It's my last day here in Dubai. We'll be flying back to Germany tomorrow afternoon. As always it's with a bunch of mixed feelings. I am happy to be going back - to Tom, to my home, my life and at this time of year to experience the wonderful season of Spring. On the other hand I will be leaving behind my parents and brother and the fun, laughs and the carefree life I enjoy here.
I take leave of two things when I am in Dubai - my watch and my wallet. Time is not as much of an importance as it is back home. Soeren and I have have a rough routine here but we glide through it not worrying too much about the time. My wallet remains in the closet for most of my trip. As my brother's T-Shirt boldly states "My dad is an ATC!", it is, more often than not, the truth. I had to laugh when my brother put on the T-shirt, the funny thing was I kind of saw pride in my father's face. Funny huh? But that's what my parents are like - my mother and father take on most of the responsibilities with Soeren, preparing his breakfast, playing with him, bathing him. Leaving me with free time to relax - I managed to read two books in this time and of course had time to blog too.
What I do miss very much though is my kitchen and being able to cook. My parents have a cook, who is fantastic and prepares some really great tasting dishes. But for me cooking is a way of relaxing and letting any steam out and I do not feel whole when I have not cooked or baked for a while. I did get a chance to make my family the lovely Bulgur with Vegetables and Feta though and a lighter version of the Perfect Party Cake. I was also in the pastry kitchen at the hotel where my dad works, where I spent the morning with the pastry chef learning how to make a few exquisite desserts. I do plan to share them with you soon.
Today though I thought I'd show you what I did with some of the leftover cake I had from the Perfect Party Cake. I had quite a bit as I made mini-cakes and as the cake tasted so good there was no way I was going to throw any of it away. I hate throwing stuff away and this makes me a bit more creative, as I have to think up of recipes to make with them.
I decided to do a light interpretation on the trifle, where cake, fruit and custard are layered to give a fantastic dessert. Although strawberries are not 100% in season in Germany right now - I did find some lovely organic strawberries at my organic store. Back home, I macerated the strawberries in a bit of limoncello and soaked the cake in lemon syrup. The cream is a mixture of low-fat cream cheese and heavy whipping cream, giving a lighter more airy texture. The result was an exceptional dessert with lemony flavored cake and a slight sweetness from the fruit and limoncello, topped off creamy, smooth cream. Of course you can use any lemon flavored pound cake for this recipe. Whatever you use - I am sure you will enjoy each spoonful of this dessert.
Reminder!
The Monthly Mingle gets fruity this month! My guest host Abby has chosen a spectacular theme for this month - Spring Fruit Sensations. So get out your colorful fruit creations and send them over to Abby.
Deadline: April 7th, 2008
Note: If you are interested in hosting the Monthly Mingle please drop me an email at blogmeeta@gmail.com. Check the Monthly Mingle Guest Host Calendar for more details.
Ingredients
Printable version of recipe here.
50g sugar + 2 tablespoons
60 ml fresh lemon juice, preferably from organic lemons
60 ml limoncello
350g cake or pound cake, cut into slices. I simply broke the leftover cake into pieces.
225g cream cheese, low-fat
240g heavy cream
700g strawberries - sliced
Handful of pistachios - chopped
Method
Place the strawberries in a bowl and pour the limoncello over them. Allow to infuse for a few minutes.
In the meantime make the lemon syrup by placing the 50g sugar, lemon juice and 50g water in a saucepan and bringing the mixture to a bowl on medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
Using an electric mixture, beat the cream cheese with the remaining sugar on high speed until light. Reduce the speed to medium and gradually add the heavy cream in a steady stream. Continue to beat the mixture until the mixture is light and airy. The mixture should look like very soft whipped cream.
Brush the cake pieces with the lemon syrup and divide among small serving bowls or arrange in one bowl. Spoon some of the cream over the cake, then add the strawberries, spoon some more of the cream and finally top off with more strawberries. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour or even overnight so that the flavors infuse with each other.
Just before serving add a dollop of cream and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
Verdict
I like to call these type of desserts "dive-in" desserts, because they make you want to dive straight in and eat your way out. It's a fantastic way to use up and leftovers you have lying around, but it is well worth the trouble to go out and buy the ingredients. You will be rewarded with creamy strawberries in soft gooey cake. Aromatic with the limoncello and crunchy with the pistachios. This is real seduction!
Mike over at Mike's Table, who lives in wonderful Florida decided to have us all join in on his Strawberry Seduction. I am looking forward to the roundup as I am sure there will be tons of great recipes, just in time for the strawberry season in Germany. This is my entry.
