Victoria Sandwich Cake

I am so glad my husband loves me. I know I have a sarcastic sense of humor. I think this is a trait I learned from my father. My husband was telling me a story about something he saw on the news. Then he says to me, "Well, you know Massachusetts is close to Maine." So, I replied, "It is? I didn't know that." See my husband doesn't get mad by my reply. He doesn't even make a sarcastic remark back. He just keeps telling me the story. Now, that is love!

Have you ever had a Victoria Sandwich Cake? It must have been the inspiration of the New England whoopie pie. The cake has the filling in the center. The filling is creamy and butter. Also, there is jam on top of the filling which gives it additional flavor. The cake is sponge like. Now, my first attempt tasted very good but was more dense than it should have been. The second time I measured everything like the original recipe than I converted the measurements for anyone who doesn't have a food scale. If you are planning a tea party, this is the perfect dessert to make.

Victoria Sandwich Cake
1 1/4 cup fine sugar
14 Tbsp butter, softened
3 eggs
2 1/4 cup self rising flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp milk

Filling
7 Tbsp butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups strawberry jam
powdered sugar, for decoration

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Spray two 8 inch non stick cake pans with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper and spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, butter, eggs, flour, baking powder, and milk together until smooth.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans.
5. Bake the cake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Allow to cool for a few minutes and turn onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely.
7. In a medium bowl, cream the butter until smooth and creamy to make the filling. 
8. Gradually add the sugar to the butter.  
9. To assemble, place one cake onto the serving platter. 
10. Top the cake with the butter filling.
11. Spread the jam on top of the butter filling.
12. Top the jam and butter filling with the remaining cake.
13. Dust the top of the cakes with the powdered sugar immediately before serving. 
14. Keep in an airtight container and eat within two days.

 Recipe adapted from BBC Good Food.

 Did you already know...
-The cake is named after Queen Victoria.
-The cake was served during Queen Victoria's reign with afternoon tea.
-The cake can be served as little sandwiches if baked as a long loaf.

Steak and Ale Pie

I try to encourage my children to read often. I bring them to the library which they like. I also purchase books for them. I recently purchased a book for my son. I thought he would like it since it was scary. It was by R. L. Stine and called How to kill a monster. Doesn't the title seem like a book for a boy? The cover said Step One: Run Step Two: Run faster. I guess my son was feeling a little tough that day since he read the cover and informed me that it was a girl's book. My son would fight the monster and not run. (I think if the monster was scary enough he would be running faster than his sister. I meant he is really tough.)

As I continue my British dishes in honor of the Olympics, I made Steak and Ale Pie. I had never had Steak and Ale Pie until my friend recommended it to me. I asked my Dad if he had tried it. He told me that he liked it very much and even my daughter tried it. After making this dish, my daughter informed me that this recipe was better than the one she tried before. I think she is sweet.

Steak and Ale Pie
(Servings: 6 to 8)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds stew beef, fat trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
10ounces (about 5) Portabella mushrooms, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 cup dark ale
3 cups beef broth (I used chicken broth)
1 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp dried thyme


Topping:
2 eggs
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 tsp salt
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
   In a food processor, pulse the whole eggs about 3 times.
2. Add the salt, flour, and milk to the eggs. Blend for 45 seconds.
3. Place the egg mixture in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.
4. In a large plastic bag, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
5. Add a few beef pieces at a time to the plastic bag and shake to coat the meat.
6. In a large pan, heat the oil. 
7. Add the meat and brown on all sides. Remove the meat and transfer to a plate.
8. Add the onion and garlic to the large pan. Saute for 2 minutes.
9. Add the mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. The onion should be translucent and the mushrooms are giving off some of their liquid.
10. Add the ale to the large pot and stir to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
11. Return the meat back into the large pan. Add the broth, sage, and thyme.
12. Bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before transferring the beef mixture into a casserole dish.
13. Bake the beef mixture for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The meat should be tender but not dry.
14. Remove the beef from the oven and turn the oven to 425 degrees F.
15. Remove the egg mixture from the refrigerator and fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites.
16. Cover the beef mixture with the egg mixture topping and bake for 15 minutes. 
17. Reduce the oven to 400 degrees F.
18. Bake the dish for another 10 to 15 minutes. 
19. Note: check the liquid level of the dish so the meat mixture doesn't dry out.

Recipe from my friend Tracey. Thank you Tracey for giving me permission to use it. It was delicious!

Did you already know...
-In 1896, the first modern day summer Olympics was held in Greece.
-The first  winter Olympics was held in France in 1924. 
-The 2014 Olympics will be held in Russia and then followed by the 2016 Olympics being held in Brazil.

Peacharine Cream Cheese Tart

This is a regular scheduled interruption from the British postings. All right I will admit I'm pretty good at math but when it comes to conversions, I need extra practice. Oh, these British recipes are giving me some practice. When I have mastered some recipes by remaking them, I will have some delicious recipes to share. 

At least, I had no problem making this delicious cream cheese tart. This recipe was picked by Emily of A Gilt Nutmeg for the Pastry Queen Project. I know it came out pretty good when my husband told me that he doesn't normally like peaches but this tart is oh so good. He ate two. (This is how I get my husband to eat fruit occasionally.) Now, you can easily substitute another type of fruit for the topping like apples or pears. I actually used peacharines instead of peaches. I think only half of each peacharine made it into the dessert. Oh, how I love peaches and nectarines but peacharines are the best of two loves.

