Rock and pop

I've had a bit of a busy day yesterday - geocaching, gym, haircut and then going out to our triathlon club annual dinner in the evening, but knowing that we might not eat until quite late I wanted to have some cake in the house so that we could have a cup of tea and piece of cake late afternoon to keep us going. A Victoria sponge would have been nice, but didn't think I'd have time for that. Second choice was scones but we don't have any strawberry jam in the house and much as I tried I couldn't get my head around scones with any other flavour jam. No cream would be just about ok, but plum or cherry jam on scones would just be odd, same as I'd only ever countenance using raspberry jam in a Victoria sponge. Yes, I am quite possibly mad...

Cupcakes are my usual fail-safe when I want something quick but I wanted something different and so I opted for rock cakes - crumbly mounds of cake filled with a generous handful of dried fruit and topped with a sprinkling of crunchy sugar. Made in the half an hour or so that I had spare between lunch and showering before my haircut whilst bopping round the kitchen to a generous portion of the sort of cheesy pop that I'm only allowed to listen to whilst Mr W is out. My perfect afternoon!

Here is a pre- and post- oven shot of the cakes...

As a footnote, I am still reeling in astoundment at the comment from the lady baker on 'Turn Back Time - The High Street' that she didn't like making cakes - I don't understand, what is there not to like about the joy of producing something so yummy to eat?