Monday, January 21, 2008

Divinity from Above

Tennis winter league started today, we got off to a good start with all our team winning their matches. As we were hosting the match we provide the tea after. I am getting a bit of a reputation with my baking so I decided to wow everyone with this.

And wow them I did. I have to confess that it is very easy and as for the icing...divine!

Angelic Chocolate Cake

(recipe taken from You magazine)

Angel Sponge

8 medium egg whites

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 tsp cream of tartar

250g icing sugar, sifted

110g plain flour, sifted

30g cocoa powder, sifted

Icing

100g milk chocolate, broken up

15g unsalted butter

30g cocoa powder, sifted

50ml water

1 tbsp golden syrup

Preheat oven 170C/150C fan oven, grease 20cm angel food tin (or 20cm deep loose-bottom cake tin).

Whisk the egg whites, salt and tartar until stiff peaks are formed.

Whisk in the sugar.

Fold in the flour and cocoa.

Pour into tin and bake for 35-40 minutes. Leave to cool in tin.

Gently melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.

In another pan heat the cocoa, water and golden syrup, whisking until smooth.

Combine the two to make a thick icing.

Gently ease the cake out of the tin and slap on the icing. Leave to set.

Make lattices by melting some dark chocolate and leave to set. Stick the lattices into the cake as the icing sets.

Enjoy.

After pigging out on the tea at the tennis club I returned home to the beautiful aroma of a lasagne cooking. Since Joules has finished his degree he has loads of spare time and has started making dinner every Sunday. He researches his recipes and makes them all from scratch, no bolognese sauce out of a jar for him. Today he spent two and a half hours in the kitchen and much as I hate to admit it, he made an extremely good lasagne...ok, ok I admit that it was better than mine and, most importantly, he washed up all the pots and pans whilst I sat back with my glass of wine and booked...

27 comments:

ChrisB said...

You are getting way too spoilt~ I remember rushing home from tennis after Sunday league and still having to cook dinner! Your cake does look delicious~ you can make it next time I visit!
BTW it's not yet the 21st by my clock!

Beckie said...

That cake looks fantastic! The dinner sounds great too. I could go for a nice hot meal and a glass of wine right about now.

Unknown said...

That looks beautiful and YUMMY! I think I would hide away with it and claim to not know what happened with it. :) I guess the chocolate on my cheeks might give me away. :)

cookiecrumb said...

Decorated with tennis nets, right? Very thematic, and very pretty.

Alison said...

That cake looks divine but I have no idea how to convert your recipe into cups and teaspoons!! Maybe you can just make me one and ship it to me?!?!
I have a little something on my site for you!!!

Barbara said...

wow that is impressive.

Anonymous said...

mouth watering.

Pamela said...

I just read an article about presentation... and lady, you GOT IT!!


(but, I'd like some lasagna as well.)

Dea said...

Good God Beccy that looks divine! Congrats! ;-)

Anonymous said...

I know what it is! It's a working model of Mount Vesuvius, complete with chocolate lava, and a wicker fence to stop the tourists from falling in. Do I get a prize?

Anonymous said...

MMMmmmm...THAT looks magically delicious!!

How will you outdo yourself NEXT time, though???

Anonymous said...

OOoooo, and CONGRATS on the great start for your league!

Sam said...

i am impressed by Joules. Please can he give lessons to Fred?

Molly said...

The cake does look and sound divine. A cake like that should give you lots of energy for trivia contests. I am off to bake one for me...kidding. Most of my baked goods come from a store.

frannie said...

that cake looks amazing!!!

and good for you getting to enjoy Joules' free time!!

Steffi said...

Fantastic cake! Your dinner sounds really good!

FH said...

Good to see the cake here, it's beautiful Beccy.

Good for J! Enjoy and appreciate him even more!:)

Linda said...

What a beautiful cake - almost too beautiful to eat...almost...

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

Oh, how wonderful that J did home made lasagna. Wow. Mine just pops the Stouffer's in! And, I only wish I could create such a work of art in chocolate. Impressive!

Anonymous said...

A beautiful cake and how wonderful to have someone cook AND cleanup after. You are pampered.

Anonymous said...

Holy crap, you MADE that??? Wow! I am so, so impressed!

my4kids said...

Thats a beautiful cake. I just need to figure out how to make it into cups instead of grams.

Anonymous said...

at least virtual cakes are not too bad for the diet...

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

That cake looks GOOD!!!!

Rising Rainbow said...

Wow, that looks pretty! and nummy too.

Anonymous said...

do not ever cook that for my hubs elswise he'd drop me like a hot rock and go for you LOL his weakness is choclate seriously;P that was awefully sweet of your hubs to cook dinner and from scratch wow

thefoodsnob said...

The cake looks amazing, Beccy.
Lucky you, dinner AND you didn't have to clean?! He's a keeper!

Lisa