Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Almond Lemon Cake



Does anyone remember watching ‘ Love Actually’? It’s a 2003 production with an all (English)- star cast including Hugh Grant (my favourite actor of all time!) Colin Firth and Emma Thompson. I watched it for the 100th (ok, I exaggerate) time last weekend. It was hilarious! It’s a blockbuster film that explores the ups and downs of relationships in the weeks building up to Christmas.





Boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, fathers and sons and rock stars and managers all combine to make ‘ Love Actually’ not just one story but ten very different ones. I enjoyed it tremendously with my family, even though there were bits where I had to ask the kids to shut their eyes. It was one of the few movies we brought home to watch over the school holidays. Yes, School Holidays are here, YAY!! I just love it when I can spend days on end with my children, it’s a luxury that I indulge in, even though it means putting blogging, housework, and everything else aside for a while.





Oh, if you haven’t watched ‘Love Actually’, watch it, it’s a really worthwhile film. Why, any film with Hugh Grant is a worthwhile film. We watched ‘Music and Lyrics’ ( Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, my favourite actress) recently and it was so funny, at least I thought it was funny even though the reviews weren’t that fab. Well, the girls and I have a heap of activities that we’ve planned for the next two weeks, so if I am a little slow coming by to say hello or answering any questions or e-mails that you might send me, please excuse me.





Today’s recipe of ‘Almond Lemon Cake’ is adapted from the April 2007 issue of Gourmet Traveller,and is inspired by London’s River Café. I love this Golden fragrant Lemon cake with its sandy texture from the addition of Polenta. Ricotta cheese and honey also add interest to the beautiful flavour. This cake is originally served with roasted Plums, and since I’ve never been big on cooked fruit, I have omitted it from the recipe.











ALMOND LEMON CAKE
Serves 10 (this recipe may be halved)

450g salted butter
450g caster sugar
6 eggs
450g almond meal
225g fine polenta
Finely grated rind of 4 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
400g ricotta
2tbsp honey
Icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 160C. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, and then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the almond meal, and then add polenta, lemon rind and juice. Add the ricotta ad honey and stir until just combined, trying to keep walnut size lumps of ricotta throughout the mixture.

Spoon the mixture into a lightly greased and baking-paper lined 26cm-diameter cake pan. Bake for 1 hour or until golden and a skewer withdraws clean when inserted. Cool completely in the pan before turning out and serving, dusted with icing sugar.

27 comments:

Big Boys Oven said...

Tangy and full of flavour....It is a sure winner!
Tangyness from the lemon, flavour from the almond meal. Great combination and even greater with a nice brewed coffee that you have there. Marvellous!

Cutie said...

I did watch Love Actually. It was tremendously nice and romantic. I couldn't get enough of that movie. Maybe I should watch it again with my boyfriend. hehe...
Your cake is gorgeous. YOu never fail to make beautiful cakes. I'm so impressed. Great job!!!

Patricia Scarpin said...

This cake looks wonderful, Carol!
Tall and delicious, with almonds and lemon... Not fair I can't get a slice (or maybe two?). :)

That movie is adorable and I have a thing for Colin Firth. :)

Anonymous said...

Yes I did watch Love Actually. It's a heartwarming and funny movie. It's rather touching.

Your cake is so moist and yummy. :)

KellytheCulinarian said...

It certainly turned out beautifully.

Sylvia said...

Hi Carol ,
I saw 3 times Actually love ,and i love this movie. Your cake is gorgeous,with my favorite ingredients: almonds and lemons.

WokandSpoon said...

You know what, I loooovveee "Love Actually"! I even have the DVD! Hehe! It always makes me teary when the guy shows up on Keira Knightly's doorstep and starts pulling out his cards - so sweet!
Oh, hehe - and your cake looks really nice. I've never actually used polenta in a cake before but I'll definitely have to try!

Nora B. said...

Carol, your almond polenta lemon cake looks wonderfully moist. I've made a similar cake but it doesn't have polenta in it, so I will give this recipe a try. My partner & I really liked the movie "Love Actually". It's good that you've been having a good time with your kids.
p/s: My Christmas in July party is set for 28th July. I'm making sticky date pudding for dessert.

sonia a. mascaro said...

I also love "Love Actually" and I watched it for the 100th too! (LOL)
Love the music! In this film we also can see Rodrigo Santoro, a beautiful Brazilian actor. (I am from São Paulo, Brazil)

Your cake looks yummy!

