Sunny Side Up #13: This sends the investigation into a whole new direction.

The Mystery of the Lemon Drizzle Cake 🍋

Sep 03, 2024

I woke up one morning this summer to the sound of rain hitting the windows. I remember feeling disappointed because I’d planned to go on a summery walk to the next village, pick up an ice cream and circle back. That being said, I’d be lying if I didn’t love any opportunity to get cosy, even in the depths of summer, so I picked up a recipe book and decided it was a day for baking a lemon drizzle cake.

My favourite TV show is Only Murders in the Building (absolutely thrilled it’s back, but more on that later!). There’s no better time for a murder mystery than on a rainy day, so I stuck it on while I got to work on my cake. I just adore the way the characters interact with each other - it’s immaculate casting. As a life-long Selena Gomez fan, her dry wit comes through perfectly with her character Mabel. Martin Short’s portrayal of Oliver is eccentric and flamboyant without being overpowering. He is irresistibly lovable. Steve Martin shines as Charles, and I think he’s one of the show’s creators, so thank you Steve! Also, Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It? Give the man a Grammy!

I decided to start from the beginning (again), Series 1: Episode 1, when the trio begin looking into the murder of their neighbour, Tim Kono. As I whisked my eggs, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be involved in a mystery. Don’t get me wrong - I would hate hate hate to be wrapped up in something as sinister and dark as murder, no thank you. But something on the softer side, a little cosy crime… maybe I could get on board.

My lemon drizzle cake is, in my humble opinion, the best one out there. It’s a Nigella Lawson recipe (included below), and completely foolproof. It’s not too sweet, has the perfect level of sharpness, sooo soft and fluffy, and forms the perfect sugary crust on top. Usually I’m too greedy to share it, but on this miserable Sunday, I thought that a little bit of kindness could go a long way.

I went into the office the next morning with my lemon drizzle, excited to share with my coworkers, ears open for the expected influx of compliments telling me how DELICIOUS this lemon drizzle is. I’m nothing if not modest, of course. When I walked in, however, most of them were in the meeting room or on the phone. Then I had a thought.

I could just go into the kitchen, leave the cake on the side, and wait for it to be discovered. I didn’t have to claim responsibility for it. I could create my own mystery. The mystery of the lemon drizzle cake. Who says I don’t lead an exciting life?!

So that’s what I did. I put the cake in the kitchen, and then continued with my day as normal. One by one, my co-workers would enter the kitchen for their mid-morning cup of coffee and biscuit, and notice my (stunning) cake. “Who made this cake?” They’d ask, only to be met with a room full of blank faces, nobody claiming responsibility.

“It’s just appeared from nowhere”

“Was it someone from one of the other offices?”

“Did anyone notice anyone going in?”

I felt incredibly smug - I had created my own mystery. The perfect cosy crime. The Case of the Suspicious Lemon Drizzle.

Slice by slice, the cake went down wonderfully, if with a little suspicion. To this day, nobody knows it was me, and I have been careful not to remake the lemon drizzle again so as not to be caught out. There are still discussions about who could have been responsible, whether it was an external visitor leaving behind a treat, the boss secretly sharing his love of baking, or something else…

You’re probably thinking, wow, she has way too much time on her hands, to which I’d say you’re right. But I’ll tell you what, I got a right kick out of it.

WEARING | This is my new favourite set from Sezane! I’ve worn it so much since I bought it, and it has an elasticated waistband which made it the foolproof choice for going out to dinner. Sort of makes me feel like Jenna Rink. I think it’s the bell sleeves and the colours. And the zig-zags.

BANK-HOLIDAYING | The last Bank Hol of August was spent visiting a museum in the morning and then stopping at our favourite café for lunch. We were so lucky that it was open! I also got a big slab of their chocolate fudge cake to take home for pudding and it was Bruce Bogtrotter worthy.

INVESTIGATING | As discussed, the return of OMITB did not disappoint. Highlight of the week for sure!!

LISTENING | I was recommended The Rest is Entertainment podcast and I’ve just got around to listening to it. I’m obsessed with it and am binging all the episodes. If you're interested in intelligent discussions around pop culture, this will be right up your street. I find it fascinating! In terms of music, Rizzle Kicks brought out their new song Javelin on Friday and it’s perfect. I’ve always loved them and I’m sooooo happy they’re back!!!

READING | Love Of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood - I’ve heard very mixed reviews of this but I’m enjoying it so far! Like I’ve said previously, my kind of book is one that reads like it’s been sprinkled with an excessive amount of sugar. This is that kind of book.

WATCHING | This truly is the best time of year for television - there’s so much I’m looking forward to so I’ll be sure to keep you updated with my watchlist! This week saw the return of Rob & Ramesh Vs. which is another of my favourite shows, it makes me cry-laugh. In this episode, they were taking on Hollywood Stunts with the directors of The Fall Guy, which was also one of my favourite movies of the year.

STROLLING | If you read last week’s post, I finally saw my friend Liza for our catch up! It was a beautiful sunny morning on Saturday, so we went for a long walk and picked up a scoop of ice cream along the way.

Having compassion for yourself as a writer by

Madeline Mills

- Madeline has blown us all away AGAIN! I’m sure this piece will resonate with you as much as it did with me. Thank you Madeline for your honest writing, it’s incredibly refreshing.

Travel Diary: Aix-en-Provence by

Lauren Brook

- a completely swoon-worthy diary that will make you green with envy. Lauren, I'm so glad you had a nice holiday, but I am equally as jealous.

Let’s Talk About Late Bloomers by

Victoria Fann

- a wonderfully reassuring piece that serves as a reminder that we can’t be late for our own lives.

Girl, so confusing by

Freya

- wow. I loved this so much. Freya exquisitely articulates the complexity of navigating friendships, and how they change as we grow older. I found her words all too relatable, and highly advise you read it.

Notes on: How to Romanticise September by

Hannah Connolly

- If this doesn’t get you into the autumn mood I’m afraid nothing else will.

You need fewer friends than you think by

Alanna Duffield

- I think a lot of you will resonate with this piece. I myself found it incredibly reassuring.

This is the best lemon cake of all time. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and sharp and is best eaten with a massive cup of tea for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cake, serves 8-10
From How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson

Please excuse that this is a half-eaten cake… clearly it’s too good to resist

For the cake:
450g loaf tin, lined
125g salted butter
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 lemon
175g self-raising flour
4tbsp milk
For the syrup:
Juice of 1 1/2 lemons
100g icing sugar

Method:
Preheat oven to 180℃.
Cream together butter and sugar, add the eggs and lemon zest, beating them in well. Add flour, folding in gently but thoroughly, and then the milk. Spoon into the prepared loaf tin and put it in the oven. While the cake is cooking, make the syrup: put the lemon juice and sugar into a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
Bake the cake for about 45mins, or until golden, or a cake-tester comes out clean. As soon as the cake is out of the oven, puncture the top of the loaf all over. Pour over the syrup, trying to let the middle absorb it as well as the sides, then leave it to soak up the rest. Don’t try and take the cake out of the tin until it is completely cold, as it will be sodden with syrup and might crumble.

It would be wrong for me to finish this post without a list of cosy crime suggestions! Here are a few of my favourites. Please let me know your favourites in the comments! And no spoilers…

Sunny Side Up #13: This sends the investigation into a whole new direction.

The Mystery of the Lemon Drizzle Cake 🍋

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