Friday, June 10, 2011

There's No Taste Like Home

Recipe: below
Prep time: 1:15 hour (+ time to cool)
Servings: 6-8
Rating: 10 (out of 5)

This recipe is an all-time favorite. When I received it, the cake was much, much heavier. Over the years I've reduced the amount of sugar, eliminated 1 egg, and increased the amount of cheese. The result: a fluffy, light and subtly sweet dessert. Even without any toppings, this cake is amazing. But, throw on the right toppings, and you've got a winner. This cake requires gvina levana (white cheese), which is an Israeli cheese with the consistency of yogurt. If you manage to get your hands on it, MAKE THIS CAKE. You will not regret it.















In Israel this is 3% cheese. In the US it's 97% fat free. Go figure. Crumble the tea biscuits, mix with a teaspoon of sugar, a dash of cinnamon, and a slab of melted butter. Pat into the pan and bake at 350° F for 5-7 minutes.














Everything tastes better with an old-fashioned egg beater. Beat 1 egg, then add 1/3 cup of sugar, 500 grams of gvina levana, and a splash of vanilla. Blend thoroughly.














Carefully pour the batter onto the baked crust, taking care to not displace the crust. Bake at 350° F until the cake slightly rises - don't let it seriously brown!











For the final layer, mix some sour cream with a tablespoon of sugar, and let sit. Later, spread atop the warm cake. Let the cake cool before topping/devouring.











The best topping is finely sliced kiwi with wine preserves. Another phenomenal hit is pomegranate concentrate - the tartness is a wonderful complement to the cake subtle sweetness. Otherwise, summer fruit works, or simply eat plain cake!!

Hummus for the Masses

Recipe: secret
Prep time: 2 days (including soaking beans), 20 minutes (after beans have been boiled)
Servings: many
Rating: 3 (out of 5, my own fault, not Hummusious's)

To celebrate completing the first year of graduate school, and to honor my classmates who put up with my incessant kvetching about American food, I decided to host an end-of-the-year potluck picnic. I decided to make homemade hummus, according to a recipe I finagled from Hummousious (aka Ron) last year. This recipe includes his secret tips on how to pamper the beans (soak in tchina) and stir (one direction), but I can't give it away in its entirety....


Soaking the beans with baking soda softens them more quickly, and reduces cooking time.


The pectin-rich cooking water will serve you well.... Save it!


Fresh lemon, garlic and hot peppers create the subtle, yet awesome, tang. Don't forget the parsley! (I did)


Yum. Top with some sauce and za'atar, and enjoy!!