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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query sandwich. Sort by date Show all posts
I am willing to guarantee that you are going to fall abso-flippingly in love with this simple cake I am sharing here with you today. GUARANTEE!
Not only is it a very simple cake to make, but it has to be one of the moistest, most flavourful cakes you could ever want to eat.
I have adapted the recipe from one I found in the book Clodagh's Kitchen Diaries by Clodagh McKenna.
I was able to purchase a copy of this second hand the other week and the day it arrived I immediately bookmarked this recipe and set out the very next day to bake it. I kid you not.
In her description of the recipe she says: "This, I guarantee, will be one of your favourite recipes in this book. Light, moist and so zingy, it will keep for up to a week in an airtight container."
I would agree with everything she said but am doubtful about the last . . . not that it won't keep in a container for up to a week, but that you will even have any left to store for a week! Seriously!
Yes, it is THAT good!
This is the moistest, most flavourful cake I have ever made.
No flour in it . . . but you can't consider it gluten free because you do need a slice of white bread made into bread crumbs . . . and the gluten would be in that . . .
I used a slice of day old ordinary sandwich bread, about 1/2 inch in thickness. I did not cut off the crusts. I blitzed it into coarse bread crumbs in my food processor.
Once again I used Dorie Greenspan's trick of rubbing citrus zest into sugar to release the flavours and aromas. This cake uses the zest of one large orange and one lemon.
Use unwaxed if you can get them, otherwise scrub them well in soapy water and then dry with a soft cloth prior to zesting.
The citrus sugar gets mixed with the bread crumbs and a quantity of ground almonds . . . I think in North America you might call this almond meal or almond flour.
You will also need a teaspoon of baking powder. Mix that all together well then you simply stir in some vegetable oil that you have beaten together with some eggs.
She didn't specify the size of the eggs that I could find. I used large and they worked out beautifully.
That's it . . . just pour it into the prepared pan and bake . . . it smells really good while it is baking. Like a citrus grove . . .
After baking you make a spicy citrus syrup using the juice of an orange and a lemon, some sugar, a cinnamon stick and a couple of cloves.
This gets soaked into the still warm cake, while its still warm . . . this is the secret to it's moist texture and amazing flavour!
Moroccan Orange Cake
Yield: 8
Light, moist and filled with lovely zingy orange flavours. This is destined to become highly placed in your arsenal of favourite cake recipes! If you can't get unwaxed fruit, simply wash the fruit you have in soapy warm water, scrubbing it gently with a brush. Dry well before using.
ingredients:
- 50g slightly stale white breadcrumbs (1 slice)
- 200g caster sugar (1 cup minus 1 tsp.)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 100g ground almonds (1 cup plus 3 TBS)
- 200ml sunflower oil (7 fluid ounces)
- 4 large free range eggs
- the finely grated zest of 1 large unwaxed orange
- the finely grated zest of one unwaxed lemon
- Whipped cream or Greek Yogurt to serve
For the citrus syrup:
- the juice of 1 large orange
- the juice of 1 lemon
- 75g caster sugar (1/3 cup, slightly heaped)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole cloves
instructions:
How to cook Moroccan Orange Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter and flour an 8 inch round cake tin. Line the bottom with baking paper. (I used a spring form pan.)
- Rub the fruit zests into the sugar with your fingertips until quite fragrant. Stir together with the bread crumbs, ground almonds and sifted baking powder. Whisk the oil together with the eggs. Add all at once to the dry mixture, mixing well together. Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
- While the cake is baking make the citrus syrup. Put all of the ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring gently to the boil, stirring constantly. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 3 minutes at which time the sugar should be completely dissolved and a thickish syrup formed. Discard the cinnamon stick and the whole cloves.
- Poke holes all over the surface of the cake with a toothpick or skewer. Spoon the hot syrup over the cake allowing it to soak in. Spoon any excess syrup back over the cake every now and then until it is all soaked in.
- Cut into wedges to serve along with some whipped cream or Greek yogurt.
She suggest serving it with either whipped cream or thick Greek yogurt.
We had it with yogurt. I had intention only of having one small taste but before I knew it . . .
This is what was staring me in the face. The devil made me do it! OH MY GOODNESS!
