I need recipes for pre-made everyday dinners and a good cake >>>

here you go eva - marble cake and rosemary remembrance cake...

these are both from 'feast' by nigella lawson. i haven't tried either as i just got the book.

marble cake
(makes approx 20 slices)

"the espresso powder is really to enhance the requisite dark coloring, so if you do not want the coffee flavor, slight though it is, replace the tsp of espresso powder with another tbsp of cocoa.

250g soft, unsalted butter
250g caster sugar
250g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
4 eggs
zest of 1 orange, plus approx. 3 tbsps juice
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp espresso powder
1 tbsp milk

preheat oven to gas mark4/180c. grease ring mould 24 cm in diameter, with 1.25 litre capacity.

put the butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, eggs and zest of orange into a processor and blitz to a batter. pour the orange juice, with the motor running, down the funnel of the processor to make the cake mixture lighter and smoother.

divide the batter between two bowls. put the cocoa and espresso powder into a small bowl and whisk in the milk; fold this into one of the bowls of cake mixture to make it dark colored. sploon a splodge of light-colored cake batter into the tin, and then a chocolate-colored spoonful working around the ring of the mould. carry on with a second layer, but don't worry if it is haphazard and not terribly even as this is the whole point of the marbling. once you have used up both the batters, guve the contents of the ring mould a swirl with a spatula to create the marble effect, and bake in the oven for 35 min or until a cake tester comes out clean.

let sit on a cooling rack for about 10 min before turning out onto the rack to get completely cold."


rosemary remembrance cake
(makes approx 10 slices)

"make more of the same sized cake, not a big huge one, if you need more slices.

1 eating apple approx 180g in weight
1 small sprig and 1 long sprig rosemary
1 tsp caster sugar
juice and zest of 1/2 lemon 1 tsp butter

for the cake batter
225g butter
150g caster sugar plus 1 tbsp
3 eggs
300g plain flour
2 tsps baking powder

peel, core and roughly chop the apple and put into a saucepan with the small sprig of rosemary, the tsp of sugar, the lemon zest and juice, and butter. cover the pan and cook on low heat for 4-8 min until the apple is soft. how long this takes reallyl depends on the variety of apple you're using. coxes cook the fastest, and are good here. leave to cool, and fish out the rosemary sprig when it is cold.

preheat oven to gas mark 3/170c. line a 450g loaf tin with a loaf liner, or butter and line the bottom with baking parchment.

put the cooled apple into a food processor and blitz to a pulp. then add the butter, 150g sugar, eggs, flour and baking powder and process to a smooth batter. spoon and scrape into the loaf tin and smooth the top. sprinkle the surface with the remaining tbsp of sugar and then lay the long sprig of rosemary along the centre of the cake. on baking, the rosemary sheds its oil to leave a scented path down the middle of the cake.

bake the cake for 50 min or until a cake tester comes out clean, then leave to cool on a rack. slip the paper-lined cake out of the tin once it is cool."

 
ps, good luck! i think when you're making something from the heart, you really can't go wrong smileys/wink.gif

 
Our family's favorite cake, longtime T&T - rec: Mom's Sherry Cake

My husband's favorite cake, too!

** Mom's Sherry Cake **

Simple, but wonderful!! This was my favorite cake that Mom would make for my birthdays when I was little... for that matter, since I wasn't really that fond of cake, it's probably the only reason I ever ate any. Whenever I make this for gatherings, everybody asks for the recipe... and then begs me to make it for the next gathering, too. smileys/smile.gif

6-9 servings, 1 cake
time to make 55 min 10 min prep

Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup cream sherry
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 package vanilla instant pudding mix

Cinnamon mixture

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon cocoa
Drizzle frosting
1/2-1 cup powdered sugar
milk

1. (This recipe has three separate portions to combine together: the cake, the cinnamon mixture, and the frosting.) Combine cake ingredients and mix for 5 minutes in mixer on medium speed.

2. Combine cinnamon mixture.

3. Butter the sides and bottom of Bundt or angelfood tin.

4. Sprinkle part of cinnamon mixture into pan covering sides and bottom.

5. Then pour cake batter into pan in three alternating layers with cinnamon mixture, ending with cinnamon mixture.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, checking to make sure the sugar on the outside of the cake does not burn.

7. Let cool; place on serving plate.

8. Mix together powdered sugar and enough milk to make a "drizzly" consistancy of frosting, then drizzle over the sides (both inside and outsides).

9. Let frosting set before serving.

10. Note: if your oven runs hot, you might want to try baking for 35 minutes to begin with, then remove cake from oven and taste-check a portion of the cake which doesn't show easily (such as the inner ring) to make sure the sugar coating isn't burning and the cake isn't drying out.

http://www.recipezaar.com/27631

 
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