You might also enjoy these strawberry seductions:
Strawberry Kisses | |
Strawberry Yogurt Ice-cream | |
Strawberry Mirror Cake |
Photography Awards
I am also rather chuffed and pretty ecstatic right now, for two reasons.
The stunning Sabra from one of my favorite blogs Cookbook Catchall just informed me that I was awarded the host's award for my submission in March - Tropical Fruit Salad (02). Thank you! Please visit Sabra's blog to check out all the other DMBLGiT winners for March.
Each month, Margot of Coffee and Vanilla nominates 3 budding photographers from across the blog-e-sphere, then readers are supposed to vote for their favorite. This March I was nominated along with the superb Graeme from Blood Sugar and the lovely Gattina from Kitchen Unplugged. It certainly was tough competition. In the end I was able to bring this lovely badge home. However, this would not have been possible without my loyal readers and friends out there. I thank every single one of you who took a minute to vote for me. Thank you!
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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First
Dived right in, virtually! Congrats on the award sweetie, that pic was a winner from the word go...So when u telling me more abt your date with the pastry chef :P
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the accomplishments- that's just great :) I know I enjoy your photography!!
ReplyDeleteThe dessert sounds wonderful. I love that it incorporates limoncello!!
Congrats on all your photo awards! You have such beautiful photography! Lovely idea with the DB cake, to make a trifle of it! Enjoy your trip back to Germany, hope you settle back in quickly!
ReplyDeleteHi Meeta, congrats on the awards! This picture is wonderful too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award - your photography is awesome and so is this strawberries and cream dessert!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on both the awards, Meeta. We all know you deserve 'em. And many more :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hated leaving my family behind after a holiday together, but thank God, my parents recently retired to their holiday home closer to us so the goodbyes are not as traumatic anymore. Glad you enjoyed your holiday. Love any kind of trifle...
ReplyDeleteThe dessert sounds delicious! So simple and beautiful. Your photography is absolute perfection!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are making me so wish strawberry season was here...soon...soon...but not soon enough...
ReplyDeletej
That strawberry dessert looks so good! I really like the idea of macerating strawberries in limoncello. I also like the sound of combining the cream cheese and whipping cream. I will have to try.
ReplyDeletecongrats!! and loved the fresh fresh strawberries in ur bowl :)
ReplyDeletecongratulations on the award meeta - your photos are very lovely so it's thoroughly deserved.
ReplyDeleteone questiuon though, what's an atc?!?
Glad to hear you had a great trip--a little r&r is always a good thing!
ReplyDeleteAs for the dessert: this looks excellent. A "dive in" is my kind of dessert--nothing bothers me more than when I finish baking something and then have to wait a few hours before I can eat it...its cruel and unusual punishment! :o This looks light, fresh, and like I'd gobble down more than I should in one sitting, lol.
Meeta, contratulations on the award, sweetie!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to be around our family? But it's an equal joy to go back home.
This is a phenomenal dessert - love all the flavors here!
What a beautiful dessert - and a great way to use leftover cake!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use up leftover cake. It looks so fresh and summery. The addition of the limoncello sounds fab.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice daughter you were to make the cake for the family. Have a safe trip back.
ReplyDeleteEhehe! Great minds think alike, I just made a lemon cake and strawberry desserts for your MM!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious!
I can imagine how much your parents will miss having all of you in their home. Congratulations to you, Meeta, and may your transition back to Germany be as smooth as possible.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Meeta!
ReplyDeleteI guess these days are the unofficial trifle days. Susan (from stickygooeycreamychewy) also made a stawberry trifle. Both are trully mouthwatering!
I love visiting my mom & dad. I sleep so well in their bed:D Loving the strawberry dessert as well...it reminds me so much of the lazy, hazy days of summer coming up...hopefully in the near future.
ReplyDeletewow soo much you you did!! Man I would love to dive into that bowl looks amazing!!
ReplyDeletestrawberries ARE quite sensuous - and delicious!!
ReplyDeleteand of COURSE I'm wishing you a well-deserved congratulations - hooray, Meeta!! :0)
Congratulations on the awards. What a gorgeous creation with the leftover cake too.
ReplyDeleteLovely dessert, the creamy and gooey should feel good :) Congrats for the awards, ur pict are always fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI made something similar with raspberries today Meeta! I love your sprinkling of pistachios on all your desserts:) hehehee...looks good!
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you - sorry I am a bit behind on my comments. I appreciate all your feedback and best wishes. Glad you are enjoying this dessert. You all know how I love to make quick easy dessert and this is simply perfect for an after dinner treat! Enjoy!
ReplyDelete