My mother in law Tuulikki is not your usual image of a mother in law. In fact my mother repeatedly tells me how lucky I am to have her as my MIL. Mr NQN and I often comment that Tuulikki often lives in a fairytale world where people are kind, wear flowing purple scarves and keep flocks of geese and herds of goats as pets. Things such as bills go missing and yet humans can subsist on a diet of music, incense and coconut oil. She retains an other-wordly air about her and should anyone nasty cross her path, she is genuinely befuddled and horrified by their behaviour. It’s quite nice really.
She also tells very funny tales of when she was young. Growing up in Finland, all she wanted was a monkey. Living in Finland, you understand is really not a natural habitat for a monkey to be found. But every Christmas and birthday would roll around and she would make dresses and skirts for her monkey which never arrived.
“They never told me that a monkey wasn’t coming. I just kept making dresses for it until I got older. I don’t know why they didn’t tell me I couldn’t have one in that climate!” she wondered to me, still slightly upset.
“How old were you when you realised that you weren’t getting a monkey?”
“Oh well, I don’t think I ever realised it…” she said trailing off, her shoulders sagging at the memory of lost monkeys.
She now has the cutest little monkey in her granddaughter Aura who is a steadily growing and curious 21 month old. Just last week we had a picnic to celebrate the start of spring. Her dad The Banksia Man brought her to the picnic as her mum Mr NQN’s sister Araluen had to work. ”Aura the Explorer” as we now call her, ate everything in sight including grabbing a huge piece of Afghan bread, pickled radish, bananas, strawberries and cake. And what kid doesn’t love cake?
“Miiiine!”
“Mine too!”
The cake in question was a blackberry and coconut cake, rich and moist with coconut and spread on top with a jammy spread made with blackberries. The cake remains moist for a few days so is ideal for when you want to prepare something ahead of time. It is also easily transported-I brought it in the tin in which it was baked and we just sliced it then and there while sitting on the rolling lawns of Centennial Park. Lightning-fast Aura the Explorer even helped herself to some which she declared yummy in both English and Finnish.
Just don’t mention the monkeys to Tuulikki! 
So tell me Dear Reader, were you a good eater as a child? And when you come across not so nice people, are you surprised by their behaviour? And do you go on picnics?
Blackberry & Coconut Picnic Cake
Adapted from Jamie’s Great Britain, published by Penguin Books, sent for review
- 230g/2 sticks butter
- 1 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 4 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 1/3 cup plain flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup coconut milk or coconut cream
- finely grated zest of one orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut (for sprinkling at the end)
For jam topping
- 400g/14.1ozs frozen or fresh blackberries (or berries or fruit of your choice)
- 200g/7ozs white sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
1. Grease and line a 30x20cm or 12×8 inch rectangular cake tin. Preheat oven to 180c/350F. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy and then add eggs one at a time. Mix the flour and baking powder together. Using a spatula, fold in the flour mixture and the coconut milk or cream, orange zest and vanilla extract. It will be quite thick but spreadable. Place in the prepared tin and smooth down flat and bake for 25-30 minutes.
2. While it is baking, make the topping. In a saucepan heat the fruit and the sugar and lemon juice and simmer for about 25 minutes. Cool slightly for 5-10 minutes.
3. Remove sponge from the oven and allow this to cool for 5-10 minutes. Spread the jam topping over the cake with a spatula or palette knife and sprinkle with the coconut.
Apple napkins by Citta
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75 Comments | Add your own
I love her dress!
Cake looks good as well
That cake must be divine! A nice choice of flavors. Perfect.
Cheers,
Rosa
Beautiful cake, and what a delightful place to picnic!
What a lovely day to have a picnic and what a cute little girl. The cake recipe sounds delicious!
I think I was a pretty good eater as a kid, I didn’t love meat do getting to eat a steak was a challenge, but I always ate my veggies.
Aura is such a cute kiddo and I’m sure she’s going to grow up to be VERY pretty!
Your MIL sure sounds very nice and easy going ~
I wasn’t a picky eater as a chid, in fact hahaa i think that’s why i was a little overweight back then
I love picnics but sighhh haven’t had the chance to go for such a long time! Will have to plan it soon hehe
A lovely post, Lorraine. Great little story and images. The cake sounds yummy too. My parents frequently took my sister, and Zsa Zsa the family dog and I on picnics to a place called The Cotter River. Loved it. I continued this tradition with my own children.