Peacharine Cream Cheese Tart
Lemon Zest Tart Crust:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon zest
11 Tbsp chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 egg
1/4 cup heavy cream, chilled

Cheese Filling:
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

Fruit Topping:
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
5 large peaches, sliced thin

Glaze:
1/2 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup water

To make the tart crust:

1. In a food processor, add the flour, salt, sugar, and lemon zest.
2. Pulse the flour mixture for about 30 seconds.
3. Add the chilled butter and pulse about 20 times. The mixture should look crumbly with bits of dough the size of dried peas.
4. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and heavy cream together.
5. Slowly, add 1/2 of the beaten egg mixture to the food processor while it is running. Continue to slowly add more egg mixture if needed until the dough forms a ball. (I only had to use 1/2 of the egg mixture.)
6. Pat the dough into a disk and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

To make the filling:

1. In a mixer, cream the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
2. Add the vanilla and eggs. Beat for 1 minute on medium high speed.
3. Add the lemon zest, flour, and salt. Mix until incorporated. Set aside.

To assemble the tart:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Take the dough out of the refrigerator. 
3. Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness.
4. Using a large glass or biscuit cutter, cut out 4 inch circles.
5. Add the circles to a muffin tin and form the dough into the cups.
6. Add about 3 Tbsp cream cheese mixture into the center of each dough cups. Place in the refrigerator until needed.

To make the fruit topping:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the ground cinnamon, sugar, and sliced fruit.
2. Top each cream cheese mixture with the sliced fruit. 
3. Bake the tarts for about 30 to 40 minutes. The tart crust should be golden brown.

To make the glaze:

1. About 10 minutes before the tarts are done baking, combine the apricot jam with the water. Set aside until needed. 

To complete the tarts:

1. Remove the tarts from the oven and brush each tart immediately with the glaze.
2. Allow the tarts to cool for at least 1 hour before serving.
3. When cooled, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
4. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook by Rebecca Rather.

Did you already know...
-Peacharines are an hybriad of a peach and a nectarine.
-The peacharine has minimal fuzz with a milder taste than a peach.
-Peacharines are high in Carotene and Vitamin C.

English Pancakes

I have never had English pancakes before. Have you? The best way to describe them would be a cross between a crepe and a pancake. They are delicate and light. The pancake by itself is plan but that is why toppings are great!

 

When I was researching them, many sites served the pancakes with lemon. Lemon? I wouldn't have thought to top my pancakes with lemon. I had to try it. Now, I like lemonade so I liked the lemon and sugar topping. It is funny of all the new foods I make the kids did not want to try these pancakes. I did talk my son into trying the pancakes with lemon and he liked them. My youngest daughter wanted just sugar. My oldest daughter wanted stewed strawberries. The hardest thing about these pancakes was flipping them. It took a little practice.

 

English Pancakes
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg 
1 egg yolk
1 1/8 cup milk
1 Tbsp melted butter
little vegetable oil or melted butter to coat the skillet
white sugar and lemon juice for topping

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
2. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the egg, egg yolk, and 1/2 of the milk. Whisk.
3. Add the remaining 1/2 of the milk and the melted butter. Whisk well.
4. Heat an 8 inch skillet over medium heat until hot.
5. Add the oil or butter and heat for a few seconds.
6. Add about 2 Tbsp of the pancake batter to the skillet. Swirl the batter in the skillet to coat the bottom of the pan. 
7. Cook the pancake about 30 seconds before flipping.
8. Remove from pan onto a plate. 
9. Top the pancake with the sugar and lemon. Roll up the pancake.

Recipe adapted from A Bowl of Mush website.

Did you already know...
-English pancakes are a popular dish to make on Shove Tuesday.
-Shove Tuesday (Pancake Day) is the day before Lent.
-On Pancake Day, some English towns hold pancake races in which women will race to a finish line while carrying a skillet and flipping pancakes.

She was trying to distract me while I took my photos! Isn't she sweet

I decided not to post the photo of her making faces at me!

Bangers and Mash

Since my oldest daughter just returned from England, I asked her if she had Bangers and Mash when she was over there. She said no so I asked her if she saw it on the menu. She said yes but she didn't know what it was. My Dad said she never asked. My Dad said Bangers and Mash is a common pub dish. 

I told my daughter that Bangers and Mash is sausage and mashed potatoes. She said she would have ate it if she had known. My family really liked this dish very much. It is an easy dish to make. The sausage and potatoes are served with a sauce or gravy. I will admit that I don't know how authentic my dishes will be this week but they taste good. The traditional gravy is made with a stock but when I went into the pantry I couldn't find any. The meal was done and I didn't feel like having anyone wait so I decided to make ours cheesy.

Bangers and Mash
2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and diced
8 links beef sausage
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 Tbsp flour
4 cups milk
 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp heavy cream
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water.
2. Bring the potatoes to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. In a skillet, add the oil and heat over medium heat.
4. Add the sausage to the skillet and brown.
5. Remove the sausage and place on a plate to the side.
6. To the skillet, add the onion to the pan. Cook the onion until soft about 5 minutes.
7. Add the flour to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. 
8. Whisk in the milk to the skillet and return the sausage to the pan.
9. Cook the sausage for about 15 minutes until the liquid is reduce to the desired consistency. Stirring occasionally. 
10. Stir in the cheese.
11. When the potatoes are done, drain the potatoes and mash.
12. To the mashed potatoes, add the butter, milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. 
13. To serve, place the mashed potatoes on a plate. Place the sausage on top of the potatoes. Cover the sausage and potatoes with the cheese sauce. 

Recipe adapted from Foodnetwork. com.

Did you already know...
-Bangers and Mash is a traditional English meal. 
-Bangers and Mash are often served with an onion gravy.
-A popular side to Bangers and Mash is peas.