Sunday, April 3, 2016

A Nonna Cake/ Nigella~
















You know I have an affinity w/ my small yogurt pots..(amongst other things;)
for many reasons..
I have made a few yogurt pot cakes..and I like making them.I found a different recipe which I tried and liked very much..thought I would share it w/ you.
Yogurt pot cakes go way back..you do not even need a measuring cup..just your yogurt pot.
I used the cute one I love..
When Jacques saw which cake pan I was using..he said:"why are you using that one..you have so many NICE pans.."
well....this pan is nice to me because it was my mom's..
I have non stick parchment circles to put at the bottom..so old..and sprayed and prepped the pan as suggested.

I love the few pans I have of hers..
I'll send you towards the recipe..but I did it the way it was first explained..

My Way Now.

1.Preheat your oven to 350F
2.Prep your ring pan
3.Separate 3 eggs..reserve the yolks for now and beat the whiltes until stiff peaks form.
4.On the 3 reserved egg yolks..add the contents of your yogurt pot and beat.
5.Add 2 yogurt pots of sugar, 1 envelope of vanilla sugar beat till light and fluffy
6.Add one pot of oil,I used canola,beat until combined
you can add grated lemon rind if you wish..the recipe calls for it..but we eat a lot of lemon desserts I wanted more vanilla this time.
7.add 2 yogurt pots of flour..combine
8.Add one yogurt pot of cornflour,combine.
9.Gently fold in your beaten egg whites until combined.

Put in your ring mold and bake at 350 for ap 30-35 mins..until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let rest,unmold.
Sift Icing sugar on top.

In my opinion..a quality  vanilla sugar is key to a good vanilla cake:)
I like the envelopes I get at Milano's..I know they are not REAL..like my own home made vanilla sugar..but there's an edge to these I love..could be the envelopes..;)

Lucas came over after school one day..he had some and took some home..he LOVED it..
I find he is so appreciative of a home baked treat..like Noah..the other two are still a bit more particular..for now..:)

Oh Max is funny... he takes a bite..not of this..but he takes a bite ..makes a face and we have already said if you don't like it you don't have to eat it..he looks at us and puts it down..saying..no..
Oli..he has favorites..:)

I started seeds..hopefully I will have Plenty of Mammoth basil w/ Lettuce shaped leaves:)

PS
That adorable laptray..was a birthday gift in February..from a line I loved at Chapters/Indigo..it's got beads in a bag type area under..so comfy..and that's berry juice for brekkie..not wine;)
I am a big fan of Chapters/Indigo..♥
And although I have done my Easter system restore..I could not yet bear to put PR atop his jar away quite yet.


P.S.

Shameless Nonna plug:)






Noah..7 ..assembling his first Ikea piece♥

62 comments:

  1. Oh Mon he's grown and he is so beautiful!💙

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    1. I love that photo of him leaning on his project!
      Thanks Di!
      Your Littles are beautiful too!

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  2. Your posts are always so pretty. I just adore your kitchen window-sill and counter. It's really charming. I'll bet it's a joy to tidy up dishes looking out that beautiful window. Your grand-son must be very proud of his first assembled piece. It looks like it will be very handy. Thank you for the recipe. :) Deb

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    1. I look out those windows so many times a day.
      I am always grateful..to have light.
      Thanks Deb!

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  3. Oh Noah. So cute anad ikea. I thought their instructions were in Greek. I'm getting a new ikea display cabinet this week. Ask Noah if he hires out. I keep all those little French yogurt cups too but haven't found a use for them yet. I'm Nonna Donna to my grands. The pictures are gorgeous.

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    1. When my daughter posted these pics of Noah..he was in demand for assembly!
      I hate instructions..and try without lol.
      Then I hate it.
      Jacques is Mr.Instructions:)
      I like that..Nonna Donna...
      And I like IKEA.

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  4. I love your kitchen window, also.....and those sweet tea cups. Noah did a great job.

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    1. And I love your house and gardens:)Noah did so well!

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  5. That is my kind of cake too. After some disappointing home made cakes I am now on a binge reading A Piece of Cake and the Cake Bible. I find this type of cake comes out so much better than those traditional birthday cake ones. The only problem is baking a cake is so much cake compared to a batch of cookies. I stil have my Easter things out. Right now it seems more like January than early April, it is freezing. I love that Noah put his first IKEA piece together. He did a great job..Is that for your house or his? He must have been so proud of himself.

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    1. That's his house..his parents and sister and brother live there too:) And Grizzly that cute dog:)It's where all the tassels and pompoms were hanging from the fireplace in February for the birthdays..
      I agree ..and Terry I just made another cake this w/e from a great French blog..make sure you have almond flour:) I will post it soon:)There are a few great birthday cakes..like Ina's great choco cake..

      it's cold here too Terry..but nos snow..my chives were popping out and some new garlic...oh lala.

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    2. Ha-ha, I thought Noah was the king of the castle. I have almond flour so will look forward to your recipe. I'll look up Ina's choc cake and pin it on Pinterest. Thanks for the suggestion. Stay warm up their, it is already 27 here, ugh!

