Tom Roachs Angel Food Cake

LEMON MERINGUE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Place fresh, cold egg whites and cold water in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Set aside until they are 60 degrees, or slightly below room temperature.
• Pour flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and salt into a triple sifter or sieve. Sift onto a sheet of waxed paper; set aside. Adjust rack in lower third of oven; preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set nearby a dry, un-greased 10inch tube pan. Such a pan allows the batter to cling to the sides and rise to its full height. Place a long-necked bottle or large metal funnel nearby for inverting the baked cake.
• Whip egg whites, preferably with a whisk attachment until frothy. Add cream of tartar and whip on medium speed until soft peaks form. Continue whipping and gradually add the 1 cup granulated sugar until whites have thickened and form soft droopy white peaks. Add the vanilla and lemon zest in the final moments of whipping.
• Sprinkle one-quarter of the flour mixture over the whites, and with a rubber spatula, fold into the whites. Repeat this process with the remaining flour mixture, folding in only one-quarter of the flour mixture at a time. Gently pour the batter into an un-greased tube pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is light golden, the cake feels spongy and springs back when touched, and a wooden toothpick inserted in the middle comes out free of cake. Invert cake onto the neck of a bottle or funnel. Cool completely before removing from pan.
• To remove cake from the pan, slip just the tip of a small metal spatula between the cake and pan. Slowly trace the perimeter to release any cake sticking to the pan. Tilt the cake pan on its side, and gently tap the bottom against the counter to loosen the cake. Rotate the cake pan, tapping as you turn it a few more times, until it appears free. Cover the cake with a rack or cardboard round, and at the same time that you invert the cake onto the work surface, tap it firmly onto the surface. Lift the pan from the cake.
• For the filling: In a 1 1/2 quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk briefly to combine the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add the pieces of butter, and place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly over the entire bottom. Cook the mixture without boiling until it begins to develop body and thicken. Remove from heat and pour through a stainless steel sieve into a bowl. Cover the surface with plastic wrap, poke a few small slits in the plastic with the tip of a paring blade allowing steam to escape while cooling. Refrigerate (curd will thicken).
• For the frosting: In a 3-cup saucepan, combine the water and 2/3 cup sugar. Place over low heat to dissolve the sugar, then increase the heat to medium high and boil, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 235 degrees. (Wash down any sugar crystals slinging to the sides of the pan with a brush dipped in cold water.) Near the end of the boiling time, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add the 2 tablespoons sugar, and continue to whip until the whites are stiff but not dry. With the mixer running, pour the syrup onto the whipped whites. Continue to whip on medium speed, about 3 minutes more. Mixture will thicken, cool and form glossy, stiff peaks. Add the vanilla. Cool to room temperature, about 8 to 10 minutes, then frost cake right away.
• Assembling the dessert: Cut cake into three layers. Spread the lemon filling equally between the two layers; top with remaining layer. Frost top and sides of cake with Italian Meringue Frosting.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Sift flour three times. Sift again with 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar. In an electric mixing machine, making sure bowl is clean and free of any oil, beat egg whites until frothy. Add salt, cream of tartar. Beat until it barely holds soft peaks. Beat in remaining 3/4 cup sugar, a little at a time, until it holds stiff peaks. Fold in extracts.
• Sift 1/4 flour mixture over whites and gently but thoroughly fold it in. Sift and fold in remaining flour, in the same manner, 1/4 at a time. Spoon or pour batter into a very clean, ungreased tube pan. Rap it on the counter to eliminate gaps. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until cake springs back when touched. Invert pan over bottle to cool. Cool completely before inserting sharp knife around edges of pan to loosen. Rap bottom of pan firmly on counter. Invert onto plate. Serve with Passion Fruit Coulis (recipe follows).
• Recommended Wine: 1992 Beringer Feinders Reserve Nightengale
• In a small sauce pan add both ingredients. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium, cook until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• If using pulp, strain through a fine sieve. Serve with plain cake.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine 1/2 cup sugar with the cocoa and flour and sift 3 times.
• In a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites and salt until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat till soft peaks form. Add the 1/4 cup of the sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. They will be slightly glossy. Add the vanilla and fold in.
• Gradually fold in the dry ingredients. Spoon batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan and bake for 35 minutes. Cool upside down over a bottle. After the cake has cooled use a dull knife and go around the walls of the pan to loosen the cake. Turn it out and brush off any loose crumbs. Make the icing by whisking all the icing ingredients together. Drizzle cake with the icing and let set 1 hour before serving.

GINGER ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt onto a sheet of parchment paper. Sift again, then set aside.
• Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, then increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla, lime zest and ginger and beat a few seconds to combine.
• Sprinkle one-quarter of the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold with a rubber spatula. Fold in the remaining flour mixture in 3 additions. Transfer the batter to an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Bake until the cake feels springy and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Invert the pan onto a funnel or the neck of a bottle and cool completely. Loosen the edges with a small knife, tap the sides of the pan against the counter and unmold.
• Make the sauce: Puree 2 half pints raspberries in a blender with 2 tablespoons water, the granulated sugar, lime zest and lime juice. Strain to remove the seeds. Top the cake with confectioners' sugar, the sauce and the remaining raspberries.
• SERVES: 8 (Dessert); Calories: 325; Total Fat 0.5 grams; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 7 grams; Total carbohydrates: 75 grams; Sugar: 57 grams Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams; Sodium: 150 milligrams