Berrylicious Blackcurrant Cake

Living the idyllic country-bumpkin life we have our own blackcurrant bushes, and the berries are ripe and ready to pick at this time of the year! Although picking them isn't my favourite job (because we have so many bushes) cooking with them is fun and scrumptious. This blackcurrant cake is so easy and makes a wonderful summer cake, perfect for picnics and evening soirees! I am sure other berries would work just as well in this delicious cake too!

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
170g  soft butter
170g golden caster sugar
255g self raising flour
170g black currants
140g granulated sugar
2 tbs lemon juice

Method:
Prep: 10 mins  Cook: 1hr
1.  Grease a 2lb cake or loaf tin.
2. Beat the caster sugar, flour, butter, eggs and vanilla essence together with an electric whisk for about 5 mins, until creamy.
3. Place about 1/3 of the mixture into the prepared tin. Sprinkle with around 1/3 of the blackcurrants. Repeat this. Finally spread with the remaining mixture saving the rest of the blackcurrants for later.
4. Put this in the oven at 180C; gas mark 4 for about an hour, until a knife/skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
5. Stir the remaining blackcurrants, granulated sugar and lemon juice together, which will lightly mash the berries.
6. Insert your knife/skewer and make small holes in the top of the cake. Spread the fruity mixture over the top of the cake in an even layer, which should set and become crisp.
...Voila! A wonderful summer treat!