A cake called Herman!

Ok so this sounds like I have gone completely mental, but for the least few weeks I have been looking after Herman.

He is a friendship cake my mum gave me that she was given by a friend at work, where it came from before that I don't know.

I think I remember my mum doing one of these years ago, they are really easy to start off and have travelled the world apparently, with people sneaking them through customs to pass onto friends in other countries.

He is very easy to start and is the cake equivalent of a chain letter, I started doing some searching on the internet and found a few sites with how to start him off so here goes...


Ingredients:

• 460g flour
• 500ml milk
• 230g sugar
• 90ml warm water
• 2 tbsp active dry yeast

1. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar over the warm water
2. Sprinkle the yeast over this and leave in a warm place for about 10 minutes to double in size
3. Mix the milk, sugar, flour and yeast mixture in a large bowl, stir using a wooden spoon
4. Cover loosely
5. Place in a warm place and stir every day as per instructions, starting at day one.

The following is the instructions that you give each of your four recipients of the cake mixture but first you need to go through the following process before parting with the little Hermans.

This is how it looked when I received it

Herman the Friendship Cake

If you would like to spread a little friendship follow through instructions below and at end of 10 days you will have a cake to eat and four starter kits to pass on.

If you cannot wait to have your cake and eat it, go straight to day 10, but you will forego the opportunity to pass on some friendship.

* Leave me on the worktop NOT in the fridge - if i'm not bubbling....i'm dead!
* Cover pot/container loosely - I need to breath


Day 1 - Stir well
Day 2 - Stir well
Day 3 - Stir well
Day 4 - feed...add

• 100g plain flour
• 200g sugar
• 8oz milk (room temp)

Each day it should puff up several times it's original size

Day 5 - Stir well
Day 6 - Stir well
Day 7 - Stir well
Day 8 - Stir well
Day 9 - Feed...same as Day 4, then split into 5 equal portions and give 4 away.
Day 10 - Feed...

• 200g plain flour
• 200g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 7floz cooking oil
• 2tsp vanilla extract
• 2tsp baking powder
• 2tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 diced apples
• 1/2 cup of nuts (I use flaked almonds)
• 1 cup of sultanas or rasins

* Mix into a sloppy dough
* Bake at 180c for 45 minutes in a greased baking tin (I use a loaf but a round one is fine too)
* Leave to cool in the tin

Optional... sprinkle with sugar and melted butter before cooking

Gorgeous! You just have to leave in the tin to cool down!

This gorgeous and moist cake smells and tastes lovely!

Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee!