Wasn't it wonderful!!  I thought Kate's dress was a beauty, William looked every inch a future King and my British heart swelled with pride.  We started watching at 5.00am and I finally got my children to school by about 11am.  This is their heritage after all.  Now I think it's time to have a nice cup of tea and a piece of celebration Victoria Sponge.

This cake was of course named after Queen Victoria, but to tell you the truth, it can be a little dull and uninspiring (unlike her majesty!) so, just like Kate and Wills, this is an updated version of a Royal classic. A sort of Victoria sponge on turbo power.

You could of course put other fruit in here, blackberries with a blackberry preserve is especially nice.  Or how about peach slices with whipped cream?

I did just want to check in with everyone about "the dress"  I thought it was perfect, what did you think?

Here's what's needed for your celebration cake.

2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
Vanilla extract
2  1/4 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
pinch of salt
3/4 cup of buttermilk
Zest of a lemon

8 oz heavy cream

2 tablespoons of strawberry preserves
1 tablespoon of confectioner's sugar
Fresh berries
1 further tablespoon of confectioner's sugar for dusting.                   

                                                                               

Preheat the oven to350F                    

                                                          

Butter and flour 2, 8 inch cake pans

Cream the butter and sugar and lemon zest (it smells wonderful)

until REALLY light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time.

Measure the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

Measure out the buttermilk and add the vanilla.

Add half the flour mixture, combine, then add the buttermilk, gently combine, then add the remaining flour, combine.

Pour the mixture into the cake pans and place in the oven for approximately 25 minutes or until rinsed and golden.

Remove from oven, leave for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cake rack to cool thoroughly.

Whip the cream, add the confectioners sugar and vanilla.  Gently stir in the fresh fruit.

Spread the strawberry preserve on the top of the bottom layer. Fill the cakes, sprinkle the top with a little confectioners sugar. 

Make a pot of tea, sit down with a large slice and watch re-runs of the Royal Wedding.