Hey all,

In this post I will share with you a perfect afternoon tea speciality the famous Victoria Sandwich. But since my blog is not only about food and recipe but also the story behind them, here I bring to you how and when the afternoon tea and our favourite Victoria Sandwich happened.

Now, the culture of afternoon tea was popularised by the Duchess of Bedford, Anna, she was one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting.

The story goes like this, as the noon meal had become “skimpier”, the Duches had a “sinking feeling” around 4 pm and her servants brought to her a pot of tea and bread stuffs. Later she started inviting her friends for an afternoon tea at 5 pm, at the Leicestershire estate. On returning back to London she continued the same and invited her friends over for tea at 5 pm.

Queen Victoria absolutely loved the idea of an afternoon tea and she and her ladies were in formal dress for the afternoon tea. Of all the breads and cakes and sweets that were served with tea at 5 pm Queen Victoria particularly loved the simple two layer sponge cake filled with a layer of jam and whipped cream.

Ingredients:

1. Sugar
2. Eggs
3. Flour
4. Orange flower water/ Almond essence/ Vanilla essence (optional)
5. Baking powder
6. Crushed almonds (optional)

Method:

Whisk the eggs well then add the sugar and whisk until sugar dissolves. Next add the flour,essence and the crushed almonds. Mix all the ingredients. Rub a cake tin with butter, drizzle and coat the tin with caster sugar. Slowly pour the cake mixture into it. Bake in a moderate over about 150° C for 25 mins. Once the cake has cooled cut the cake horizontally into half and spread some jam and whipped cream on it. Press the two halves of the cake together and cut into bite sized pieces.

Happy reading, Happy cooking!!!