Alfred the Great Cakes

One of the first kings of England was Alfred the Great. While he was waiting for the Vikings to come and attack he hid out with some peasants in the countryside of Wessex. One day the woman of the hut told him to watch the cakes she had baking to be sure that they didn't burn while she went to get some firewood. As Alfred sat wondering how he was going to defeat the Vikings when they came to attack, the cakes burned. To help us remember the story we made Alfred Cakes.

Alfred Cakes

1 C. flour

1/4 C. sugar

1/2 T. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

3 T. cooking oil

1/4 C. raisins

1/4 C. chopped dates

1 egg

1/8 c. heavy cream

1/8 C. lemon juice

Mix together dry ingredients including dates and raisins. Mix together wet ingredients. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, pour in wet ingredients and mix until moist. With floured hands knead the dough ever so gently and divide into four parts and shape into cakes. Bake on a cookie sheet, we used a baking stone, for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned at 425 degrees.

We enjoyed these with diner, but they would do equally as well at breakfast by themselves or with a dollop of jam.