For The Love of Pete

[mixfinder]

I hate to confess I have never encountered a trifle I wished to date twice.  Pete's thread making Trifle for the family Christmas has left my taste buds hankering.

 

Round One is the Angel Food Cake

 

Separate 12 eggs reserving yolks for pudding and putting the whites in a large mixer bowl.  Add

1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon good vanilla

 

Measure 1 3/4 cups sugar into the food processor

 

[mixfinder]

Its My Thread and I'll do it My Way

Turn the mixer to medium and start whipping the egg whites (slower is better with egg whites, just like whipping cream)

 

While the eggs are whipping, using the metal all purpose blade process the granulated sugar for 1 minute.  (In Europe there are more grades of sugar representing fineness so we'll make our own superfine in the processor)

 

Remove 3/4 cup of sugar leaving the remaining 3/4 cup in the processor.

 

Meanwhile the whites are gently and slowly gaining volume.

 

[mixfinder]

But Wait, There's More

To the remaining sugar in the processor add:

4 ounces (1/1/4 cup) cake flour

 

Process for one minute and set aside.

 

By now the whites should begin to make small fine bubbles in the foam.  Slowly, a few teaspoons at a time, but in a continuous flow sprinkle the 3/4 cup of fine sugar into the whites and continue whipping.

 

[mixfinder]

Gently, Gently, Gently

Knowing when the whites are ready is a tad guess and hope.  If the whites are whipped too stiffly they'll lose volume when trying to fold in the flour.  If one must err do it on the side of under whipped.

 

I use the mixer of low but some may prefer to fold in the flour by hand.  Your call.

 

Turn the mixer to low.  Slowly and steadily shake in the flour mixture in one contiguous motion.  Do Not over mix.  You can run the spatula around the bowl once after the beaters are out.  A little dust and tiny lumps of flour showing in the egg whites are just fine.

 

[mixfinder]

Dumbest Thing I ever Heard

My counterpart to "thwockers" are maroons who drop and bang the cake pan after carefully and tediously whipping in the air.  Cake "thwocking" is unwarranted.

 

Ease the batter into an ungreased tube pan and place it in a preheated 350 degree oven without delay.  Bake the cake for 38 - 42 minutes and remove from oven, inverting the pan and cake immeadiately.  Let the pan hang upside down to cool.

 

[mixfinder]

Meanwhile Back at The Farm

Making Custard

 

In a heavy sauce pan over high heat combine

3 1/2 cups milk

1/3 cup sugar

Stir to combine and then place over high heat

 

To the reserved yolks add

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons cornstarch

Beat with the dirty beaters soiled with egg whites until smooth

 

[mixfinder]

Playing it Like a Fiddle

When you add sugar to milk it keeps the milk proteins from scorching on the pan.  Using high heat makes the process faster, but be on guard because it can boil over if you're not paying attention.

 

When the milk breaks a boil, have the bowl of egg yolks in one hand and a whisk in the other.  Just as the hot milk is starting to foam up, dump in the egg mixture and whisk like hell. . 

 

[mixfinder]

Kill the Heat

As soon as the yolks are added, turn off the burner but continue to whisk until mixture comes to a boil.

 

[mixfinder]

Grease Up the Cat

After removing the custard from the heat add

 

3 tablespoons butter

 

Whisk more than you think you should to make sure the starch absorbs the butter.

 

[mixfinder]

Chill Out and Stay Tuned Tomorrow

Cover the custard and put in the fridge to cool.  Remove the cake from the pan and cover with an inverted bowl until ready to complete the trifle.

 

We're having a party at the Bellevue house on Sunday and the Trifle will make it's grand entrance there.

 

[petek]

This is gonna be good. Don't forget the sherry

 

[mixfinder]

Jell-O

Its really nice to have a hot tap for cooking.

 

[mixfinder]

Easy Does It

Cream again on speed 6

 

[mixfinder]

Half-Pint

Angel cake from scratch on the right weighing in at 16 ounces, whiter cake, denser structure and moist.

 

Angel cake from a box on the left, more ivory hued, overly sweet and weighed exactly half as much at 8 ounces.

 

[mixfinder]

Operating Theatre

Ready for construction

 

[mixfinder]

Third Floor

I didn't have a clear bowl so I chose one of Frankoma serving bowls.  I made the Trifle three layers high and will decorate on Sunday for the party.  Thanks a million Pete, this might be my new trademark dessert.

 

[appnut]

this might be my new trademark dessert

Always be mindful to not trifle with guests' tastebuds. 

 

[petek]

Sure looks good. If there's a little kid there you can always pick one to help with the decorating and if you don't have cherries can always use those canned mandarins etc.

 

[mixfinder]

Delayed Gratification

I have not taken the camera with to me to the Westside house before so here are a few shots with a disappointing Trifle ending.  The Living room with territorial view of Bellevue and Lake Washington and the dumb globes.  Must be time to clean the lens.

[this post was last edited: 1/6/2013-18:35]