This is a different article from the usual ones. It has absolutely nothing to do with law or the legal profession! I think, going forward, I am going to post every now and then about things we can do to chill out and recharge.
I recently became so run-down that I couldn’t even swallow a drink with a horrible sensation in my throat. Turns out it was tonsillitis. It really hit home the importance of looking after oneself. After all, how can you help others with their oxygen mask if you haven’t put on your own?
On Saturday I decided to do something I haven’t done in a while. Baking. I love cooking generally. I find it so therapeutic and relaxing after a long day (which is ironic, because many find it stressful). It’s not something that i’ve done in a while and other than baking bread (especially focaccia), baking a cake is not something I would usually do.
So I decided to use this as an excuse to do a step-by-step guide of Nigella’s Clementine Cake, and her website includes the recipe.
I started by making a baking paper circle for the bottom of the baking tin.
I cheated, of course, and found a method online of creating a circle by carefully folding the paper into a triangle. You can then place the point in the middle of the circular tray, trim the edge and then you are left with a relatively perfect circle.
I then buttered the base and inside of the baking tin casing, before carefully putting in the circle baking paper.
Nigella’s recipe instructs boiling the four clementines for several hours, but the footnotes suggest microwaving as an alternative. That’s what I chose to do.
I got my mixing bowl, adding the ground almonds….
… then I added the sugar….
… then the baking power (the person I was baking for requires gluten free, so this was the ‘free from’ brand of baking powder)….
I then mixed it thoroughly to ensure all ingredients were evenly combined.
The clementines were now soft and durable. I slid them open (just in case there were seeds) and removed the dark stems from the clementines.
I started by adding only the clementines and blending them, which made it easier for the large skin pieces to break down, although microwave/boiling also assisted with this process.
I then added the ground almond/sugar/baking powder mixture slowly, followed by the six eggs.
Once I was satisfied the mixture was apporpriately mixed, I prepared the tin ready to pour the mixture in.
Nigella’s recipe says to put tin foil over the tin around 40 minutes after going into the oven, which I would say I just about got away with.
I performed the ‘knife test’ to check for any remaining gooey mixture. It came out clean, so I just needed to wait until it cooled enough to remove it carefully from the tin.
You don’t need anything with it, like cream, butuse nothing thicker than single cream. It’s wonderfully moist, with a perfectly balanced clementine flavour. As mentioned earlier, this is an excellent gluten-free choice. I’m unsure if there’s an egg substitute to make it vegan, but those interested could explore options. if you prefer,
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AJH Advocacy Limited, a Limited Company which is regulated by the Bar Standards Boards (entity number 190758), ceases trading on the 12th January 2026.
From the 12th January 2026 and onwards, Alec Hancock will practice as a Barrister at Magdalen Chambers in Exeter. For instructions on matters on or after 12th January 2026, please contact Magdalen Chambers via clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk or by telephone on 01392 285 200.