Oh I love picnics! I must take advantage of this beautiful weather we are having in Brissy and go for a picnic, I think! I was a pretty good eater as a kid, but hated mushrooms with a passion (still do!) and used to manage to pick them out of everything, not matter how small they were chopped. Looks like a beautiful recipe, will file away to try sometime
What a fabulous looking cake! Love jam and coconut. And Aura really is adorable. I was sadly a picky eater, not like young Aura. If people are not nice, I am afraid I expect it though it still hurts.
Beautiful cake (love the photos in the grass)–gorgeous, gorgeous child.
Always a good eater, always surprised by bad behavior–and always love a good picnic anywhere, anytime.
YUUUMMMMM!
Dear Lorraine,
Your MIL’s name is so cute and so is Aura! I love picnics especially on an awesome Sydney day!
Oh your MIL is a hoot! That story with the monkey is just priceless:-)
No, Yes, Yes. This post is so swet. I kind of share your Ma in law’s view of the world, though in reality, I have a side which is overwhelmingly pragmatic. But I do love to see the positive in everyone. Works out well for my stress level.
The cake looks yummmm….can I have some?
Brilliant photos of Aura and the cake. I have packets of frozen blackberries that I picked last season, so will definitely be giving this a go. Can I ask how many this would serve as I am thinking of making it for a charity Morning Tea stall at an Open Garden in November. Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe.
PS. Ate everything as a child, because if I didn’t eat it, one of my 4 siblings would be waiting in the wings to devour it!
I really loved the story and sentiment. The recipe of the cake is great, I will certainly try it.
oh yummy, another delicious recipe that I’m adding to my repertoire.
I LOVE picnics and definitely don’t get to enjoy them often enough …. I’m going to remind my partner how much we enjoy them. Thank you!
I love picnics and cake
I was a terrible eater when I was younger but I’m making up for it now!
My friend just had twin baby girls and we’ve been having weekly mid-week picnics. Such a nice way to get out and about and enjoy the lovely weather.
What a shame she never got her monkey
I guess a kitten just isn’t the same.
Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous little girl Lorraine, so very sweet indeed!
Great excuse for a picnic, and for eating cake too, especially one this yummy
I was an incredibly picky eater as a child. I remember we would go to the local Chinese for a treat and I would only eat hot chips. Is disappointing now to realise all the delicious things I probably missed out on eating as I wouldn’t even try it.
My nephew is amazing. At 4 his favourite food was olives and on a recent trip to France his favourite meal was figs with goats cheese. I have an 18 month old and I am trying to give him some unusual food so he doesn’t turn into a picky eater. He seems to have a special love for smoked salmon which could get expensive.
Oh. that cake looks incredible. The colour of the berry topping is divine. I have a morning tea at work next week I need to bake for a I think I might bring this one out.
Thanks Lorraine!
Tuulikki sounds lovely; my mother in law is similarly sweet natured and I am so grateful. You hear some horror MIL stories!
Delicious cake!
What a lovely story Lorraine, there should be more Tuulikki’s in the world, to make it a nicer place. I too get surprised and annoyed at people that live their lives in a black cloud or being nasty to others for no apparent reason. Aura is such a doll and it seems she has inherited her grandmother’s free spirit.
My mum brought us up to eat everything off the plate and you didn’t move until it was all gone. I know it’s old school but some kids today don’t fare all that well when their parents are too lenient and they can walk away from a half eaten meal to ask for junk food later.
Picnics in Spring and Summer were very frequent but nowadays it’s a novelty. It might have something to do with the fact that we live in a rural setting and all that’s required is to lay some treats on a picnic rug at the back of the property and voila` , Picnic setting.
Picnics get me excited but High teas even more so, can’t wait for the Dilmah Charitea event tomorrow!
Now you baked something that my husband doesn’t like: coconut. And I’m seriously thinking to make it because looks amazing, maybe just don’t adding the desiccated coconut at the end…is the coconut milk so strong?
I have a cousin that lives in US, year ago he came to Peru and he wanted a monkey, so he traveled to a jungle and bring one to Lima (it’s prohibit), then he hide the monkey in a body part that I can’t write and he arrived to the US with his new pet. I’m still imagine my aunt face…!!
