Posh: Sour Cream Cherry Cake

I was pretty mad! Actually fuming would describe what I was feeling at that moment better. The pieces were in my hands and the culprit was in front of me - all I needed to do was speak out the punishment.

But you see it's not that easy. There are times you just need to swallow the anger and simply remain cool. Besides it has a more serious effect when you calmly and gently explain the consequences. The impact of the "crime" remains in the head a bit longer.

What happened?

On Saturday Tom was getting ready to leave for the university and Soeren went out with him to say goodbye. I was discussing a few things with Tom on the way out and Soeren was playing around behind my car.

As Tom kissed me to say goodbye Soeren quickly came up and asked,

"Are you taking mum's car to the uni?"
"Huh? No - I am taking my own"
"Oh that's good because mum's car is broken!"
"Err - OK!" Tom said thinking it was a joke and got into the car
However, the look on Soeren's face revealed to me that it might not be a little trick he was playing.

"Soeren? Where is mum's car broken?" I asked
"Back there - the wiper is broken!"

I went to the back of my car kind of smiling, thinking it to be a trick. The wiper looked fine and I was just about to turn around and say "you cheeky little thing!" when the wiper fell into my hands.

Tom came out of the car and I looked at him with my shoulders slumped down. At this point I saw Soeren take two or three steps back to the side of the car, hands crossed in front and a look on his face as if getting ready to protect himself from my fury.

Tom inspected the pieces.

"Soeren where are all the plastic pieces for the wiper?"

No answer.

"Soeren?"
"They are there - on the floor!"

We looked around but found none. Tom went on his knees and looked underneath my car.
"Soeren, what are the pieces doing back there?"
No answer
"Did you throw them back there?"
A timid nod from Soeren.
"Why?"
"I did not want mum to see them!"

At this point I had to turn around because my smile was kind of turning into a grin and I just could not let my almost 5 year old see that.

"Come here!" Tom said
Soeren came a few steps closer. His big brown eyes looking extremely worried. I took a few steps towards him looking a bit more serious and hoping that the look on my face was that of being mad and disappointed. My feelings, juxtaposing between being angry and still remaining calm and collected, were like a roller coaster ride.

"Soeren, it's bad enough that you broke the wiper, but then trying to cover it up and act as if nothing happened is worse!"

I could not be mad at him. It was clear by the look in his eyes and the paleness on his face that he already knew what he had done was not right. I gave him a short lecture about right and wrong and told him I was disappointed - mainly because he tried to lie. That was it.

That evening after dinner, he came to me on the sofa.

"Here!" he said
He handed me his piggy bank. "I'm sorry and I am willing to pay for it!" I smiled at him and told to him he should save up for his Porsche he wants to buy when he is older. He then ran off and came back with a bowl of lovely fresh cherries.

"You'll be the only girl who will be allowed to drive it!"

My son the suave 5 year old - how he captures the heart of this 35 year old! With a bowl of cherries he knows he can make up for almost anything.



Cherries



Meet the stylish and hottest superfruit currently found in stores almost everywhere around the world. Cherries are a very tasty and nutritious fruit. It has been revealed that cherries, enjoyed dried and frozen and as cherry juice, have among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene. As a matter of fact cherries have 19 times more as blueberries or strawberries! Cherries also contain large amounts of vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate.

A new study conducted at the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Program found that a cherry-enriched diet helped reduce risk factors for heart disease and metabolic syndrome, also known as insulin resistance syndrome or pre-diabetes. Specifically, the study found that a cherry-fed diet helped reduce cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar and insulin levels, and raise the antioxidant capacity of the blood. Furthermore, studies have also revealed the cherries have the ability to offer natural relief from joint pain caused from gout, arthritis and joint inflammation. Many are choosing to drink cherry juice, eat cherries or consume tart cherry dietary supplements to enjoy the natural benefits of this tiny red fruit.

There is no clear guideline on how many cherries it takes to reap the benefits, experts however, suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research.

Interesting Fact:
1/4 cup of dried tart cherries counts as one of the five servings of fruits and vegetables per day the National Cancer Institute recommends to help maintain your health.

Cherries can be divided into two groups - sour and sweet. Each can be prepared in a variety of delicious ways, not only as a dessert or snack, but as an ingredient in a main dish or main dish accompaniment.

Selecting and Storing

When selecting, go for cherries that are firm, plump, bright and glossy, with a full red or purple color and sweet taste. Degree of darkness depends on the variety. Sour cherries are smaller than sweet cherries and should be firm, bright and uniformly red. Avoid purchasing over-mature cherries that are soft, dull, seeping or shriveled.

Cherries are highly perishable and should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Sort them carefully and place them loosely in a shallow container so that air can circulate. The weight of the cherries on top should not crush those on the bottom. Wash cherries just before using them. For best quality, fresh cherries should be stored only 1 or 2 days.

Besides popping the lovely juicy fruit into our mouths and enjoying them fresh from the Farmers Market, I like to make quick cakes with these gorgeous fruits. They give such a posh note to any simple cake making it perfect for tea parties.

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Reminder!

The latest Monthly Mingle is one close to my own heart. Earth Food is all about helping to raise awareness for the steps and actions we can take to save our beautiful blue planet. Hope you will find it in your hearts to party with me.
Deadline is August 6th!

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Ingredients

1.5 kg fresh cherries - pitted
250 g + more soft butter
250 g + 4 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
1 vanilla bean - insides scraped
6 eggs
300 g + more flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4-6 tablespoons milk
125 g sour cream
75 g hazelnut slices

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Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.

Grease a baking tray (35 x 40) with some butter and dust in well with flour.

In a mixing bowl whisk 250g butter, 250g sugar, salt and vanilla with an electric hand blender until the batter is smooth and creamy. Add the 4 eggs one by one, beating with each addition for approx. 1 minute.

Mix the baking powder and flour together. Add the dry ingredients and the milk alternatively to the egg/sugar batter, folding and stirring the batter after each addition.

Pour the batter onto the baking tray and smooth the surface. Spread the cherries evenly over the batter.

In a smaller mixing bowl quickly beat the sour cream, 4 tablespoons sugar and 2 eggs together. Pour this mixture over the cherries. Sprinkle with the hazelnut slices. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Take out and allow to cool.

Cut the cake in half then in 8 to 10 triangle cake pieces.

More great tips with cherries:

• Choose sweet cherries as a garnish for meat dishes.
• Cherries can be made into a syrup for topping pancakes, waffles or French toast.
• Use a blender to make cherry drinks such as smoothies or coolers. Either by themselves or blended with other juices, cherries make a delicious drink. Our favorite is banana and cherry smoothie
• Make cherry ice cream.
• Dip one-half of each cherry with stem into melted chocolate and chill for a special cherry candy, garnish or dessert.
• Choose tart cherries for baking your favorite cobbler, pie or crisp.
• Make cherry wine.
• Enjoy a cherry sauce as a glaze over ham.
• Juicy ripe cherries in salads

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Verdict

Light, fluffy and moist. The texture of this cake is just perfect. Dotted with the red cherries it is a delight not only to the eye but to the palate. I served this for a summer tea party and found it to be just right for a sultry summer afternoon. Not too heavy nor too sweet. My friends were delighted with the taste of summer in a wonderful cake.

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