Start Your New Year Sweet

No hype here….new year or anytime, this is THE BEST tea cake, we’ve ever eaten!This cake came to us from a chum called Jane who got it from her chum Noie 🙂  It’s a few simple ingredients, it’s easy, it’s quick, it’s DELICIOUS.  Make this cake!  Then make yourself a cup of tea and during the first few days of this new year, have a “sweet” experience of some love, joy and abundant living 🙂

Almond Tea Cake

1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
¼ – ½ cup grated almond paste*
1 t. almond extract
Sliced almonds
Powered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Melt butter in glass bowl in microwave. Using a fork, beat the eggs into the butter. Add the flour, sugar, and almond paste and extract.
3. Pour into a small (8”) pie plate or an 8” cake pan and sprinkle sliced almonds on top.
4. Bake 45 minutes, or until golden brown and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
5. Let cool, then sprinkle with more sliced almonds and powdered sugar.

Serves 8.

*If you have difficulty finding almond paste you can easily make your own.  Here is a recipe we tried and really liked from Taste of Home :

Homemade Almond Paste

1-1/2 cups blanched almonds
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 egg white
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place almonds in a food processor; cover and process until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar, egg white, extract and salt; cover and process until smooth.
Turn almond paste out onto powdered sugar covered waxed paper.  This almond paste is a bit stickier than the store bought kind but tastes every bit as good.  The powdered sugar will keep the almond paste from sticking to your hands.  Roll almond paste into a log shape.
Divide almond paste into 1/2-cup portions; place in airtight containers or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 3 months.

Yield: 1-1/2 cups.