Celebration Cakes

Last night I made the first of the Christmas Cakes, this one is for a raffle at the Lions club Christmas dinner. It was nice to have the time to enjoy the process of making it but would have been nice to have some helpers to stir the mixture. Peter got home just in time to lick the bowl!



The house smelt delicious while it was cooking. My favourite part is when I take it out of the oven, unwrap it and turn it out and then pour a few tablespoons of brandy over it while it hot. The brandy sizzles as it soaks in.
I think it looks nice and hope someone wins it who will enjoy it.
Today is Peters birthday.The first time we have both been home on one of our birthdays for years I think so  I thought I would make a cake. I came across this recipe recently on Mathew Evans blog,

http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/gourmetfarmer/recipes/detail/recipe/8292
and wanted an excuse to try it. It reminded me of the old sour cream chocolate cake I used to make when the girls were small.
 I think it was in an old  Rotary Cookbook. It was a real favourite.

Sour Cream chocolate Cake
3/4 cup hot coffee -instant (although I am sure espresso would taste even better)
1/2 cup cocoa
1  1/4 cup   sugar
125g butter
3 eggs separated
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp carb soda
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup sugar extra

Stir hot coffee gradually into cocoa. Combine 1 1/4 cups sugar with butter, egg yolks, vanilla and half the cocoa mixture. Beat until light and creamy. Mix bicarb soda and sour cream together. Ass sour cream and cocoa mixture to butter mixture alternatively with sifted flour. Beat egg whites until stiff, gradually add the 1/2 cup sugar, beat until meringue stands in stiff peaks. fold into chocolate mixture. Pour into 9 or 10 inch greased and paper lined deep cake tine. Bake in moderate oven for 1 -1 1/2 hrs. Cool on a rack.

Sour Cream Frosting
125g dark chocolate
1/2 cup sour cream
pinch salt
4 dessertspoon icing sugar

Melt chopped chocolate over hot water. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly then stir in sour cream and salt. Add sifted icing sugar and beat until spreadable consistency, spread over cake when cake is cool.

The Mathew Evans one is a bit quicker to make. Here it is just out of the oven. I dont think I would have been able to get almond meal in willow Tree in 1980 though!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An abundance of eggs

Image
Silkie eggs Duck eggs Turkey eggs Hen eggs With five silkie hens, seven regular hens of mixed breed, four ducks of indeterminate sex and ten turkey hens we generally have an abundance of eggs. Despite the fact that several of the turkeys and hens are not laying, as they are broody the, there seem to be more than ever. Certainly more than two people can eat. Peter generally takes them to work and either sells them or gives them away. The turkey ones have not been that popular though. Today he said someone asked him for more turkey eggs as they had made an omelet with them and it was the best they have ever made. I find they rise up really well in omelets and Frittatas. I plan a big cooking evening sometime this week to turn the eggs into little herb quiches to put in the freezer for over the holidays when we will have a house full.
Read more

On my mind

Image
Puppy proofing my garden so the adorable Elle does not do too much damage! This is the result of my leaving a pot plant at ground level on the back porch. She is having a rest after her gardening!
Read more

A Bumper Citrus Harvest

Image
We have six old citrus trees here, two mandarins, two oranges, two lemons. They have fruited quite well most years since we have been here but this year they have the most extraordinary crop. They are loaded. We probably should have thinned them out but left it a bit too late. We have been eating the mandarins for a few weeks now, they are a bit tart but nice nevertheless. they are getting sweeter every day. We will have to give lots away and find some good mandarin recipes. I might have a go at preserving some segments as well. The oranges are not quite as prolific but will still keep us going for many months. The great thing about the winter fruit is that you can leave it on the tree and just pick it as you need it. We have planted some new citrus trees as well. they are very slow to grow but the ruby grapefruit tree has a decent crop this year. I really like grapefruit for breakfast. I will have to look after the other small citrus a bit more this winter and hopefully th...
Read more