Almond cake for almond haters

Ok, lets get things straight. I thought I HATED almonds. This all consuming hated was, admittedly only based on shop bought marzipan, which always ruined an otherwise gorgeous fruit cake at Christmas time.

 I'm not quite sure what the put into mass produced marzipan to make it taste like acidic playdough but it tastes nothing like REAL marzipan. (I found this out after I decided to make me own..I'm now a marzipan convert, but offer me shop bought ''marzipan'' and you more than likely will go down in my esteem)

Anway, I suppose my point is, that a lot of people (particularly Irish people who's mammys made their Christmas cakes) have their introduction to almonds through marzipan. 
(This is of course for a certain generation. Those raised on organic, hand feed, brushed and washed twice a day beef, green smoothies, purees, foams, granola or anything from a health food shop probably were given almonds as their snacks and not a pack of Monster Munch and a can of coke) 
                                         
But almonds aren't all that bad..in fact, their pretty awesome (I do give you permission to slap me if I use the A*&e%$+e word again).
Take a look at their health benefits! For those of you too lazy to open the link, it basically points out the fact that almonds are a superfood - they lower the risk of heart attack, they reduce ''bad' cholesterol, they protect artery walls from damage, they help build strong bones and teeth, they provide healthy fats, they help brain function and nourish the nervous system - to name but a few. 
                                         
 Not convinced yet? Well the following recipe will show you the light! It's basically a healthy cake..raspberries and almonds and dark chocolate - practically a superfood in it's own right!

You will need:
150g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and cubed
150g caster sugar
2 large eggs
150g self raising flour
50ml milk
150g ground almonds
135g dark chocolate chips
150g fresh or frozen raspberries
25g flaked almonds

Method:
1. Preheat the over to 180C/gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm cake tin.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with a pinch of flour. 

4. Beat in the milk (don't worry if it looks like scambled egg at this point)

5. Fold in the remaining flour, the ground almonds, chocolate chips and raspberries, one by one. (and no, not each individual raspberry etc :P )

6. Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and sprinkle over the flaked almonds.

7. Bake for 50-60 mins until a skewer comes out clean. 

8. Cool for 10 mins in the tin on a wire wrack, then turn out completely to cool. 
9. Dust with icing sugar and serve with creme fraiche if being healthy or cream if not 

Oh! and just to point out that based on a serving of 10 slices there is 7.9g of protein per slice! not bad for a cake eh?