Madeira Cake

Preheat oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3. Grease a 23 x 13 cm loaf tin

With an electric mixer, cream the butter/margerine, adding the sugar 2 tablespoons at a time until light and fluffy. Stir in the lemon rind and the vanilla

Add the eggs 1 at a time, along with a tablespoon of the flour, beating for 1 minute after each addition

Sift over the flour and baking powder and stir until just combined.

Pour the cake mixture into the tin and tap lightly. Bake until a metal skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours

Allow to cool in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out and allow to cool completely