Saturday, May 23, 2015

Eight-minute rhubarb cake




By Victoria Abbott aka Mary Jane and Victoria Maffini


It’s that season!  Today, there was a clump of  fresh rhubarb in my backyard and an imminent visit from my mother-in-law.

The weather was amazing and we'd decided to invite her to lunch on the spur of the moment. What to do?  I decided on one of my favorite little cakes: only five ingredients and it whips up in no time. It’s simple and delicious after a lunch on the screened porch or when a friend comes by for coffee.  It’s also an excuse to use the cute little red eight-inch square cake pan, one of a pair that are baking souvenirs of the year we lived in England. 







Of course, it might take as long as ten minutes if you dawdle when you gather and chop the rhubarb. 

 A bit of rhubarb how-to, if you're new to harvesting it: twist off each stalk, don't cut from the plant.  Don't use them once the flowers appear. The rhubarb will be bitter.  Unless you want to end up on the wrong side of a mystery, don't eat the leaves: they are poisonous. Don't even put them in your compost.


 

All you need is:



2  extra-large eggs, at room temperature (this always makes a difference). Of course, large would work too
½ cup plus one tablespoon sugar
½ cup plus one tablespoon flour
1 – 2 tablespoons chilled butter
½ cup plus one tablespoon fresh chopped rhubarb (although I think it would work just as well with frozen)


All you do is:

Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until thick. 



Beat in flour (don’t overbeat)
Pour into greased 8 inch baking pan.




 Arrange a layer of fruit on the top.  Top with dabs of butter. 


Bake at 400 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes.  In my strange relationship with my fairly new convection oven, I now bake it at 370 for 23 minutes.  What can I say? We work these things out with our ovens.


When the cake is cool, remove from pan and dust with icing sugar. We like to shake it through a little strainer. 


 You can serve as is or with vanilla yogurt which we all love.  Of course, most cakes are also flattered by whipping cream or ice cream. 




We liked this so much that I tried it again in the round pan.  It makes a nicer slice.  Do you agree?  Like the first one, it didn't last long. 



Go ahead Help yourself. There's another one in the freezer!

Moving right along ... 

You probably know that I am half of Victoria Abbott, author of the BOOK COLLECTOR MYSTERIES along with my daughter, artist and photographer, Victoria Maffini.  Abbott  is a good place to be on the shelf!  Speaking of book collector mysteries, this recipe is the kind of quick snack that Signora Panetone, the Italian cook at Van Alst House likes to serve amateur sleuth, Jordan Bingham.  You'll find some of the signora's recipes in each of the book collector mysteries.




And while we're on the topic, we're very excited that the fourth in the series, THE MARSH MADNESS,  will be out September 1st.





You lucky little devils! You can also order it from your favorite Indie or online bookseller.




23 comments:

  1. Haven't had much rhubarb. This looks yummy and sounds easy enough for me to try. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks for coming by, Barbara! It is easy and even fun to make. Cheers. MJ/VA

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  2. My dad likes rhubarb pie but I haven't ever had any. Your pie looks yummy!

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    1. It's only the second year that we've been using our rhubarb, Jen. Now I'll be harvesting to make this cake in the winter. Let me know if you try it.

      Cheers,

      MJ/VA

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  3. Very tempting MJ, especially with our plant going wild just outside the door!

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    1. Act fast, Roberta! They do go wild. My neighbor's plant has already flowered, so I'll be 'harvesting' this weekend.

      Of course, there's no great problem if they just go wild and get looked at.

      Hugs.

      MJ/VA

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  4. Ooh, poisonous compost--surely there's an idea in there somewhere? Love your pan! I've got a 9" one I bought in Ireland that is wonderful.

    I still haven't warmed up to rhubarb--think I could substitute other fruits? This recipe is so nice and easy.

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  5. This is good with plums, Sheila. I was thinking of trying it with pears too. You could add a bit of other flavoring. The rhubarb wasn't too tart. I think because the sugar in the cake tones down the pucker power.

    Have a great weekend!

    MJ

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  6. My Mom had a rhubarb patch. I have a snapshot somewhere of my young brother sitting on the kitchen stoop gnawing on a stalk of the tart treat, making such a face. I don't have any rhubarb, but I do have a carton of blueberries. I may try your recipe with the blueberries.

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    1. I love the brother story, Nancy! Let us know how the blueberries work,.

      Cheers.

      MJ

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  7. I like your warning about ending up on the wrong side of a mystery!
    While rhubarb has never tempted me (perhaps I never had it prepared well), this looks lovely.

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    1. I am now a rhubarb convert, Libby! Thanks for coming by,

      Hugs.

      MJ

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  8. This looks so good and not too heavy. I don't think hubby is particularly fond of rhubarb so I may try another fruit as someone else suggested.

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  9. What an amazing cake! I love this. It's like a miracle cake. I presume it works just as well wit other fruit. Thanks, Victoria!

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    1. It's great with plums, Krista and I bet with other fruit too. XO MJ

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  10. How easy is that! My protagonist Jenna would love this! Reminds me of a recipe my mother used to make using pie filling for the rhubarb. :)

    Thanks
    Daryl / Avery

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    1. I am intrigued by the pie filling, Daryl. Hmmm. Hugs. MJ

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  11. Not being domestic, I'll never make the cake, but it sounds delicious. I think of the rhubarb patch at my childhood home and the delicious rhubarb sauce and rhubarb pie my mother used to make.
    Can't wait to read MARSH MADNESS. Dame Ngaio wrote one of my favorite series of all times...and I have all the books.

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  12. I've never tried rhubarb, and have always been hesitant to try---I'm not sure why but I've always imagined it being bitter, however I think it's time for me to be adventurous. This recipe looks very yummy and easy, and I think I'll make it this week. Thanks so much for the recipe (and now that you've mentioned it, I really can imagine Signora Panetone serving it---lol!). :-)

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  13. I made this cake today, and while it tastes good - love rhubarb!- it is very flat. I did measure correctly and am an experienced baker. Was an ingredient missing? I did wonder, as I was mixing it. Any thoughts?

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