I'm not a huge fan of the Hairy Bikers, I have to say. While I'm more interested in the food than the appearance of most of the chefs on TV, the 'hairy' element is something that has always put me off. That said, I've always quite liked what I've seen of the food the Bikers produce.
There are quite a lot of recipes in the book that look worth having a go, whether you're on a diet or not, and given that saving a few calories is always a good thing, I was particularly drawn to the section on cakes and sweet things.
I made the apple cake that is allegedly 229 calories a slice if you divide the cake between 12 people. Dividing between 12 might sound quite mean, but it's quite a big cake and there's plenty of flavour to give you a tasy mouthful, even if it is on the small side...
Spiced Apple Cake
250g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinammon
1/2 tsp ground all spice
zest of 1 lemon
2 large eggs
100g plus 2 tbsp demerara sugar
200ml semi-skimmed milk
100ml olive oil (light - not extra virgin) or use sunflower
2 large cooking apples
Juice of 1 lemon
23cm springform cake tin, lined with greaseproof paper.
Pre-heat the oven to 180C.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinammon and all spice, and lemon zest.
In another bowl or jug, whisk up the eggs, the 100g sugar, milk and oil.
Put the lemon juice into a bowl, then peel, core and thinly slice the apples into the bowl.
Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir together, then fold in the apple slices.
Scrape into the prepared tin and sprinkle the remaining sugar evenly over the top, then bake for around an hour till it's golden and a skewer comes out clean.
If you're on a diet, eat as it is, but if you're not, add some cream...