One of the most popular series on British Television over these last few years has to be the Great British Bake Off. Running over a number of weeks, it takes a group of ordinary baking enthusiasts through a series of baking challenge. It is the ultimate Bake Off Battle. Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which become progressively more difficult as the competition unfolds. As the shows go on, bakers are eliminated with one finalist being crowned the winner at the very end. It is compelling viewing to say the least, especially if you like baking! (And who doesn't!)
Have you ever thought you were taking one thing out of the freezer only to discover when it thaws out that it is something else entirely? It happens to me a fair bit. Especially if I am in a hurry or tired.
I thought I was taking chicken out yesterday, but what I ended up taking out was mild Italian Sausage, and not whole links, but cocktail links. Just one of those days!!
I like Italian Sausage though, so all was not lost. I was just going to take it out of the skins and make a pasta sauce, but then I stumbled upon this recipe on 12 Tomatoes for a stuffed Italian Sausage.
It was a recipe they had adapted from Cook At Home Mom. And it used only three ingredients.
Three ingredients and one dish!! Low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free friendly if your sausages and sauce are also gluten free!! Quick, easy and delicious? Count me in!!
I am all for taking the easy route so long as it is also the delicious route! I was intrigued and I had to try it. I could not resist.
They did use full sized sausages, but I thought that it would also work very well with the cocktail sized ones.
Not only would they be the perfect size for an appetizer, but they would also work well in slider buns for Stuffed Italian Sausage Sliders!
I did make a few changes though. In the main being that I used a four cheese Italian blend rather than string mozzarella cheese. That's just not something I have in my house. I used to keep it on hand when I had Mitzie as it was one of her favorite things, but . . . my KitKats are not into string cheese.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE EASY STUFFED ITALIAN SAUSAGE
Could this list be any shorter? I think not!
- 6 uncooked Italian sausages (or 12 cocktail sized Italian sausages)
- 1 cup (130g)of grated Italian blend cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, Parmesan Reggiano, and provolone, but you can just use mozzarella)
- 1 cup (245g) prepared marinara sauce
Make sure you use a good quality sausage for this. I like the PC Free From Sausages here in Canada. I have found them to be incredibly juicy and flavor filled.
Not only that but they are meaty and not full of fillers and other nasty bits. They are also made from grain fed Canadian pork which has been raised without the use of antibiotics. This is important to me.
In the original recipe they did use the string cheese, but I felt a four cheese blend would work nicely and taste even better. I was right.
I used a mix that contained mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, Parmesan Reggiano, and provolone. If you can't find a cheese blend, then you could mix up your own blend using the cheeses you have on hand, or you could use just mozzarella.
I thought the cheese blend would make for some nice flavors and it really did.
You also want to use a marinara sauce with a nice flavor. I used one with garlic and basil. You can use whatever sauce you happen to enjoy.
There is no end to the variety that is available in the shops these days. When I was a child there was Catelli basically and it came in a tin. At least that is what my mother always bought. We didn't mind. We didn't know any better!
HOW TO MAKE EASY STUFFED ITALIAN SAUSAGE
Nothing could really be easier. I promise!!
Preheat the oven to 400*F/200*C/ gas mark 6. Have ready a shallow casserole dish large enough to hold the sausages in a single layer.
Pour the marinara sauce into the casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
Using a sharp knife, or a pair of kitchen scissors, cut each sausage in half down the center lengthwise, taking care not to cut all the way through. You want to be able to open them up like a book without them falling apart.
Open out each sausage and stuff 1/6 (1/12th) of the grated cheese into the center of the sausage and gently press the sausage back into shape.
Place the stuffed sausages into the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce.
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes, until the sausages are completely cooked through, and starting to brown.
If desired, pop briefly beneath a hot broiler/grill for five minutes.
And that's it! Easy peasy and ready to serve with your favorite pasta, or rice, or even potatoes. Popped between a couple slices of garlic bread these would make for a great Italian Sandwich!
Gooey, cheesy, saucy, and lightly spiced, you just can't go wrong. I predict this is going to become a family favorite, both for the ease of preparation and for the taste!
Easy Stuffed Italian Sausage
Yield: 6
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 55 Min
Quick and easy to make. Low carb and gluten free if you choose a gluten free sausage and sauce. Only three basic ingredients and delicious. What more could you want?
