Schneewhichen

     Gesundheit. Just kidding. Schneewhichen Kuchen (pronounced Snow White Cake) provided the inspiration for the much anticipated birthday cake for the one and only Movita. That's right, I went back to the story books for inspiration. Again.

     Let's see, Snow White. Evil queen, stop snickering. Fascination with mirrors, I did catch Minion #1 posing and talking to himself in the bathroom mirror. No, I did not tease him mercilessly. Fairest of them all, why that would be the birthday girl herself, Movita. I've seen the bikini pic. Seven dwarves, minion 1 and 2 aren't overly tall but dwarves? Whatever, it's off to work I go.

     I have the real recipe and preparation for this tasty German sheet cake and will post it at some future date. A co worker of mine makes it and it's delicious. Well worth the effort.

     So what is this cake I speak of? The original is white cake, studded with cherries, covered with a thick layer of vanilla, she calls it buttercream, but it's kind of a combination of custard and buttercream, all topped off with chocolate ganache. I don't know the German equivalent for ganache. Mouth wateringly good. But it's a sheet cake about an inch thick, hard to decorate and make all festive like.

     Here is what I did.

    Rather than a sheet, I decided to do two 9 inch rounds. In retrospect I wish I had done three 8 inch ones for a little more height but... I digress. Strangely all of my cake pans have gone MIA so off to Walmart for new ones, because I'm not paying $30 a pan at the baking supply shop. A pound of bacon, ice cream scoop and Mickey Dee's Happy Meal (two Big Macs, large fries) later I returned home ready to bake.

     Rather than use canned or bottled cherries, I used these, sweet cherries in red wine. Far better texture and taste, well, because I made them.

White Cake

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

4 egg whites

1 1/2 cups of sugar

3/4 cup of butter

1 1/2 cup of milk

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake pans, two 9 inch, three 8 inch or a 10x15 rectangle.

In a medium bowl sift flour and baking powder together.

In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry, soft peaks.

In yet another bowl cream together butter and sugar.

Add vanilla.

Gradually add flour mixture and milk, alternating between dry and wet.

Mix well between each addition.

Fold in beaten egg whites.

Fold don't stir, the egg whites provide volume to the cake. Mixing will flatten them.

Pour into prepared pans and bake on centre rack of preheated oven.

Depending on the size of the pans, it will take from 20 to 35 minutes.

Remove when a toothpick or tester comes out clean.

Let cool completely.

     I added the cherries just before putting the cakes in the oven.

The cake batter

Adding the egg whites

All folded and ready to put in pans

Ready for the oven

28 minutes later

     With the cakes cooled, the frosting made and the fondant rolled and shaped, it was just a matter of assembling all the pieces. I'd just like to add, some how the sight of a 200 pound, unshaven, long haired, 6 foot man going into a cake supply shop looking for petal dust or fondant cutters fills the sales ladies hearts with glee. They love me. They're always very chatty and helpful. Oh yeah, now it's called pearl dust, not petal dust. Back to the assembly line.

Ganache in the making

 

     Wait! I almost forgot the chocolate ganche for the filling. Melt about equal parts cream and chocolate over a double boiler. Actually, bring the cream to a simmer, chop the chocolate into pieces while you're waiting. When the cream is hot add the chocolate, put the lid on, remove from heat and let sit about 5 minutes. Stir until smooth then let cool. You can whip it into frosting, use it for a filling, eat it by the spoonful, whatever. In retrospect I wish I had added a tablespoon or two of Amaretto but...it was still good. It's chocolate. Use good stuff. Now back to the assembly line.

Ready to start

No I did not pay for a cake wheel

It's an inexpensive lazy Susan from Ikea

A dam of frosting

That way the filling won't run into the frosting

Clever huh?

No, I didn't come up with that.

Add the ganache

Second layer

Ready for frosting and fondant

The bits and pieces

The weird pineapple shaped things were supposed to be tulips

Minion #1 thought they looked good

I disagreed

Ta da, all done

A spring bouquet of daffodils and hydrangeas just for you

One of the residents of the cat farm

Startled by a parti-coloured dragonfly

Dammit, Movita!

One of Hadley's pigs is in the bushes, spying

I can tell it's one of hers by the glowing evil red eye

Minion 1

Ready to spring into action

Right

Minion 2 with Master 1

Being on her good side, she loans him out to me when she's not around

I work them mercilessly

Being a minion blows

Happy Birthday

Whatever age you decide

You've even got your own Prince Charming in 2.0

Who else would distract bears for you?

You're livin' the dream

     There you have it, my contribution to Movita's big day. I just have to say, if Hadley comes up with some Estonian butter cake that translates into "Rapunzel's Hair" or some such thing, well, let's just say there will be a few less minions and a lot more mulch for the garden. I will plug the leak here at Team O.K. After all, Ginger 2012 is just around the corner.

     Now for all of you out there, breathing a sigh of relief, it's not over yet. There is still the voting to contend with. Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated on the how, when, where and of course I don't have to explain the why of voting for ME. Can't wait to see what everyone came up with.

Movita, it's been a slice