Rememberence of Those Goods Days With Friends Over Coffee

Recipes~Decorating~ Rememberence of Goods Days With Friends Over Coffee

Many a good day was spent with friends over coffee and cake. Just like the Golden Girls we had our cheesecake moments too. There were stories of ALL kinds.

It all started in Germany, I was born in a little house on the Freudenberg Hills. The war had been over for several years and people were settling in to a time of new growth, and prosperity. As an Army Brat we traveled a lot but, I was never as Happy as I was in that little old house. It was a short bus ride or an adventurous walk to the River Rhine, where we would stroll along the tree lined colonnade amongst the ducks, and swans the smell of spring flowers perfuming the mid day air. We would pause for a late lunch at outdoor cafes and watch as people leisurely sailed their boats down the river. On late afternoons we would enjoy the coffee houses, were we would enjoy coffee and the most sumptuous cakes and pastries. On hot summer days I would enjoy my favorite lemon ice cream. Even today if I think on it I can still taste the tart, sweet flavor.

This little bog is to be dedicated to just that. Coffee, Conversation and Sumptuous cake recipes. So I hope you will all join me, and share your stories of days gone by, and recipes old or new, shared by some one today or passed down from generation to generation. Love to you All, Micki

Monday, July 4, 2011

Boston Cream Pie (In Honor of Our Birthday)

For the cake
  • 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted, butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup milk

For the custard
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the glaze
  • 6 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), broken into pieces
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  •  
Make the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. and butter and flour a 9 1/2-inch springform pan. In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together the butter, the sugar, and the vanilla until the mixture is light and fluffy and beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Into another bowl sift together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt and beat the mixture into the butter mixture in batches alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan and bake the cake in the middle of the oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack.
Make the custard:
In a saucepan whisk together the cornstarch, the sugar, and the milk, add the eggs, the cream, and the salt, and whisk the mixture until it is smooth. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean, reserving the pod for another use, add them to the cream mixture, and bring the custard to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Boil the custard, whisking, for 2 minutes, remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the butter. Let the custard cool completely, whisking occasionally.
Make the glaze:
In a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt the chocolate with the water, the butter, the corn syrup, and the salt, stirring until glaze is smooth, and remove the bowl from the pan.
Remove the cake from the pan, halve it horizontally with a long serrated knife, and arrange the bottom half, cut side up, on a plate. Top the bottom half with the custard, spreading the custard to the edge, put the remaining cake half, cut side down, on the custard, and pour the glaze on top of it, spreading the glaze to the edge and letting it drip down the side. The Boston cream pie may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled.



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