Len's Recipe of the Month - September 2019

How timely.  A chef friend of mine forwarded this recipe to me and I couldn't wait to try it.   It's called a Downton Abbey cake and it's similar to something the Crawley family would have over tea.   Or, supposedly, a shot of Madeira wine.   Despite lacking the latter, I pressed on anyway.   You will enjoy it.

Here's what you need:

A 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.

3/4 cup of sugar plus a little more for the pan.

1 cup of flour.

Zest from one large lemon.

1/2 teaspoon baking powder.

3 large eggs at room temperature.

8 tablespoons or 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted and then cooled.

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle.

Grease the pain and also coat it with a little sugar.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, lemon zest, and baking powder.

In a stand mixer, beat the eggs on medium-high for about 3 to 5 minutes.   It will be thick and pale yellow.

Gradually beat in the sugar and then do the same with the melted butter and vanilla.

Carefully fold in the flour mixture.   Do not beat this.   Fold with kindness.  

Pour into the loaf pan.  Sprinkle a little sugar on top.   This will crisp up.

Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool on a wire rack for about ten minutes and then remove from the pan for further cooling.

Say hello to the Countess Dowager for me.

Dinner last night:  General Chang's Chicken from PF Chang's.