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  6. How great that Noah put together an Ikea piece of furniture. I'm not very good at doing things like that.

    Love your sink with the beautiful tile.

    Your cake sounds so good, sure wish I had a piece right now with a nice cup of Sleepy Time Tea.

    Have a great week.

    Mary

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    1. I wish Sleepy Time Tea worked for me..I need knock her out tea and they don't make it..I think it's great she had him do this too..she's a teacher and trust me Mary..Noah has done more in his 7 years than I have in my 62.
      You too..!

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  7. Oh MOnique so much to love here. YOu made us tea and baked us a cake! Beautiful, just beautiful! Loving the glass tea pot. I want one of those and your blue and white mugs, so breathtakingly beautiful. I would be using my mother's cake tin also. what a treasure. And that grandson of yours, so handsome. He looks about the same age as our Gabriel. What a great job putting anything from IKEA together. It's like putting together a puzzle! He looks very proud of himself! He is just beaming. I love all that you share with us, always! Love YOU most of all though. xoxo

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    1. I think it's great Noah did that ..as I said ..I go straight to assembly LOL..I loved his face leaning on the cabinet:)
      Your posts always brighten my day..every morning:) And Then We All Had Tea:)

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  8. Cake and tea and a drawing and stories of cute children. No wonder I like coming here.
    Amalia
    xo

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  9. They say more divorces happen over assembling Ikea products. :) I'd say he could be proud! My youngest son (still, at age 56) never uses directions. I ALWAYS use them and then Google things just to double check. A little touch of OCD?
    Love vanilla cakes....and vanilla pudding and vanilla ice cream! I wonder if that means I have a vanilla personality?

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    1. I doubt you are vanilla anything:)
      I usually go withut instructions..so wobble wobble..thankfully Jacques is the assembly man.
      I would rather bake a cake..there I said it.
      :)

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  10. I am not a reader of instructions either. Kudos to Noah for a job well done! I'm not able to find that vanilla powder around here.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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    1. It's good..it really kicks up a dish..but it's also really nice to fill a nice mason jar w/ sugar..and stick in a pod or 2 of vanilla bean that you have scored open..:) I always have that on hand..it smells so good..!
      There is a vanilla powder I love also that has baking powder in it! One enevelope is good for 500 grams f flour.
      He was so happy:)

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  11. I don't know if you can find such sweet yogurt pots here! Your cake sounds wonderful.

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    1. 1/2 cup:) I measured so it could be doable for everyone:)
      It is very good..I tried another cake this weekend that is well worth making and will share soon:)

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  12. So much nice things around a cup of tea ... Félicitations à Noah ! Bisous

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  13. Your pictures are such a delight!
    I bet you could sell them as anti-stresss relief. I just had a frustrating Skype experience waiting 1 1/2 hrs for the call that didn't come. But yr pics made it go away.
    I just put a ticket in the mail for Noah.
    We are going to the Paris Ikea together.
    He is HIRED!!

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    1. You cracked me up:) Thank you for that..Noah will go to Paris..I know it..his mom and dad adored their honeymoon there.And she froze:) But loved it..she had to buy tights!

      I would be doing something waiting for Skype..I am so punctual..to a fault.
      :)

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  14. Noah did a great job. Love his smiling face. I can understand why you would rather use your Mom's pan, than some others that
    might look better. Your cake is lovely, along with that pretty teacup. Not sure about vanilla sugar, new to me...

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    1. You can make your vanilla sugar..takes a while to age though:)
      Just fill a jar with sugar..split open 1 or 2 long vanilla beans..and slip in..cover tightly..and wait.I always have a jar on the go..but then again I have more time than you :) I kept thinking about all your gardens..:)
      But you would love it..Amazon must have it! They have everything!

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  15. I love your mother's pan and Jacques comment made me smile. What a lovely cake recipe! I can't get those adorable yogurt pots here, sadly. Could you perhaps transfer some water from the yogurt pot to a measuring cup and tell me how much they hold - even if it's in metric...I'd love to try the recipe! Sweet Noah and so talented already! Perhaps an engineer one day? :) I do all the assembly here, always have (Ms. Patience). I heard we may get an Ikea in Milwaukee, YAY! Plenty of basil xoxo ;) I am dreaming of the day when I can walk out of the back door and snip those fresh, scented leaves. We were teased with some lovely days in March but spring is fickle and snow is forecast again today :( Cute PR and your beautiful kitchen window and counter! All my Easter decs are still out as the big boys are coming for their belated egg hunt this weekend ♥♥♥.

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    1. I did! 1/2 cup:)You will have a ball ce weekend Susan:)It's funny..Jacques always tells me I am the most patient person he knows..I have no clue why Xmas lights and assembly are not at all my cups of tea..I am not technical that's for sure.I thew a fit one day because I couldn't turn on a tv when he wasn't home:)..He has many remotes..Now there is one I can do at least..sounds so bad to even complain about that....
      I love cooking w/ our fresh herbs..love..in the mail my dear.Just now.

