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original name, since the cake is cut into small "sandwiches" and served in =
a
similar manner. The usual story is that the cake got its name because the
Queen used to serve it at afternoon tea parties (NOT high tea, mind you,
"there is Tea and Tea"; as Mrs Beeton says - High tea is really a "tea
dinner", afternoon tea is a more dainty affair). However, these tea parties
are supposed to have been held at the Queen's residence at the Isle of Wigh=
t
after Prince Albert died. Since he died the same year Mrs Beeton's book was
published, this can't be the reason for the name.

Mrs. Beeton has two recipes for sponge cake; the ingredients are as follows=
:
I. The weight of 8 eggs in pounded loaf sugar, the weight of 5 in flour, th=
e
rind of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoonful brandy (the ingredients list doesn't say
how many eggs but as I understand the instructions, one would use 8+5==13
eggs). The yolks are warmed until "milk-warm" with the sugar and the
flavorings stirred in; then the flour is dredged in gradually. The egg
whites are beaten stiff, mixed in, and the batter is beaten for 1/4 hour.
This cake is baked in a tall mold and must be put into the oven immediately=
.
II. 1/2 lb loaf sugar, not quite 1/4 pint water, 5 eggs, 1 lemon, 1/2 lb
flour, 1/4 teaspoonful of carbonate of soda. Here the sugar and water are
boiled into a thick syrup, cooled slightly, and whisked into the well beate=
n
eggs. Grated lemon rind is added. Then the baking soda is mixed with the
flour and stirred lightly in. Finally the lemon juice is added and the
batter poured into a mold and baked in rather a quick oven.

Someone mentioned Nigella Lawson's two Victoria sponge recipes. I have the
book and her traditional recipe is: 225 grams each (self-raising) flour,
sugar, and butter, and 4 eggs.

Her food processor version is: 225 g self-raising flour (or 200 g plus 25 g
cornflour - that is cornstarch for you Americans), 225 g caster sugar
(fine), 225 g very, very soft unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons baking powder
(even though self-raising flour is used - remember this is a food processor
version), 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 4 eggs, 2-4 tablespoons full-fat
milk. Put everything except the milk into the food processor, blitz, add 2
tablespoons milk, blitz again, add more milk if neccessary. Bake in 2
sandwich tins at 180=B0C for around 25 minutes.

Nanna