My sister would prefer not to be in the kitchen! Not ever. She can cook, and has been known to bake, but this is not a love for her. My niece Sasha however is the complete opposite. She is a natural in the kitchen, you can see it by the way she holds a knife. She loves to cook and better still, she loves to bake. I look forward to being in the kitchen with Sasha when I go up to Johannesburg to see them. Sadly, however, these visits are not going to happen again after November. Ross (my brother-in-law) was offered a transfer to Sydney with the company he works for. The opportunity is one that cannot be turned down. Sasha’s new kitchen will be halfway across the world from mine. Skype is going to become my new best friend so that I can watch my nieces grow up, and this blog is going to become a way for me to share my recipes with Sasha. As Sasha loves to eat cake, this one for an almond cake, adapted from Le Creuset, is especially for her.
Almond Cake
Ingredients
for the cake
- 95 g butter
- 95 g fructose
- 2 eggs, separated
- 5 mls ground cinnamon
- 5 mls vanilla paste
- 85 g ground almonds
- zest of 1 orange
- 50 g flour
for the cream
- 80 mls cream
- 50 g flaked almonds
- 3 drops orange essential oil - optional
Method
- preheat the oven to 160° Celsius
- grease a small rectangular baking dish
- cream the butter and the fructose together
- add the egg yolks, the ground cinnamon and the vanilla paste and mix well
- stir in the ground almonds and the zest
- beat the egg whites to soft peaks and fold into the mixture
- sift in the flour and mix with a wooden spoon until everything is just combined
- pour the batter into the dish and bake for 30 minutes
- allow the cake to cool while you whip the cream and toast the almonds
- fold the toasted almonds into the cream and mix in the essential oil
- serve some of the cream with a slice of the cake
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
A wonderful opportunity for them, but very sad for you. Do I see Scotland being cancelled in favour of Sydney in your future travels?
Nope, Dave and I will continue to tour Europe together as our annual holiday. Next year Scotland and the year after Italy 🙂
Hi Tandy, I have enjoyed catching up with your blog now that I am home from Europe. I know you will miss your family. Your almond cake sounds like something my husband would really enjoy. We both like a simple cake and this sounds perfect.
thanks so much! Your holiday has been a pleasure to enjoy along with you 🙂
Oh no, how sad that your family are moving so far away! At least the internet does make it easy to keep in contact. My sister is in Canada, I haven’t seen her for 8 years.
Delicious-sounding cake, it would be a winner for me, I love almonds! xx
it is sad! That is such a long time not to see your sister – hopefully I will see Kerry next December somewhere exotic 🙂
I have always thought how holding a knife can tell a lot about how someone is in the kitchen… 🙂 Oh the toasted almond cream sounds like it really pulls this dish together, sounds delicious!
it really did need the cream 🙂
Johns children are coming to stay the weekend shortly and this counds like a cake that they would love with the added proteins in the nuts.. lovely, thank you tandy.. I know what it is like to be so far away from family, it will work out ok i am sure.. and meeting somewhere exotic might be marvellous! c
the exotic holiday’s are right up my alley – but sadly not Dave’s 🙂
I feel your pain. It’s difficult when a sibling, who you’ve been so close to, moves away. My brother (and sister-in-law) moved out west.
I hope that Skype allows you to keep that connection.
I am so glad there is skype – I cannot imagine not being able to ‘see’ them when ever I want to 🙂
Hi Tandy i can imagine how difficult this is going to be. Yes skype is such a wonderful way of keeping in touch with loved ones,
thanks Usha 🙂
this looks so great! Almonds are one of my favorite nuts, I love their flavor. And this cake looks so moist!
I also love almonds! Thanks for the visit Liz 🙂
Tandy, this is a sweet post and I know how you feel about missing your family. Skype is certainly away to keep in touch but being there is better. I think Sasha will love this cake, as I know I certainly would!!
thanks so much for your kind words 🙂
Sounds like a great opportunity and a fun place to visit. But hooray for Skype!
I have been to Sydney once so another visit may be in order 🙂
Mmm, I love the smell/flavor/texture of almond desserts. Sounds like the perfect dessert to share with your niece. Maybe after she moves you guys can Skype together while cooking the same recipe? Then you can eat it and not feel so far apart 🙁
what a great idea! I think I will have to set that up 🙂
Oh Tandy, how terribly sad for you yet as exciting for your sister and her family! Think you will have to incorporate Sydney in all of your future travel plans.
Have a happy evening.
🙂 Mandy
thanks Mandy, but Sydney is not in my future 🙁 Have a super weekend 🙂
Oh the wonderful powers of Skype! And of cake – this looks outstanding!
thank you so much Ashley 🙂
Sad, happy, tough, exciting…do stick with the skype (even when it´s a bit dodgy). It certainly helps me out!
It is sooo sad that family members are so far apart, but luckily we have technology to make it easier. I love the cake recipe!
it is very sad Pink, even with skype 🙁