What a stunning looking cake. Perfect for the tonnes of blackberries that we will have growing in summer – it’s just a shame they’re so labour intensive to pick!
What a lovely story! Aura is adorably cute!
Thank you for another yummy recipe to try out.
Your MIL sounds precious!
How lovely is Aura – maybe I need to instigate some spring picnicking myself this weekend!
You have such a gorgeous niece! She looks like a princess (not a monkey) ;P Btw your relatives all have very unique names!
That cake looks divine, we’ll be trying that one soon!
I’m learning about children eating, the hard way I think. I just keep offering Lily little tit bits of everything, from roast beef, udon noodles and brussles sprouts (the current favourite) to chick peas. She’ll try anything, but what she’ll come back to for a second try is anyone’s guess.
We picnicked on the weekend too, post to come tomorrow… Lily was into everything we pulled out of the esky!
Aura is growing into a very special young lady . . . thank you for the lovely photos
! And I think I would find Tuulikki very comfortable to be with: love to have my fey moments myself!! I had a lousy appetite as a child [would you believe our paediatrian ordered Mom to give me a glass of wine with food at four!! Well, all the old-fashioned tonics were mostly alcohol anyways 
!] – methinks that is why I so switched to Asian/African food as a young grownup 
! One meets ‘not so nice’ people every day I believe: I so feel sorry for them, as they can hardly be happy on the inside, and then I just quietly walk away and don’t let such bother me!!
The cake is so pretty Lorraine. Don’t the blackberries give it a beautiful colour – and it matches Aura’s dress – you do plan ahead! I used to beg for a horse. This went on for years. One day my father said, ‘Would you settle for a pool?’ So a pool went into the backyard but not a horse! xx
I love coconut cake. I do a lime syrup one. It is that moistness that it brings to cake that I love so much. This looks like a great one too!
Aura is just gorgeous! Lovely looking cake. I wasn’t a terribly fussy child growing up – I was perfectly happy eating cake and chocolate all the time
hahaha. And I *love* picnics! I have heaps of fave picnic memories in the Philippines involving chicken adobo (held up in the heat really well cos of the salt/vinegar content – perfect Asian picnic food!) and rice. Mmm yum!
You captured your niece perfectly in the photo’s L, especially at the end, she looks ethereal. I LOVE picnic’s and we regularly have them on a nice warm day. I was such a fussy eater as a child, I gave my poor folks plenty of challenges but, now, I eat lots of different foods, I love food and I wished I’d had back then too.
What a beautiful little girl. I’d play all day with a cutie like that.
I love picnics, I was only okay as a kid where food was concerned and I don’t normally run into nasty people so yeah, I’d be surprised.
Love the cake. The color is fantastic.
I have a friend who doesn’t like coconut! (I know, crazy
) Could I substitute yogurt for the coconut milk, or ordinary milk?
Love the sound of this.
Lovely post Lorraine, and the pictures are so pretty…love the little girl and the cake looks delicious
Have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Julie! Absolutely, regular milk, yogurt or cream will work perfectly and just leave off the coconut at the end
Such gorgeous photos Lorraine! I love Aura’s dress
Sadly, I was a terribly fussy eater as a child. I don’t go on enough picnics, but I do love Centennial Park for sunny get-togethers
I truly, truly can’t understand how people can be so horrible to each other. I can’t understand why people can’t support gay marriage, for example – who can’t understand the simple truth of two people who love each other?! We all need to eat more delicious cake, rather than be brutal to each other.
Oh I love this post. The imagine of your MIL patiently making clothing for her monkey to be in Finland, the delicious looking cake, and sweet Aura the Explorer. Love it!
…and what better place to be then Centennial Park
I hated mashed potatoes, cauliflower and cooked carrots when I was a child. Of course I eat them now. At almost 60 I am still astounded when people do nasty things.
Awwww what a cutie enjoying this delicious cake
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Truly great cake especially as it is so transportable and colourful my grand kids will love it thanks,h
Yeah, eat more cake
The cake looks like a perfect picnic cake..moist, luscious, easy to carry and the colours are so stunning!
You also managed to capture such precious moments of Aura. She looks really adorable!
I just looove coconut!! esp in cakes!! Its also berry season & im waiting for my blueberry plant to start to produce–so this recipe is perfect!!
Hi Claire-Isn’t her dress gorgeous?
