Dessert: Raisin Tea Cake

Recipe by Margaret M. Johnson Mary Tuohy, a Cappagh, County Tyrone, native who now lives in Redbank, New Jersey, has been making this raisin tea cake for so long that she can almost do it from memory. She says, "I can't remember where the recipe came fro

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Raisin Tea Cake

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 two-inch cinnamon stick, crushed
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon allspice berries
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 1/4 cups water
3 cups raisins
8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten

Instructions

The day before baking, make the mixed spice: In a spice grinder, combine the coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Grind until powdery. Pour into an airtight container. Add nutmeg and ginger and mix well. Measure out 1 level tablespoon and store the remainder in a cool place for later use.
Combine the mixed spice with the water, raisins, butter, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, let the raisin mixture sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Generously grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together into a large bowl. Stir in the raisin mixture and blend well. Stir in the egg. Pour into the prepared pan. Place on the center rack of the oven with a pan of water. Bake until the cake is lightly browned and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours.