Happy Valentines Day

I asked Bernie to make me some mini cupcakes for my kickboxing class tonight.  Want to give the lovely ladies something to enjoy.  B. made Stawberry and Chocolate Fudge and I made a couple of rosees and some leaves. We are so good!

Simple Strawberry Birthday Cake

This cake has no butter but is lovely, it's light and fluffy and relatively healthy.  Of course you can up the calorie count (as I have) by using marscapone instead of cream.  I reckon it's worth it.

Ingredients:

3 eggs, separated

90 ml water
225g sugar
140g flour
1 tsp baking powder
Grated zest of one lemon
250g tub marscapone cheese.
40g icing sugar, extra to dust.
Lots of strawberries.

How to:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Grease and line two round 20cm cake tins.

2. Beat the yolks and sugar for 2 minutes and blend in the water. Whisk until firm and creamy - this should take about ten minutes or so.

3. Fold in the flour and baking powder into the cake mixture.

4. Whip the egg whites until they hold a stiff peak and fold them in to the mixture before spooning into the cake tins.

5. Bake in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. Turn out and cool on a wire rack.

6. In a bowl whisk together the cheese, lemon zest and icing sugar.  Dollop over one of the cakes, layer with cut strawberries (or raspberries), place second cake on top, spread a thin layer of the cream cheese over the top layer and decorate with more strawberries.  Sprinkle with icing sugar before serving and expect NO leftovers.  Esp. if you a have a lovely neighbour over the fence watering her garden who likes cake too.