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  16. Your pictures are so artistic and peaceful. So glad I found your blog from your comments on Esme's blog at Chocolate and Croissants

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  17. I love your kitchen window Monique. So many pretty pictures here. The vanilla cake sounds divine. I'm with Susan; can't get the pots so would love to know how much they hold. Noah did such a great job - a future engineer for sure.

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    1. I had seen the window in a magazine..it's triple..and the middle section has a half moon above..it creates beautiful light almost always in the kitchen work area.I feel fortunate to have it.I never take it for granted:)
      Thanks Penny..I know you love homes and design:)
      I will go measure now:)
      1/2 cup water:)

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  18. I love that saying, "There is a calmness to a life life in gratitude, a quiet joy." So happy, your life near to your family! Your gardening image, wth the little bee, is very sweet!

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    1. Bonjour Rita..ma petite amie Susan est l'artiste de l'abeille ..des mots et du pot:)
      I appreciate that saying so much too...

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  19. Love the view from your kitchen window...and the window...countertop...sink and taps! hahaha!
    Noah is very smart to be able to put together ANYTHING from IKEA!!
    You have given me a great idea...I think Vivian and I will plant a few seeds this Wednesday!!
    I am thinking Sunflowers and Pumpkins!
    Oh...I hope she will be thrilled1
    Have a wonderful evening Monique...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. She will be:) Anything she can do with you:)Still such a cute little age:)

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  20. Oh Noah is so pleased with himself and doing this at age 7.

    My address is chocolate and croissants at yahoo. com

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    1. I found it and emailed you..but I found my answer!..thank you!

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  21. I'd want to kiss that Noah from head to toe, so darling. And so proud of himself, I love it! The cake looks wonderful too! Can't wait to see you basil!

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  22. Replies
    1. Oh no Gail..grandad is the engineer:)
      But you made me smile!

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  23. The cake is lovely! The sugar sifter is absolutely amazing and your grandson is also pretty terrific putting together his own furniture. Bravo! Your kitchen window is glorious and the tea looks like a treat. I truly enjoyed my visit - thank you Monique!

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    1. Tricia..the sifter was found last summer at our brocante/flea market..an older British gentleman..he had 3 ...I picked this one..I don't know quite why..the other 2 were equally pretty...thank you!

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  24. Oh my gosh, look how grown-up Noah looks leaning on this project. Great job man. I know some adults you couldn't put that together as well as you did. I would look forward to doing dishes in your pretty sink looking out the window. Your cake looks magnificent too. Makes me wish I had inherited my mother's baking gene...
    Sam

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    1. You must be loving yr round Fl living Sam and I bet you have beautiful views:)Noah is growing up so fast!

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  25. Way to go, Noah! I have to get to IKEA one of these days, it's right down the road, and I've yet to go there. Great kitchen window pic! I've always wanted a window over the kitchen sink, and after many movies, still don't have one. :-) Take care

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    1. I think we are both in the same spot Pam..we just don't need new Ikea pieces:)
      I did et loveseats about 6 yrs ago..and some kitchen things..but honestly I have not bought anything in 2 years there..Great store though..interesting:)

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  26. What a wonderful handyman, I hope my grandson will do the same when he comes up to visit me. I never planted my grass for Easter, it just came too early for me this year and I ran out of time. I have planted some herbs and some pansies that have finally sprouted, I stare and talk to them every day. Are you getting snow in your area these days? What a crazy weather pattern, I'm ready for spring!!

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    1. A winter wonderland..everything is blanketed with snow..started around 4PM..still going strong...we do get it occasionally in April..not my fave..but I am snug inside..not the end of the world;)
      It did come early!
      Hope your Littles are great!

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  27. How gorgeous..thos boys of yours are so handsome...
    My children in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are in heaven with Ikea stores there..
    Wish we had here in SA.

    Love the bio degradable seedling pots.
    Happy day...I'm moving yet again.

    Shel

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    1. Oh Shel..thank goodness you are young an fit:!!
      Ikea is for all ages:) Perhaps if you visit? You can bring home some things..:)
      Take care!

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    2. Not so young anymore :-)
      We are visiting for the month of November..so I will definately visit Ikea.
      Have a good weekend
      xx

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  28. My best friend has a beautiful new grandson born Saturday, and his name is Lucas :-) Thought of you and your Lucas when she told me.
    Your happy gardening sketch made me smile...sun...warm breezes...butterflies...PLENTY. And your little bee buzzing.
    I will plant the seeds you sent me and hope for the best.
    Stay warm!

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    1. Susan drew those:) I sure hope my seeds take..so cold and snow..was not expecting this..
      Lucas is a strong name to me now..strong and sweet and charming..so well chosen:)
      How great the two of you are sharing the joys of being grandmothers together:)
      Your spinach should go forth and prosper:)

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  29. I have a cake pan just like that! It was my grandmother's. What a pretty cake and I love all your turquoise accessories!

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  30. Le gâteau au yaourt est un vrai classique, en France. Le premier gâteau que les enfants apprennent à faire, en fait ... Sinon, il n'est jamais trop tôt pour apprendre un meuble IKEA ! Bravo au jeune homme !

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