Ingredients
- 6 uncooked Italian sausages (or 12 cocktail sized Italian sausages)
- 1 cup (130g)of grated Italian blend cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, Parmesan Reggiano, and provolone, but you can just use mozzarella)
- 1 cup (245g) prepared marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400*F/200*C/ gas mark 6. Have ready a shallow casserole dish large enough to hold the sausages in a single layer.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
- Using a sharp knife, or a pair of kitchen scissors, cut each sausage in half down the center lengthwise, taking care not to cut all the way through.
- Open out each sausage and stuff 1/6 (1/12th) of the grated cheese into the center of the sausage and gently press the sausage back into shape.
- Place the stuffed sausages into the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes, until the sausages are completely cooked through, and starting to brown.
- If desired, pop briefly beneath a hot broiler/grill for five minutes.
Thank you!!
One of my favourite vegetables from the garden has always been Beetroot. We grow them every year and right about now they are just perfect for eating.
Great for boosting one's stamina and increasing muscle efficiency, beetroot are a great source of folic acid and contain potassium, magnesium and iron as well as vitamins A, B6 and C. £ small beetroot count as one of your daily five portions of fruit and veg a day!
Alot of people here in the UK seem to think that all you can do with a beetroot is pickle it, and I do confess, I love me some picked beetroot!
They are also wonderful when roasted in or out of the skins. They are beautiful shredded and used raw in a salad, or even grated and used like carrots would be in a cake!
*Pretty In Pink Polkadot Cake*
Serves 9
Printable Recipe
Moist and spicy with intriguing pink speckles throughout. Your guests will be quite surprised when they find out where all that pretty colour comes from! I like to think this is quite healthy and a good way to have your vegetables and eat your cake too!
CAKE:
150g raw beetroot, peeled and grated (about 4 medium beetroot)
200ml sunflower oil (2/3 cup)
250g golden caster sugar (1 1/4 cup)
3 large eggs, separated
3 TBS milk
100g chopped walnuts, toasted (scant cup)
200g plain flour (scant 1 1/2 cup)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp each, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and ground nutmeg (I like to grate my nutmeg fresh)
1/2 cup really good quality strawberry jam for filling
FROSTING:
180g butter, softened (about 3/4 cup)
150g icing sugar, sifted (1 generous cupful)
450g low fat cream cheese (2 cups, or 16 ounces)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pink sugar flowers and pink glitter to decorate
Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.. Grease two nine inch cake tins really well and dust with flour. Set aside. (alternately you can line with baking paper and grease it as well)
Remove about 1 tsp of the grated beetroot into a small bowl and cover with 2 teaspoons of boiling water and set this aside. (You will use this to colour the icing)
Whisk the sugar and the oil together in a bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the milk. Fold in the remaining beetroot and the nuts. It will look quite revoltingly red but don't let this alarm you in the least! (trust me!)
Sift together the flour, baking powder and the spices. Stir this mixture into the beaten mixture. Whip the egg whites until stiff with an egg beater and then fold them into the cake mixture in three additions, being careful not to over fold. Fold only to incorporate fully. Divide the batter evenly amongst the two prepared pans.
Bake in the heated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, only until the cake tests done and shrinks away a bit from the sides of the pan and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven. Run a knife around the edges and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the frosting by beating the butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy. Blend in the cream cheese until smooth and then work in the vanilla. Add some of the reserved beetroot liquor a little at a time to help tint the icing a pretty pink.
Remove the cake from the pans and place one layer in the middle of a pretty plate. Spread about 1/4 of the frosting on top of this layer. Spread the strawberry jam over top leaving about half an inch border around the edges with just icing. Carefully sandwich the other layer on top. Use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides, spreading it evenly and swirling it somewhat on the top. Decorate with the sugar flowers and sprinkle on some pink glitter to finish.
Place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to set. If not serving straight away, cover with cling film and chill. Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you want to serve it.
I also love to cook the tops of the beetroot, the leaves. These are fabulous sauteed or steamed like you would any leafy green. Just make sure you wash them really well, as they can be quite sandy. (Grit in the teeth=nasty!!) I have a fab recipe HERE for sauteed ones. Steamed you can just season with a bit of salt, pepper and some vinegar and butter. Delicious! (We've had precious little of those this year as the slugs seem to enjoy them almost as much as we do!!)
