Weeknight Cake-making
January 14, 2012 § 5 Comments
It has taken a while, but I finally managed to get the electricity adapter I need to convert my US appliances for use in our apartment here in Jerusalem. I was beside myself with joy to turn on my mixer again for the first time, and was talking to my food processor, like a batty old lady, apologizing for keeping him in the cupboard for so long…
I had two immediate thoughts when I heard those little motors purr to life: devil’s food cake with strawberries & frosting, and walnut basil pesto.
It's the start of strawberry season here in Israel, and this year's crop is GORGEOUS
Elbowing my way to the basil
I used my favorite devil’s food cake recipe for the cake’s base, and a fantastic “marshmallow” frosting recipe that is dairy-free, smooth, silky deliciousness. For the pesto, I simply made my favorite dairy-free, free-form version which includes walnuts, lots of basil and some fruity, organic olive oil, delivered by our egg and honey man, Amnon.
Enjoy!
Super-spreadable Fluffy White Icing, adapted from The Modern Baker by Nick Malgieri
You need a little patience to make this swiss meringue recipe, but I promise it will pay off. The most important thing to remember is to whisk continuously, both while the meringue is over the bain-marie (simmering water) and once you pull it off the heat, until it has reached the desired texture.
4 large egg whites
large pinch of salt
2/3 cup sugar (I use organic/natural sugar)
1/2 cup light corn syrup (do NOT grease your cup to help the corm syrup slide out! Your egg whites will not firm up if mixed with even a tiny drop of oil)
Half-fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Combine the whites, salt, sugar, and corn syrup in the bowl of an electric mixer (or any bowl, if you are using a hand-mixer — just make sure the bowl sits over the water, not in the water). Whisk ingredients by hand, just to combine.
Regulate the heat under the pan so that it boils gently and place the bowl on the pan. Whisk gently, just to keep the mixture moving, until it is hot (~130°F/55°C) and the sugar is dissolved. Place the bowl on the mixer and whip with the whisk attachment until the icing has cooled and becomes white and fluffy. It will look silky and will hold medium-firm peaks.
Are those radishes? They can’t be! They’re the size of beets, oh my goodness.
Yes they are! Makes you want to hop on over for a visit, no?
Congrats! What fun to have your appliances working again.
Wait, where do you buy corn syrup here??
Hi Tali,
you can buy it at many Supermarkets, depending on the neighborhood you live in. Liz (of cafe Liz) found some for me easily in Tel Aviv. But I have since found it at a Supermarket in Baka, as well as the Mister Zol in Rehavia (wolfson).
Good Luck!