Thank you!
Hi Rosa-Thanks Rosa, everyone seemed to really like it
Hi Laura-Thanks Laura! the bonus is that it is very closeby
Hi Eva-Oh what a good child you were! A parent’s dream child I’m sure!
Hi Daisy-Isn’t she adorable? She’ll certainly be a happy little girl and adult I think
Aww chubby kids are cute!! Yes the weather is getting nice and warm now!
Hi Lizzy -Thanks Lizzy!
OH that is so cute, your dog was called Zsa Zsa!! How lovely to continue the memories 
Hi Jodie-Absolutely! I’m loving this warm weather
I know a few people that don’t like mushrooms! Thank you-I hope you like
it!
Hi Cakelaw-Thank you!!
I know what you mean, it still hurts a lot doesn’t it!
Hi Victoria-Thanks so much
I want to go for another one this weekend! Hehe and I was a good eater too 
Hi Jay -Thanks!!
Hi ChopinandMysaucepan-They’re a very funny pair
Absolutely!
Hi Wizzy-She’s hilarious. She really ought to have her own show
Hi Minnie-Yes, I know what you mean and I don’t know if you could be in the current workplace and be like Tuulikki,
Absolutely!
especially if you had to negotiate deals and things like that
Hi Dirtgirl -Thank you, I really enjoy photographing her
Oh great stuff!! For a small slice like the one pictured, you could get about 16 pieces or so? You’re very welcome! Hehe those hungry siblings! 
Hi Marita -Thanks so much Marita!! I hope you like it
Hi ladybugfunk-I hope you enjoy it!! YOu’re welcome, I love to have them as often as I can but a lot depends on the weather
Hi Erin-Wonderful!
Hi Claire-Hehe good for you!
Aww how sweet!
Hi Rebecca-I know, although she travels to Bali and Thailand often just to play with monkeys! Thank you so much!
Hi Kym-I went through a fussy phase too but as long as we’re now correcting it I think that’s good
What an incredible palate!! :O I would do the same if I had a child, I think that’s great 
You’re very welcome Kym!!
Hi Claire-She’s charming indeed and yes we are lucky
I know! I’m relieved 
Hi Matilda-Thank you Matilda! I don’t understand why people feel the need to be horrible. Yes I remember being told I had to eat everything on the plate or I would end up eating it later in the day
Yes I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Hi Nydia-Oh yes you can just sub the coconut cream for yogurt or cream or even milk and then leave off the coconut at the end
Oh my goodness! That’s crazy,I love that story! 
Hi Amanda -Thank you!
Oh well, I suppose you could do it with any berries or fruit 
Hi Monica-Thanks so much Monica! Isn’t she a cutie pie? You’re very welcome!
Hi Lauren-She’s very entertaining
Absolutely, it’s the weather for it!
Hi Baby Sumo-She is isn’t she?
Hehe well Aura is her real name but Tuulikki’s actual name is different although they are all quite unusual names as they’re alternative folk 
Hi Sarah-I hope you like it!
Oh how fascinating and that’s good that she tries everything! I’m looking forward to reading your post! 
Hi Eha-She is indeed!
A glass of wine at four, wow how times change! 
Yes I do feel sorry for them too 
Hi Charlie-Thank you!
Hehe the colours were pure coincidence although the Elliott do tend to wear purple a lot 
Haha well I suppose a pool is practical for city life, a horse less so 
Hi Theresa-Ooh that sounds divine!!
I agree, it’s so nice and moist!
Hi Christine-She is indeed
Thank you! Haha you and me both 
Oh what a great picnic item! I love chicken adobo!!
Hi Gaby-Thank you Gaby! I loved photographing her as she was always doing something interesting
Isn’t that funny? I went through a fussy phase but now eat everything. perhaps we all go through that 
Hi Maureen -I know, she’s fascinating especially now that she talks
I know, it’s good being able to pick and choose who you meet up with 
Hi Juliana-Thanks very much!
You too Juliana!
Hi Chanel-She’s a little darling thank you Chanel!
It’s just across the road for us so we like to go there 
Hi Hannah-I know, I don’t know why and where they find the hate from. Honestly some people do my head in!
Hi Brydie-Thank you! I feel sorry for her, she really does get a bit upset still about it. Hehe the ‘hood!