Of course one of our absolute favourite ways of preparing them is what is called Harvard Beets in North America. Deliciously tender beetroot in a sweet, tangy and buttery sauce!
Oh, I do adore beetroot in any way shape or form!
*Sweet and Tangy Beetroot*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe
Delicious tender beetroot in a sweet and tangy sauce. Fabulous side dish and a great way to use up some of the beetroot from the garden!
3.5 ounces sugar (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
2 fluid ounces cider vinegar (1/4 cup)
2 fluid ounces cooking water from the beets (1/4 cup)
6 medium sized beetroot, cooked until tender, peeled and then sliced
(about 3 cups)
2 TBS butter
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Whisk the sugar and cornstarch together in a saucepan. Add the vinegar and water, whisking well to blend. Bring to the boil over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the beets, tossing together well. Take off the heat and let stand for 30 minutes. Just before serving, add the butter and reheat to boiling point. Serve hot.
I'm cooking Courgettes (Zucchini) over in Oak Cottage today.
*Salmon Fillets with Cucumber and Dill*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe
Cucumber, dill and Salmon go so very well together. A nice light meal with wonderful flavours.
4 large salmon fillets, about 1 inch thick and weighing about 6 ounces each
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
a bit of olive oil (I didn't use any in this pan and it worked a charm)
1/4 cup dry white wine
For the cucumber salad:
1 english cucumber
1 TBS rice wine vinegar
1 tsp fresh chopped dill weed
a pinch of salt
For the sour cream sauce:
6 TBS sour cream
2 TBS fresh chopped dill weed
2 TBS rice wine vinegar
1 1/2 TBS finely chopped shallot
1/4 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
First make the sauce. Whisk together the sour cream, dillweed, vinegar, shallots, lemon zest and juice, and garlic. Season to taste and set aside.
To make the cucumber salad, trim the ends off the cucumber. Using a vegetable peeler, shave lengthwise into ribbons. Place into a bowl. Toss together with the remaining ingredients and set aside to marinate while you cook the salmon.
Season the salmon well on the flesh side. Heat a bit of olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan until hot. Add the fillets, presentation side down, and cook for 3 minutes, without disturbing. Carefully turn the salmon over and cook for an additional minute. Remove from the heat. Add the wine, then cover and allow to sit until the salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 3 minutes.
Divide the cucumber salad amongst 4 plates. Top each with 1 salmon fillet. Divide the sour cream sauce evenly amongst each serving and serve immediately.
Small baby potatoes, unpeeled and steamed until tender, go very well with this!
*Simple Pan Fried Haddock*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe
Quick to cook and oh so easy and delicious. We both really enjoy this!
2 boneless, skinless haddock loins
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 TBS flour
a knob of butter (I only needed a very small knob of butter. You could probably get away
with none, but the butter really adds to the flavour of this recipe)
several sprigs of fresh thyme
the juice of one lemon
Season your Haddock filets well on both sides then sprinkle with flour to coat, patting it lightly into the flesh. Set aside. Melt a knob of butter over medium high heat in a skillet until it begins to foam. Add the springs of thyme and then brown the Haddock fillets, starting with the presentation side, and then turning them after about 2 minutes.
They should only take about 2 minutes per side to cook through,
depending on the thickness of your fillets. After you have cooked both
sides, squeeze the juice of a lemon over all and allow it to bubble up.
Remove from the heat and let stand for several minutes before serving.
Delicious!
These are easy to make and so delicious! You can tell from the grease splattered piece of paper I’ve got it written down on that it’s a winner, but don’t take my word for it. Try them for yourself! We like to have them with applesauce and sour cream, with a few chives sprinkled on top, but you can have them with whatever strikes your fancy.
3 cups raw potato, peeled and finely grated
2 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp salt
2 TBS plain flour
2 TBS grated onion
Sunflower oil for frying (I just used a light spritz)
Grate your potatoes and squeeze as much liquid from them as you can, working quickly so that the potatoes don’t turn brown. Put into a bowl along with the remaining ingredients, mixing well.
Heat a skillet to medium hot, and grease well with some oil. I add about 3 TBS and swirl it around.
