Lemon Bundt Cake

Am I still in summer thoughts or what? Well you can say so, I am missing summers and all the fall recipes on internet is making me crave for summer recipes even more. I can’t get over the beautiful sunshine yellow color. I get this rigid summer mood from the tree that I see from my bedroom. It is in adamant mood, when all trees have turned into skeleton this tree stays strong engulfing all its leaves. Nature, I tell you can be so inspiring.

So this lemon cake happened the other day in my kitchen .These days I have many people with whom I share my bakes- my friends in the building where I have shifted and my colleagues in office. Initially I used to bake only on special days as eating sweet bakes everyday made me and my husband gain weight. Now when I have many people to share it with I am sure many baking actions are going to happen. Can’t wait! Happy Dance!

This cake you guys! Lemon Cake. Lemon Bundt Cake. Bundt cake is a cake made in bundt shaped pan which gives it distinct ring shape. Check out One Bowl Chocolate Bundt Cake and also Coffee Whiskey Bundt Cake. This cake has everything that a good cake must have- its light, soft, fluffy, airy and so buttery. Tangy flavored cakes are my favorite, the tang from citrus fruits and sugar balances each other really well. I have made eggless orange cake and orange cupcakes as well. This is a full proof Lemon Cake recipe made with eggs, I have made 1 pound lemon cake recipe made in loaf pan in which I used yogurt (dahi).

Basically I believe that a good lemon cake must have good amount of lemon zest, lemon juice and butter. Always use fresh lemon juice, don’t even think about bottled lemon juice, it’s such a waste. Next, make sure everything is in the room temperature; else the cake will not turn soft. Beat the eggs slowly on low speed; doing so will give you light airy cake. Finally when the cake is hot, pour lemon sugar syrup on it, this is optional but I really recommend it- just for extra zing and flavour. Yeah so that’s about it. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

For Cake

All Purpose Flour /Maida- 175 grams (1 and 1/3 cup )

Sugar - 175 grams (2/3 cup)

2 large eggs

Butter - 125 grams (2/3 cup)+ 2 tablespoon
Pinch of salt

Baking powder – 1 and 1/2 teaspoon

Milk - 1/4 cup

Zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

For syrup

Juice of 1 and a half lemons

Icing sugar -100 grams 

2 tablespoons water

Method:

1. Grease the bundt with 2 tespoons butter and keep aside.
2. Preheat the oven at 180C for 10-12 minutes.
3. Mix lemon juice and milk and keep aside.
4. Sieve all purpose flour, salt and baking powder and keep aside.
5. Beat butter and sugar on low speed till butter becomes light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat slowly on low speed.
6. Add dry sieve ingredients and lemon zest. Also throw in lemon juice and milk mixture.
7. Beat slowly on low speed till the batter is mixed properly without lumps.
8. Pour the batter in the greased pan and bake in the oven for 35 minutes at 180C. Insert the skewer or knife in the centre of the cake, it should come out clean.
9. Cool on wire rack.
10. Make the syrup-Mix water everything together and microwave for 10 seconds.
11. When the cake in hot, prick some holes with skewer on the cake. Pour the syrup.
12. Turn the cake on serving plate and serve.

Notes:

Do not grate the white part or lemon skin/peal, else it will get bitter.

You can use the same recipe for loaf pan too.

I used this Farberware Nonstick Bundt Pan.

I love to have this cake plain so I can’t recommend any frosting, but feel free to dust some sugar.

Cheese Onion Sandwiches, Quintessentially English

Summer afternoon, these two words have been my favorite after coming to London. A glass of wine, a kiss of English tea and pleasant sunshine is what describes summer for me. Now imagine yourself under a beautiful tree with your favorite book, a glass of wine and some sandwiches- happiness isn't it?  Summer sandwiches are very popular in England and they are sold everywhere-from classy summer cruises to afternoon tea sessions; from supermarkets to cafes. 

View of Canary Wharf from the hill to the Observatory In Greenwich

When we are talking about sandwiches today, I decided to share some facts about them. Hope you will enjoy:

• The sandwich is named after John Montagu (1718-92), the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who started a craze for eating beef between two slices of toast.
•  Around 12 billion sandwiches are eaten every year in the UK.
• In 2008, an attempt in Iran to beat the record for the world's biggest sandwich failed when the impatient crowd ate it before it was measured.
• The world’s largest sandwich weighed 5,440 pounds.
• The most expensive sandwich ever sold was a grilled toast sandwich that seemed to have an image of the Virgin Mary on it. It sold for $28,000 in 2004.

I have tried the classic and old cucumber cheese sandwiches but I was not much drawn towards them, as I don’t like the bread without crust.  The deep brown boundary of bread- the crust, is what makes a sandwich, a sandwich (for me).  Just, last weekend I happened to taste Cheese and Onion sandwiches and it was the best sandwich I ever had, period!

Imagine the dollops of cheese with crunchy sliced red onions layered neatly between the soft, cotton like white bread- insanely delicious. It is one real good sandwich, creamy, cheesy and honest. It doesn't need much preparation but you need to make these sandwiches right before serving, else it will go soggy and will be one huge disaster. If you want to REALLY enjoy them, then pack up a picnic and head to your local park. Apply the filling on the bread, cut in 4 triangles (like finger sandwiches) and serve in paper plates with ketchup. I always like to pair lemon soda water with these sandwiches.

Ingredients:

4 slices of bread

1 teaspoon mayonnaise (see notes)

1 small red onion sliced

1 tablespoon cheddar cheese

A pinch black pepper

Salt to taste

Method:

In a bowl mix mayonnaise, sliced red onion, cheddar cheese and black pepper.

Taste and adjust salt. Remember cheese and mayonnaise already have salt.

Next, right before serving apply this mixture on bread. Cut and serve.

Notes:

If you don't want to use mayonnaise then use thick yogurt instead.

You can opt for whole wheat bread, or seeded bread as well.