Saturday, April 5, 2008

Angel Food Cake and Wine Soaked Berries

You can always buy boxed angel food cake, but after watching Alton Brown prepare it from scratch and seeing how easy it is, why bother buying?:)

If you want to change the taste a little bit, use vanilla instead of orange extract.

You can also add about 3 tablespoons of cocoa to it and have a chocolaty taste. Or you can throw in some cinnamon to add some spice to it. Or add some lemon zest and lemon. Or use almond extract etc. There is just no end to the variations you can come up with.

And then you can top it with berries mixed with a little bit of sugar. Or use Nutella next to it. Or add some chocolate syrup. Then add whipped cream to any of the toppings.

But I will add a recipe from Rachel Ray for "Wine Soaked Berries" which make this recipe really decadent. Enjoy:)

ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cake flour, sifted
12 egg whites (the closer to room temperature the better)
1/3 cup warm water
1 teaspoon orange extract, or extract of your choice
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a food processor spin sugar about 2 minutes until it is superfine. Sift half of the sugar with the salt the cake flour, setting the remaining sugar aside.

In a large bowl, use a balloon whisk to thoroughly combine egg whites, water, orange extract, and cream of tartar. After 2 minutes, switch to a hand mixer.

Slowly sift the reserved sugar, beating continuously at medium speed. Once you have achieved medium peaks, sift enough of the flour mixture in to dust the top of the foam. Using a spatula fold in gently. Continue until all of the flour mixture is incorporated.

Carefully spoon mixture into an ungreased tube pan. Bake for 35 minutes before checking for doneness with a wooden skewer. (When inserted halfway between the inner and outer wall, the skewer should come out dry).

Cool upside down on cooling rack for at least an hour before removing from pan.

Cook's Note: Since they're easier to separate use the freshest eggs you can get.

WINE SOAKED BERRIES

Ingredients:
1/3 cup dry Italian red wine
3 tablespoons sugar
A few grinds black pepper
1/2 pint strawberries, sliced
1/2 pint black berries
Finely chopped fresh mint leaves or orange zest, for garnish

Directions:
Combine wine, sugar, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add berries and soak 20 minutes.

Cut the cake into thick slices. Serve wedges doused with wine soaked berries then garnish with whipped cream and fresh mint or orange zest.

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