Once the oil is hot, drop the batter by tablespoonsful onto the hot skillet. Press with the back of the spoon to flatten a bit. Fry for about 3 minutes on each side until browned. Place in a low oven to keep warm while you fry the rest.
Serve hot with applesauce and sour cream. Delicious!
*Boeuf Bourguignon*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe
A fancy beef stew which hails from the south of France. Plan ahead as you need to make it the day before you want to eat it.
1 3/4 pounds of braising beef or steak
3 TBS olive oil (I used half the amount with this pan)
1/2 cup cubed pancetta
3 onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2 TBS plain flour
1 3/4 cups of full bodied red wine, plus an extra splash if need be
(I normally use a Shiraz)
a bouquet garni (A few springs of thyme, a bay leaf and a few parsley stalks
tied together)
2 TBS butter (Only used one TBS, again for the flavour)
1/2 pound of chestnut mushrooms, cleaned and halved
2 TBS finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pat the meat dry. Trim well, discarding any sinew or excess fat. Cut into large chunks. Heat 1 TBS of oil in a dutch oven and brown the pancetta lightly. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl and set aside. Brown the meat in two batches in the fat that remains in the pan. Once browned scoop out and add to the pancetta, once again setting it aside. Add the remaining oil and fry the onion in it very slowly, covering the pan, until very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes in time, stirring occasionally and adding the garlic to the mixture halfway through the cooking time. Stir the flour into the onions and cook for about a minute, then add the wine and bring to the boil, stirring. Add the meat and pancetta, along with the bouquet garni and bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat to a slow simmer and cook, covered, over very low heat until the meat is tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Turn off the heat and leave the casserole overnight. Next day bring the dish back to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the mushrooms and fry until lightly browned. Tip them into the stew and allow to cook for another 15 minutes or so. Season the stew with some salt and black pepper to taste and, if you think it needs it, another splash of wine. Sprinkle with the parsley to serve.
Serve hot with some mashed potatoes on the side. Delicious!
I love cooking with chicken breasts. They can happily accept many flavours and I love coming up with new ways of preparation. I think this is a delicious experiment of mine that I will be repeating often! You needn't serve this curry with anything more than some plain steamed basmati rice, and maybe a steamed green vegetable on the side. It really is delicious!
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 TBS butter ( I used half this amount and half of the required oil as well)
2 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 fat cloves garlic, minced
1 TBS curry powder (I use a medium strength)
1 TBS peeled and grated fresh gingerroot
The grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup hot chicken broth
2 heaping TBS mango chutney
1 TBS chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
1 TBS chopped fresh mint
½ cup lightly toasted cashew nuts
Thinly slice the chicken breasts lengthwise and then again in half so that you end up with four thin pieces from each. Season well with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until hot and the butter sizzles. Toss in the chicken pieces and brown them well on both sides. Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm.
Reducing the heat sauté the onion, stirring until tender and translucent. Thisshould take 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute longer, taking care not to brown it as this makes it bitter. Add the curry powder, orange zest, ginger and orange juice, stirring to scrap up the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add the coconut milk and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes to reduce somewhat and then return the chicken to the pan, simmering for 3 minutes or so to cook through. Stir in the chutney and sprinkle with the coriander, mint and cashew nuts before serving.
Serve hot with some steamed or pilau rice on the side and some naan bread to sop up all that lovely sauce.
*Anthony’s Favourite Fly-Off-The-Plate Pancakes*
Family size (must mean at least 4 or five people)
Printable Recipe
This is another oldie from my big blue binder. In the amount area it only says family size so I take it to mean that means a lot, because I had a rather large family. My Anthony loved these and for good reason. They are quite simply delicious. The addition of sour cream gives them a wonderful tenderness. I always made them silver dollar size when I was making these. I think he liked them that way because he could get a whole one into his mouth at one time, you know how boys are! Break out the butter and Maple Syrup, you’re in for a real taste treat today!
2 cups plain flour
¼ tsp salt
2 TBS white sugar
6 tsp baking powder
2 large free range eggs
2 cups milk
5 TBS sour cream
4 TBS melted butter
Oil for frying (I only lightly spritzed with oil)
Whisk together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Put the eggs, milk, sour cream and melted butter into a large beaker and whisk them together well. Make a well in themiddle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients all at once. Whisk together vigorously until they make a smooth batter.
Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Grease lightly with a little bit of oil, swirling it to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Drop the pancake batter onto the heated pan or griddle in heaping tablespoonfuls. Cook over medium high heat until the surface is coated with small bubbles and the underside is lightly browned before flipping them over to cook and brown the other side. Remove to a plate and keep warm in the oven while you are cooking the rest, using up all the batter. Serve warm with knobs of ice cold butter on top and sweet lashings of Maple Syrup.
These freeze very well. Just pop them between layers of grease proof paper and pop them into a zip lock baggie. You can then take out as many or as few as you want at any given time, warming them up for a few seconds in the microwave.
PS - You can very easily cut this recipe in two if you don't want to make quite so many. I did.
*Jammy Breakfast Sandwiches*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe
Quick, delicious and different! A hot eggy bread sandwich filled with lovely meltingly rich cream cheese and sweet jam, all brown and butterly crunchy on the outside and dusted with caster sugar. Quite simply, lovely . . .
3 large eggs
1 TBS of caster sugar
2 TBS whole milk
A few drops of pure vanilla essence
8 slices of brioche
4 heaping TBS of your favourite flavour of jam
4 heaping TBS of cream cheese
A large knob of butter for cooking
More caster sugar for sprinkling
Lightly beat together the eggs, caster sugar, milk and vanilla in a shallow dish large enough to fit the bread slices into.
Open the slices of bread and spread the cream cheese on half of them and the jam on the other half. Put them together cheese sides to jam sides in the middle, pressing firmly so that they stick firmly together.
Melt the butter over medium low heat in a large skillet until it is foaming. Soak each sandwich in the beaten egg mixture until all the egg has been absorbed, allowing them to soak on both sides. Place the soaked sandwiches into the foaming butter and fry for one to two minutes on each side until golden brown and crusty all over, adding more butter as necessary.
Remove to warm plates and slice into fingers. Dust lightly with caster sugar to serve and enjoy!
One of the secrets of a happy life is
continuous small treats!
~Iris Murdoch
Today is my Birthday! I am turning 67 today and am grateful for every moment that got me here. I think every birthday deserves a treat, a cake, a pie, something to celebrate it with!
With that in mind I have had my heart set on baking a Scandinavian Almond Cake ever since I saw my friend Noelle post a photo of one on her Facebook page the other day. It looked so delicious!
Traditionally a Scandinavian Almond Cake, or Norwegian Almond Cake as it is also known, would be baked around the holidays when people are celebrating. If a Birthday isn't cause for celebration I don't know what is and so I decided that I would bake it for mine!
One of the things on my bucket list was always to visit the Scandinavian countries while I was in the UK. I never did get there, but I think one of the best ways to visit a country is through its food. I love Swedish Meatballs and Swedish Butter Cookies that you buy in the tins at Christmas.
So today I am going to pop on a travel show, and sit down with a hot drink and a piece of this cake and go arm chair travelling. (I think I'll watch Somebody Feed Phil, the Copenhagen episode.)
Traditionally this cake would be baked in a special pan such as the one you see above. It is called a Scandinavian Almond Cake Pan. I bought mine on Amazon. I know it will come in handy for all sorts of bakes.
I love the half moon shape. I can see it done in chocolate with a chocolate glaze and slivered almonds sticking out all over like a hedgehog. Fun fun!
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
I have a special weakness for foreign dessert, especially cakes, and I have to say that this is one of the most delicious almond cakes I have ever baked and eaten.
It boasts a beautiful almond flavor throughout, from that beautifully textured cake to the sweet almond glaze which gets drizzled on top. There is even more almond flavor if you choose to scatter it with toasted flaked almonds.
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
Its not hard to toast almonds. A few minutes on a baking sheet in a moderate (350*F/180*C) oven does the trick perfectly. I would say five to six minutes. You don't want to burn them.
(Although I have to say there used to be a burnt almond chocolate bar that I really loved to eat. I have not seen it in years.)
This is a light and springy cake which is quite unlike most European cakes which are, generally speaking, quite a bit more dense.
