John Lennon's 70th Anniversary - Frosted Marmalade Cake

Picture yourself in a boat on a river,

With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Lennon/McCartney

Today is the 70th anniversary of John Lennon's birth. Being a huge fan of the Beatles and John Lennon in particular, I could not let today go by without commemorating John's 70th anniversary.

I don't intend to recount highlights of John's career, which was so tragically cut short by a senseless act. However, I will say that although The Beatles broke up before I was born, and I was only a child when John died, the music of the Beatles and John's solo career has left an indelible mark on my life. I grew up with it, and consequently, it is part of the fabric of my life. No matter what my mood or state of mind, I can always find a Beatles song to match it perfectly.

My favourite Beatles songs written by John are Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Dear Prudence. They both have an ethereal quality, a beautiful melody and great lyrics.

To mark John's 70th anniversary, I have made a frosted marmalade cake, from pp10-12 of Nigel Slater's The Kitchen Diaries. You can also find the recipe online here at Margaret's Kitchen Delights. I have made this cake once before, and like last time, and as warned by Nigel, it sank in the middle a little. However, the cake tastes fabulous if you are a fan of marmalade, so it is worth making - it is a tangy, light, orange flavoured cake, with orange flavoured icing on top.


The sunken side is facing down in the photos!!

I was inspired to make this cake by the above-quoted opening lines of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

To decorate the cake, I piped the single word Imagine on top - being, of course, the title of one of John's best-known and loved songs from his solo career.

This cake is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon and to all Beatles fans.