All's fair....(Fairtrade Fortnight)

I feel I'm a bit schizophrenic about my food ethics. I always try to buy local, I try to buy organic but fair trade isn't something that I have given much thought to. I buy fair trade bananas because I remember watching a documentary when I was 18 about banana pickers and I vowed never to buy another non fair trade banana again. But that has been the extent of my involvement.

But I suppose fair trade is similar to buying local. It's all about better prices for people, local sustainability and making people pay fair prices for food.

I've heard a lot about the Cornish Tea and Coffee Company. They are based in Pannier Market in Truro. Someone recently bought me some fair trade coffee from there. Although I don't drink coffee I love the taste so made this lovely cake as fairly as I could....

Fairtrade coffee and hazelnut cake....(makes 8-10 slices)

4 free range eggs

8oz/250g self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

8oz/250g fairtrade brown caster sugar

8oz/250g butter

1 dsp fairtrade coffee with a big splash of water (sieve into a bowl)

2 tbsp toasted hazelnuts

For the icing...

4oz/125g butter

8oz/250g sieved fairtrade icing sugar

2tsps fairtrade coffee with a medium splash of water (sieve into a bowl)

Preheat the oven to 180'c. Grease and line two 8 inch cake tins. In a bowl mix the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs. Mix until fluffy. Add the coffee liquid and mix through the batter.

Split the mix in two and spoon into the two lined cake tins. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool completely.

In another bowl put the butter (that you have left to soften for a while) the icing sugar and the coffee. Mix until completely combined. Place on cake on a plate. Spread a little of the icing on top. Then place the other cake on top. Paint the rest of the icing on with a palette knife or flat knife. Toast the hazelnuts (if not toasted already) and sprinkle on top.

Eat with a cup of steaming hot tea...(fairtrade of course...)