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND CAKE
Other than a special pan, you only need every day ordinary ingredients. I am also quite sure you could bake this cake in a loaf tin or a deep 9 inch round tin. Not sure on the timings however.
For the cake:
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large free range egg
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2/3 cup (160ml) whole milk
- 1 1/4 cups (175g) plain all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter, melted
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
For the icing:
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) icing sugar, sifted
- 2 to 3 TBS heavy cream
- few drops of almond extract
- flaked almonds to decorate, toasted or not
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
I used Watkins pure Almond extract for my cake and large free range organic eggs. I buy my eggs at a place just around the corner from where I live. You can see the chickens running around in the yard.
They have a refrigerator on the porch of the shed with the eggs in it and an honesty tin. $5 a dozen for the most beautiful eggs with the brightest golden yellow yolks!
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
I use whole full fat milk and plain all purpose flour. Robin Hood is what I always buy. I like it. My sugar is organic unbleached sugar, so it is a bit brown in color, but as you can see that doesn't show in this cake.
I use salted butter because I cannot afford to keep both salted and unsalted butter in my house. There is no salt in this recipe, but generally speaking I will cut back on the salt in a recipe a bit anyways. You do need a little bit most of the time, but not a lot.
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
HOW TO MAKE SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND CAKE
This really is one of the easiest cakes to make. You can have it mixed and in the oven in about 10 minutes or so. I melt the butter in the microwave while I am mixing together everything else.
Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Spray the cake tin really well with baking/cooking/canola oil spray. Dust lightly with flour, shaking out any excess. Place onto a baking sheet.
Beat the sugar, egg, almond extract and milk together with an electric hand whisk until smooth.
Whisk together the flour and baking powder. Beat this into the liquid mixture.
Continue to beat with the electric mixer whilst drizzling in the melted butter until thoroughly incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan.
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for five minutes, then tip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the glaze, whisk the icing sugar, almond extract and cream together until smooth. You should have a mixture that makes for a drizzle. If it is too thick, add a few drops of milk.
Drizzle this over top of the cake and scatter with flaked almonds if desired. I added a few cake sprinkles because, its my birthday and sprinkles on a birthday cake are a must!!!
Cut into slices along the ring lines. Will that be one ring or two?
Note - this cake was adapted from a recipe I found here.
.JPG "Scandinavian Almond Cake")
I usually try to bake a delicious cake on most family birthdays. Some of my favorites are:
BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE - My brother in law loves this delicious moist chocolate cake. Adapted from a recipe I found in a cookbook by Trish Magwood called Dish Entertains.
RASPBERRY CELEBRATION CAKE - This was a cake developed for the Queen's 60th Jubilee. It is moist and delicious and the cake I chose to bake for my birthday for many years. It is studded and filled with fresh raspberries.
VICTORIA SANDWICH CAKE - This is my all time favorite cake. Plain in looks, but fabulous flavors. Two moist layers of cake filled with sweet red jam and dusted with sugar. It is a real favorite cake for the tea table as well!
Scandinavian Almond Cake
Yield: 18 small or 9 regular
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 50 Min
This is one of the BEST almond cakes you could ever want to bake or eat. Its also one of the easiest! You do need a special pan, although I am quite sure you could also bake it in a deep 9 inch round cake tin
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large free range egg
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2/3 cup (160ml) whole milk
- 1 1/4 cups (175g) plain all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter, melted
For the icing:
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) icing sugar, sifted
- 2 to 3 TBS heavy cream
- few drops of almond extract
- flaked almonds to decorate, toasted or not
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Spray the cake tin really well with baking/cooking/canola oil spray. Dust lightly with flour, shaking out any excess. Place onto a baking sheet.
- Beat the sugar, egg, almond extract and milk together with an electric hand whisk until smooth.
- Whisk together the flour and baking powder. Beat this into the liquid mixture.
- Continue to beat with the electric mixer whilst drizzling in the melted butter until thoroughly incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for five minutes, then tip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, whisk the icing sugar, almond extract and cream together until smooth. You should have a mixture that makes for a drizzle. If it is too thick, add a few drops of milk.
- Drizzle this over top of the cake and scatter with flaked almonds if desired. Cut into slices along the ring lines. Will that be one ring or two?
Thanks so much for visiting! Do come again!
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