Vernal Equinox Cake Recipe
Spring tides are rising high
Life cycles turning
Bursts of energy make magic fly
Rebirth is the learning
Spring and moon magic and the mad March hare, mating and matching, birthing and hatching and all of the energy is there. This cake is the richness of spring, of the vernal equinox brought forth from the rich darkness of winter. It is a light cake of eggs and rises high in its tin, it's whiteness echoes the whiteness of the first blossoms of the thorn in the spring and the reflected light from the moon. It is best decorated simply with a light white icing dressed with blossom petals of primrose and cowslip.
You need:
4 eggs, separated
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons cold water
12 oz - caster sugar - 375gms
smidgen under 1/4 pint - boiling water - 125mls
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
8 oz - sieved plain flour - 450gms
few drops vanilla essence
the grated rind of 1/2 a lemon
Grease and line a DEEP 8 inch cake tin and importantly preheat the oven to gas mark two, 300F/150C
To start beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they are stiff and then put them to one side.
In large bowl, beat the egg yolks and cold water for at least five minutes.
Gradually beat in the sugar and then the boiling water, your yolks should be getting whiter and whiter.
Now beat in the salt, baking powder and flour beating and concentrating all the time, stir in the lemon and vanilla and gradually slow down until you are able to gently fold in the egg whites and turn the mixture directly into its tin.
Bake the cake for one and a half hours; do not peek for at least 45 minutes.
This cake rises high in its tin and should be very light and white, a breath of fresh spring air.
Recipe from M Saille’s book The Kitchen Cauldron