It is indeed a privilege to lead a visual life … to fall in love a little with what you see each day and to be inspired.

New Years came along in style and in company of our beautiful muse Buki who’d inspired the baking of a wonderful plum & walnut cake Nigel Slater style. We baked this juicy one in the head chef’s kitchen (the muse’s husband’s) hoping it would surprise his taste buds and ours.

Result! We make the BEST ever – yes Nigel it’s true – and thought we’d share it so you can make one for your muses or anybody worthy of your culinary treasures.

Precious Ingredients /  Serves 9-12

150g butter / 150g unrefined golden caster sugar / Nigel says 16 plums but in actual fact we think it will be much better with 11 plums unless they are on the small side / 3 large eggs / 75g plain flour / tsp baking powder / 100g ground almonds / 50g shelled walnuts

Firstly … set the oven at 175C/gas mark 4 and line the base of a 22 – 24cm cake tin with baking parchment.

Secondly … beat that sugar and butter until it’s fluffy. You can apply some muscle but a food mixer will do this far more efficiently. Stop when the mixture is fluffy, soft and a buttery shade of vanilla ice cream.

Thirdly … cut the plums in halves and remove the stones, then cut each half in half again!

Fourth … break the eggs, beat lightly with a fork and pour them bit by bit mixing with the butter and sugar.

Fifth … sift your flour and baking powder together and fold them gently into the mixture using a spoon.

Sixth … gently fold in the ground almonds, break up the the walnuts using your fingers until they are the size of small gravel, then fold them into the mixture.

Seventh … pour the mixture into the prepped cake tin and place the quartered plums into the cake mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes, then test with a skewer. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 15 minutes before turning out.

Finally … Go on! have YOUR cake and eat it in 2011 … happy and juicy New Year!

Theophilus London ft. the gorgeous Solange Knowles

“Flying Overseas” … stuffed with Gauguin Crazy colour & infectious charming beats … it’s a HiT.