly known as 'Carol Singing Cake'. The cake is very easy to make and it is heavy as well as being slightly spicy. Wonderful for cold nights!
Ingredients:
675g or 1 ½ lbs plain four
225g or 8oz butter
225g or 8oz dark, soft brown sugar
25g or 1 oz ground cloves
675g or 1 ½ lbs black treacle
4 eggs, well beaten together
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Milk as required
Method:
1. Rub the butter into the flour, using your finger tips, until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs
2. Now stir in the sugar and the cloves
3. Add the treacle and the well beaten eggs
4. Add the bicarbonate of soda which has been mixed in a LITTLE milk to dissolve it
5. Pre-heat the oven to 170'C / 325'f / gas mark 3
6. Put the cake mixture into a well greased roasting tin and bake for 1 ¾ hours
Serve cold

Stefano Catania