Nutmeg slice

MAKES 16

250 g (9 oz/2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour

2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

½ teaspoon baking powder

280 g (10 oz/1½ cups) soft brown sugar

125 g (4½ oz/½ cup) unsalted butter, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

185 ml (6 fl oz/¾ cup) milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

185 g (6½ oz/1½ cups) roughly chopped walnuts

1  Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4). Lightly grease a 20 cm (8 inch) square baking tin and line the base with baking paper, extending the paper over two opposite sides for easy removal later.Place the flour, nutmeg, cardamom, baking powder and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until combined. Add the butter and pulse in short bursts until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Transfer 1½ cups of mixture to the prepared tin and press down using your fingertips.

2  Transfer the remaining mixture to a bowl. Add the combined bicarbonate of soda and milk along with the egg and walnuts. Mix well, pour into the tin and spread evenly over the base using a spatula. Bake for 50 minutes, or until the top springs back when pressed lightly. Cover the slice with foil if the top browns too quickly. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift onto a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into squares to serve.