Hi Debra-I wasn’t fond of seafood myself
Yes it’s always a shock!
Hi Uru-Thanks!!
Hi Helen-Yes I love an easy to transport cake
I hope they like it!
Hi jo-Thank you Jo!!
She is such a gorgeous little girl 
Hi yojo-Me too!!
oh cool! I hope you like it!! 
Gorgeous looking cake Lorraine.
I was one of those parents that had a rule that was stuck to. Don’t tell me you don’t like something unless you have tried it, always try something once, if you like it great, if not you can then make a informed comment that you don’t.
My son has traveled extensively from a baby to his 20′s, and had a lot of unusual food thrust upon him through out his life. Very proud of his palate today
Aura is so pretty and grown up! I can hardly believe it!
I’m always curious about Mr NQN, what does he look like? Can you put up a picture? You never ever include him in your pictures!
HI Sonya, there’s a sort of photo of him here: http://www.notquitenigella.com/meet-nqns-intrepid-dining-companions/ He looks like a skinny version of Rafael Nadal
He’s a very private guy so he asks that I not put up any pics of him 
that topping is so vibrant and the perfect complement to the coconut cake!
Such great colour in the slice! Sounds like a delish combo
Aura the explorer sounds like a little cutie!
And the cake sounds fantastic. Love fruit and coconut in cake.
I love hearing about your mother in law – she sounds fantastic! Wouldn’t you love to see some of the monkey outfits – though I guess they have got lost along the way.
What a beautiful child! And a yummy cake
With regard to related posts,
I am interested in making the Raspberry and Coconut layer cake.
Your recipe states five teaspoons of baking powder. Is that correct?
Hi Terri! Yes that’s right, it’s usually 2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of plain flour and this just adds a little more puff
Does that mean picnic season is nearly here? Probably in Au but we have a way to go before it warms up here. I was a terrible eater as a child but i think it was because my parents weren’t the greatest of cooks, i learnt to cook at a very young age!
What an adorable little angel. A fantastic cake to take for a picnic. xoxo Mum
I looove picnics and cakes with lots of berries, so I’ve saved this in my to-make list (and hopefully the Boyfriend and I will have time this spring to hop onto our bikes with a basketful of food and maybe some homemade lemonade and head off to a park!)
Your daughter is an absolute doll, by the way. Love that first photo where she has such a cheeky smile
OH! Your MIL is so cute and sweet and your niece is simply adorable. I love how the rich aubergine purple sipped through your sponge cake and sprinkled with coconut reminds me almost as close like a lamington. Yumm, yumm yumm! I am drooling, seriously drooling. Have a great week and your story sure puts a smile on my face. cheers, Jo
Lorraine, that cake is incredible! And the little princess is just adorable!
Yes, we do go out to a picnics, many of them actually… Picnics are fun (unless you meet some weird people)…
Hi Lorraine! I really want to learn how to make a big cake like this so that I have at least one recipe that I know I can serve to many people. I like this blackberry & coconut flavor of this cake. Sounds so divine and classic. Your niece is a cutie.
I love picnics!!! & yes, I was a pretty good eater as a child. What a darling post. Major coconut cake craving now
Heidi xo
so nice to have this during picnic! im a happy kid if i were to enjoy such awesome dessert
Gorgeous colours in that cake! Your MIL sounds wonderful.
p.s. I just realised she is your niece not your daughter – sorry about the mistake!
Hehe no worries Jina!
Blackberry and coconut is such a fantastic combination! I have no idea why I never thought of it before! This picnic cake looks exquisite, Lorraine!
Aura is adorable! Love how she’s a good eater too. You must be so excited to have spring in the air…I am beyond thrilled to have the crisp days of fall back. (I melt in heat, lol!) The cake is lovely, I bet coconut and blackberries are wonderful together!
Ooooh I thought I had decIded on hubby’s cake but now i don’t know! I was a terrible eater as a child, just honey on bread apparently….
Aura is adorable! And as I always write you, I can never get enough of your MIL’s stories.
What a previous MIL story! ha Sounds like she had quite an active imagination and happy mind that lives with her today. This cake is outstanding. Such a pretty summer offering with the juicy berries.
I thoroughly enjoyed this post…and the colors are all so appealing…lovely cake and dress (it made me smile)
She’s so adorable
perfect pink recipe for a gorgeous little girl!
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