Double trouble

ACROSS

Cloyingly sentimental

Woody plant (4)

Perforate Savage (6)

Hunter’s lure

Interior furnishings (5)

Instrument of the trumpet family Tightly fitting undergarment (6) Fishing equipment Witch’s laugh (6) Twisted out of shape

Made a sound like a frog (7)

Woman on her wedding day

Salt water (5)

15 Farm animal Sharply inclined (5)

17 Deserving Jewellery item (7)

20 Bandit Expenditure (6)

21 Boredom Psychic (6)

23 Female relatives

Flat-bottomed boats (5)

24 Large dam-building rodent

Wide-mouthed cup (6)

25 Destiny Detest (4) 1

5 8

9

10 11

13

DOWN

Each clue leads to two answers which differ from each other by one letter. You must decide which is the correct one. For example, the two possible answers to 1A are TWEE and TREE — the answer to 2D will reveal which one is correct.

Solutions in Monday’s Daily Mirror

Unsubstantiated report

Wit (6)

Anthony —, former Conservative leader Yemeni port (4)

Break into many pieces

Distribute loosely (7)

Cost

Of the highest quality (5)

Subatomic particle

Political ballot (8)

Styled (hair) into ringlets

Wading bird (6)

Fail to notice

Passed on a motorway? (8)

Soothing

Strong inner urge to follow an occupation (7) Persistent feeling of resentment

Walk wearily (6)

18 Purchased Zero (6)

19 Promise Perspire (5)

22 Meal Vinyl record (4) 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 14 16

1

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/ gas 4. Butter and line a 30 x 20cm baking or small roasting tin with baking parchment. Put the flour, sugar, spice, bicarbonate of soda, sultanas and salt into a large bowl and stir to combine. Beat the eggs into the melted butter, stir in the orange zest and juice, then mix with the dry ingredients till combined. Stir in the pumpkin. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 30 mins, or until golden and springy to the touch.

2

To make the frosting, beat together the cheese, butter, icing sugar, orange zest and 1 tsp of the juice till smooth and creamy, then set aside in the fridge. When the cake is done, cool for 5 mins then turn it on to a cooling rack. Prick it all over with a skewer and drizzle with the rest of the orange juice while still warm. Leave to cool. 3

If you like, trim the edges of the cake. Give the frosting a quick beat to loosen, then, using a palette knife, spread over the top of the cake in peaks and swirls. If you’re making the cake ahead, keep it in the fridge, then take out as many pieces as you want 30 mins or so before serving. Will keep, covered, for up to 3 days in the fridge.