And I know it's you knocking around in there

[sovay]

In no particular order—

1. I have been Spontaneously Spotted! I feel like some sort of rare species.

2. Today is my father's birthday non-observed. Last night I made a hazelnut cake; today it gets whipped cream, strawberries, and that very dark chocolate icing that is basically cacao with a little butter to make it pliable. I believe we are taking him to Za for dinner. Mostly I got him books.

3. This is the best poem about the Odyssey I've seen in a long time.

4. heliopsis has coined an excellent word.

5. The trees are budding. It's not snowing yet.

Comments

[sovay]

Is there a recipe somewhere? I'd like to try to make it, I think.

It's an invented cake:

3 cups powdered sugar
10 eggs, separated into yolks and whites
3 ¾ cups hazelnut flour (ground hazelnuts)
1 tablespoon rum
a pinch of salt

Cream the powdered sugar and the egg yolks; add hazelnuts, rum, salt. Stiffly beat egg whites, then fold into batter with an additional tablespoon of regular flour. Bake in well-buttered and floured (although I use cocoa, non-Dutch processed) spring-form pan at 350° for 40—50 minutes.

½ cup heavy cream
8 ounces very dark chocolate

Scald cream in a small saucepan until tiny bubbles form around the edges; it should be hot to the touch, but not boiling. Add the chocolate. After one minute, remove from heat and stir until smooth. Let cool slightly; apply to cake.

Add whipped cream and strawberries.

Eat.

There may theoretically be leftovers, but don't bet on it.