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apple cake

Flipping over speed bumps

By October 30, 2014 Recipes

Did you wear your seatbelt this week? I’m still reeling: melancholy following a tragic shooting, an uplifting cheer for the victory for our new Toronto mayor John Tory, a truly disheartening slump upon hearing the unfolding of the dark tale of Jian Ghomeshi…

I want to reinstate my mom’s habit when we five kids sat around the supper table.

What was the best thing about your day?  She meant to teach us gratitude. Today, it is our survival mode.

How about a terrific film? I saw Birdman over the weekend and am still raving about the oh so very cool cinematography. Movie buffs, this one’s for you.

I’ll have more on this and the full slate of fantastic fall films next week.

How about an awesome opera? Falstaff is the best thing I’ve seen from the Canadian Opera Company in a long time.  A masterpiece for everyone in the family, this production has one more show left this weekend. Run if you can to see this one. The sets alone are worth the price of your ticket. Witty and wonderful… I wish I could see it again.

How about a joyous victory party? Newly elected Toronto Mayor John Tory did the expected and thanked his rivals running for mayor. Did the crowd boo or hiss? No. Only applause.  Over at the Ford camp, disappointed Ford voters were hardly as charitable.  Then, on our way out, we were handed a miniature tree. Classy. Fantastic.

 

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How about the gorgeous colours dotting our urban landscape this week? I’m partial to the reds that are the last glorious shade to come before the branches are empty. Hate to be predictable but red is best.

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How about a simple and sumptuous cake, full of fall’s two best flavours-maple and apple?

Let’s call it a Flipped Cake because I’m still flipping over speed bumps.

Flipped Apple Cake

I’ve adapted this slightly from a Food and Wine magazine version. I’m betting your grandmothers have a similar recipe tucked away somewhere.

The better your maple syrup, the better the taste. This cake is fantastic right out of the oven, but equally perfect the next day, if kept under a cake dome. It tastes like a slice of Canada. About right for this week, wouldn’t you say?

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What you need:

  • I cup good quality maple syrup.
  • 3 Granny Smith or Spy apples
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cups buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 ¹⁄³ cups granulated sugar

Garnish: Vanilla bean ice cream or even better, crème fraîche

What you do:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
  3. Bring maple syrup to boil in medium pot.IMG_0271
  4. Reduce heat to simmer and allow syrup to thicken, about 20 minutes.
  5. While syrup is simmering, peel and core each apple, then cut in half. Cut each half into four. Yes, math wizards, that makes 8 pieces from each apple.IMG_0274
  6. Pour syrup (it should now be reduced to about ¾ cup) in bottom of cake pan.
  7. Arrange the apple slices in circles around the pan.
  8. Whisk dry ingredients together.
  9. Whisk eggs, buttermilk. and vanilla together.
  10. Beat butter and sugar in mixer for 3 minutes, until fluffy.
  11. Add flour mixture and egg mixture in 3 batches, alternating, and ending with flour.
  12. Mix only until batter is smooth.
  13. Add batter to cake pan over the apples and spread to even it out.
  14. Bake for approximately 1 hour then check with a toothpick to check—it should come out clean.IMG_0277
  15. Let cook on a rack for an hour.
  16. Place a serving platter on the cake and invert. Tap the bottom to release the cake. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.

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Let me know if you like it. Let me know if you too felt the bumps this week. Maybe you have a good method for dealing with a bad horrible news week.

Tomorrow is pumpkin day. Must. Get. Candy.

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