Showing posts with label Cretan Walnut Cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cretan Walnut Cake. Show all posts

Friday, October 3, 2014

As Promised


Although autumn officially arrived on September 23rd,
here on the island, it has only been spotted a few times.


If you look closely, you could probably catch a glimpse 
of it here and there, among the still summer scenery.


On occasion, you may even taste it. Sweet or savoury, 
fall flavours seem to be infused with seasonings of 
sentiment and nostalgia, that keep smiles simmering,
long after the dinner dishes are washed and put away.


It's a transitional time, when summer brights mingle with
muddy ochres, creating a canvas of colourful chit-chat.


 For my garden, here in pastoral Crete, autumn brought a
second bloom of scented, white stars, promising more
from the fruity bulbs of summer, and before winter's debut. 

And speaking of promises...


Ingredients:

For the cake:
5 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp brandy or cognac,
dissolved in I tbsp baking powder
Zest of one lemon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup fine semolina 
1 cup chopped walnuts

 For the syrup:
1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup water
1 piece of lemon peel
1 small stick cinnamon


 Directions: 
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9 x 12 rectangular
 baking pan or a similarly sized round pan.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, 
beat egg whites until stiff. Fold in sugar. 
Add yolks, (softly beaten), and the remaining cake
 ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until 
toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

 When cake is almost cool, remove from pan and
prepare the syrup. Place ingredients in a medium saucepan 
and bring to a boil. Continue boiling for 2 minutes. 
Remove from heat. Remove cinnamon stick and 
lemon peel and carefully pour syrup over cake.

Enjoy!!

Thanks for visiting,
and Happy October!
xo
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