My Nana Russell would have been 100 today. This post is for her.
Nana’s was the generation who lived through the war, those people who are careful with food and spending, making every penny count and never ever throwing away even the tiniest scrap of leftovers. With four children to feed, Nana had to be smart about what she cooked and served and even when her children grew up and left home, she continued in that habit. What I remember about Nana is that she was outspoken (gee, I wonder where I got that from), and she loved to gather people around a table for a meal. Even for the simplest meal, we would sit at the table. There was always a hot meal served with bread and butter and a dessert of some sort. Certainly Nana was no gourmet cook but she knew how to feed a crowd. She also knew how to shop – I distinctly remember summers spent at her house where my sister and I were tasked with reading through the various supermarket leaflets and noting down the week’s bargains. I loved doing this and in fact, when I lived away from home during University (and later in Paris), it taught me to look around and compare prices, something I don’t imagine comes naturally to a lot of young people.
Some of my earliest memories are of going to Nana’s for morning or afternoon tea. Not “a coffee” but serious “teas” with biscuits and cakes and all sorts of goodies (yes, Nana was a sweet tooth, to which I attribute my own). And yes, we sat around the table. And drank out of cups with saucers. Some of these said goodies were store bought but if we were lucky Nana would have baked a cake. I don’t remember many home made baked goods at Nana’s (those were the days when store bought meant “fancy”) but etched in my memory forever is her plum cake. She had a plum tree in her enormous yard and we spent many a summer’s afternoon as kids picking (and eating) plums (“Don’t eat too many, you’ll get a sore tummy” she’d say!). Then if we were lucky she’d make a plum cake. Golden cake studded with rich plums and their sweet juice. I’m not sure why I have not attempted this before now but I felt what would have been Nana’s 100th would be a good time to try.
But what was the recipe? I called Mum and we had a comical exchange in which my mum told me to “Google plum cake” or “use one of your hundreds of cookbooks” to which I replied “But it won’t be NANA’S cake”. Mum insisted that that she didn’t have Nana’s recipe (she has a ton of old recipes but apparently not this one..) and finally came up with a recipe for a plain cake in her 1953 Manual of Domestic Art (Education Department of South Australia) from which I adapted this recipe. All sorts of oddness in ye olde cookbook such as 10dl of milk (this is 100mls) and, well, no pan size. Going on memory, I made this with an 8″ square pan.
A simple plum cake that highlights the beauty and flavour of plums.Nana Russell's plum cake
Ingredients
Instructions
Was it “Nana’s” recipe? Not quite but very close. Happy birthday, Nana xox
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Aw, happy birthday Nana! You’ve painted a lovely picture of her, Mardi, and this cake looks gorgeous. I’m fortunate enough to have my Nanna still with us, but being many hundreds of kilometres away from me I haven’t eaten her baking for a long time! I am still yet to eat a scone that beats hers.
Nanas always bake best 🙂
Oh, joyeux anniversaire, Nana! You know, even if you’d had her EXACT recipe, it STILL probably wouldn’t have tasted the same. But I’m sure she’s up there somewhere eyeing that cake with a gleam in her eye.
I would hope so Ann 🙂
Mardi, that cake looks amazing! Plump, juicy, and sweet… ooooh I’d love to have a taste! Beautiful tribute to Nana.
Thanks Kate!
That looks drop dead gorgeous….plums take baking to another level…they impart an amazing color to cakes 🙂 couple of weeks back i made these plum cupcakes and they were looking so pretty….your cake reminded me of ’em 🙂
I just completed reading the whole post….previous comment came in while i was just starting 🙂 happy b’day to nana! love the way you spoke about her….reminded me of someone in my life…
I am glad it evoked happy memories!
What a lovely post, precious memories! Happy birthday Nana! I love cakes with fruit, your plum cake looks delicious!
This is a particularly good one!
Thank you for sharing the recipe AND your lovely memories! I just purchased all the ingredients to try it! I hope your day is sweet….
I hope you enjoyed it Ann!
Very nice tribute to your Nana. Cake looks delicious. Will try this recipe at home. Have a good weekend.
I hope you enjoy!
Such a lovely tribute to your Nana. Funny how so many memories we have of loved ones who’ve passed are food related. This whole post reminded me so much of my grandma who passed away last Christmas. Xo.
Aw thanks Melissa xo
Yes, Nana is easy to remember. My main memory of her was that it did not matter how many people visited unexpectedly or at what time of day or night, she somehow always managed to conjure up something to eat. Even when, at first appearances, there appeared to be nothing to eat. And the plum cake was gorgeous – always with a dollop of cream. Nice post Mardi.
What a lovely tribute to Mum (Nana) Thanks Mardi, made my day, and when the Plum season is here I will be making it again. Happy Birthday Mum xxx
I hope this is as good as Nana’s!
Totally – she knew how to cook for a crowd!
Beautiful cake for a very special occasion. I am sure your Nana would love it. You know, my grandmother would be 100 in next April… I was just thinking of it, how interesting?! 🙂
Thanks Marina!
I really enjoyed reading your recollections of your grandmother. What a warm way to remember her on what would have been her 100th birthday. You certainly did justice to the memory of her wonderful plum cake with your re-creation of it here. Looks beautiful Mardi and no doubt she is beaming with pride at you from above.
I hope so Paula!
I have a feeling that your Nana would be quite proud of you. Beautiful cake, and a beautiful tribute.
Thanks MJ xo
Happy birthday to Nana. She is smiling at you; I am sure of it. I have fond memories of going to my great grandmother’s home, every afternoon for coffee and cookies. Well, mine was more like milk with a splash of coffee. Still a wonderfully warm memory.
Oh thanks Denise – I hope Nana would like this cake!
What a lovely post, and a beautiful way to remember your Nana! I have gotten lots and lots of plums from our fruit CSA this year, and I was running out of ideas to use them all. I have a few left, and I think I will have to give this beautiful cake a try!
Thanks so much Jen and I hope you do try it.
That’s such a nice tribute to your nana! And the cake is just beautiful to boot.
Aw thanks Stephanie, that means a lot!
I have a decilitre measuring spoon, it’s so handy for scooping out flour and the like! That cake looks scrummy, almost like a clafoutis. 🙂
That’s so cool! This cake is much more like a cake than a clafoutis though.
That looks really great, tried an similar recipe with peaches that was also good (not as pretty though)
Why thank you!
That cake is so pretty with the bright plums! I have been looking for good plums recipes, as it seems there aren’t many out there. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much!
Made this today and loved it. Soo light and the plums add just enough moisture to it. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you enjoyed 🙂