A lovely way to celebrate International Women's Day!
International Women's Day is celebrated every 8th of March... ***I always remember it because it's the day after my Birthday! --and now you will never forget my birthday because it's the day before International Women's Day!!! Woohoo!!!
I'm not going deeply into the history of the day because you can look that up anywhere...
What I am going to share is my memory of being in Italy at this time of year for the first time back in 2006. It was beautiful. Not like Valentines day where there is too much hype and expensive roses. Nope. Just people getting small ribbon tied bunches of yellow Mimosa flowers and dropping them off to their Mammas and Nonnas, sisters and friends... there was just a little hint of yellow everywhere like sunshine streaming thru the blinds on your windows.
If you can't get a hold of Mimosa flowers or just want to do something a little extra special...
Try this Mimosa Cake.
It's not too sweet but just right. There are few extra steps for this cake... but each component is quite simple. It's just the giving of a little more of your time that is special for the other women in your life!
Have fun with it and Enjoy!
For the Cake--- Pan di Spagna (Italian sponge cake)
7-8 eggs
200g/1 cup sugar
150g/1 1/4 cups flour
100g/3/4 +1 Tbstp cornstarch (or potato starch)
Vanilla -bean or extract
Salt
Beat the eggs with vanilla and pinch salt
Add the sugar slowly
Let it whip til you can "write" with it
Fold in the flour and starch being careful not to lose the "fluffiness" of your whipped eggs!
Divide batter into 2 greased and floured 8 inch pans ( i like springform but it's not necessary)
Bake at 160C/320F in regular oven 40 min or until toothpick is clean.
Pastry Creme/Crema Pasticiera
400g/1 1/2-1 2/3 cups whole milk
225g/1 cup heavy cream
vanilla
5 egg yolks
100g/1/2 cup sugar
55g /1/2 cup cornstarch
zest of 1/2 lemon
In a pan, heat milk and cream on low heat
in a bowl whisk yolks, sugar and vanilla til fully mixed
sift starch into egg mixture
CAREFULLY pour one ladleful of hot milk into eggs all while whisking continuously
to temper them.
repeat with another ladleful
now you can pour the egg mix back into the milk pot. keep on warm heat while still whisking until thickened to a creamy custard.
Once finished. Pour into a low dish to cool (like a lasagna dish)
cover it with plastic or foil or another pan so that it won't make a skin on top. You want it to stay creamy and spreadable!
take about 1/2 cup of heavy cream and whip with 1 tsp powdered sugar until thick.
Once custard is cooled you can fold in the whipped cream.
Liquor mix
Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup liquor of your choice (Gran Marnier, Limoncello or Rum ) plus 1/4 cup of sugar in a small pot. Heat up until sugar is fully dissolved. Set aside and let cool.
ASSEMBLY!
After 2 cakes have cooled.
Take one cake and cut into small cubes. --yes the whole cake!
Take the other cake and slice in half across the middle.
place on two dishes and take the alcohol mix and drizzle over both layers until used up. Saturate the whole thing!
Spread cream mix on one layer nice and thick and place second layer on top.
Now "frost" the entire cake with the rest of the pastry cream.
Take the cake cubettes and cover the entire cake. You will actually use up all the pieces! (or if not you have a snack!)
Lastly sprinkle the top with some powdered sugar and VOILA!
You now have your beautiful Mimosa cake
**note--keep this cake covered or the cubes with dry out!
***this is also fun to do as cupcakes!
I hope you all have a wonderful FESTA DELLA DONNA!
God bless us every one!!!
Love,
Dorina