Ming the Merciless said...

"Love Actually" is one of my favorite movies of all time, along with "Notting Hill". No, I'm not a big fan of Hugh Grant but I do love chick flick. :-)

I love you photos, as usual!! The chinese tea pot in the background of one of the photos is so adorable.

Again, thanks for the Coffee Bean wifi information.

Keshi said...

Gosh that looks so delicious! I love lemon flavor.

Keshi.

Alpineberry Mary said...

I love how you combined lemons with almond. Totally delish!

And BTW, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC's P&P. Swoon!

Mandy said...

ah, another lemon cake. And I haven't even tried the last lemon cake you posted. :p
Enjoy your time with the kids, and I love "Love Actually" and hugh grant too. ;)

Bel said...

Love Actually is one of my all time favourite movies too! I love Hugh Grant's character in it, especially when he has a little boogie - classic :o) And it's sooooo romantic, not to mention heartwarming seeing all the families and friends of every shape, race and colour, embracing at the airport.

Love really does make the world go around!

Happy birthday for Thursday by the way and can't wait to meet you and the girls tomorrow :o)

PS Your cake photos look delectable......as usual!

Anonymous said...

I love Love Actually, too. It makes me think about the nature of love and the different kinds of love there are.

Your cake is lovely. It looks like a delicious close to a meal, or a special indulgent snack.

Jen said...

This cake souds really comforting. I can just smell it's aroma wafting through the kitchen.

And it's nice to finally hear a mum who looks forward to the school holidays. Most mums dread it and can't wait for the kids to go back to school.

Oh for the love of food! said...

BB Oven,
Thanks for the compliment!

Cutie,
Thank you, you're so sweet!

Patricia,
So, you've got a thing for Colin Firth,huh? HA!HA!

Ninja,
Thanks, I could watch it a hundred times more!

Kelly,
Thanks!

Sylvia,
Thank you, I love the combination too!

wokandspoon,
It was an emotinal scene, wasn't it? Oh, and Polenta with cookies is even better!

Nora,
I'm looking forward to your Christmas in July Party post!

Sonia,
Thanks for visiting my blog. Did Rodrigo Santoro play Colin Firth's love interest in the movie?

Oh for the love of food! said...

Ming,
hmmm, Love Actually and Notting Hill are your fave movies of all time and you're not a big fan of Hugh Grant? Did I hear you correctly? Let me guess, other movies you enjoyed were 2 weeks notice, 4 weddings and a funeral, 9 months, About a boy...HA!HA!
I'm glad you are enjoying your vacation, lovely of you to think of me.

Keshi,
Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you at this site again!

Mary,
So happy you stopped by, Love your blog!

Mandy,
I'm loving every second of the school holidays!

Belinda,
It was lovely meeting you finally! Yeah, I love that boogie scene too!

Lynn,
I'm so happy to see you here again! Are you going to set up a blog soon?

Jenjen,
Thanks. Hope you are all better!

Annette Tan said...

That looks lovely Carole. I've been having a thing for lemon lately too. As for Love Actually, it's our annual Christmas movie. We go to dinner every Christmas Eve and then come back home to watch it. And no, my camera's not ready yet. My last post was done before the camera went to the dogs.

palmtreefanatic said...

mmmm can I have a bite? looks delicious!;)

Anonymous said...

I love lemon too. I heard its very healthy! So I'll be eating lots of lemon cakes like this over winter!

Amrita said...

Looks exactly like the picture published!..Actually, even better!

Oh for the love of food! said...

A, it's so romantic that 'Love Actually' is a part of your Christmas tradition. It's such a feel GREAT movie! Hope you get your camera back soon. x

Palmtree,
Hi again!

Mary.k,
Nice to see you at this site again!

Amrita,
Thanks for the compliment!

Helene said...

I have seen this movie many many tims, as well as Bridget Jones...Nubbs think it is sad ...!
Can totally see myself having a cup of coffe and aslice of almond lemon cake while watching it!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Well, I've never seen the movie, but I'm in love actually with this cake. (sorry, couldn't resist). I've been looking for cake recipes with polenta, and with ricotta and honey, this may be the cake I've been looking for. Thanks, Carol!

Oh for the love of food! said...

Helen,
I did think there were some sad bits too, but that's how love is, it makes 'Love Actually' believable..

Susan,
I hope you will enjoy this cake and I totally recommend that you watch ' Love Actually' when you get the chance!

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