Grandmothers Of Sils Apple And Yogurt Cake Recipes

GRANDMOTHER OF SILS' APPLE-YOGURT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour and 9-inch springform pan. 2. Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Place the eggs and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and, using an electric mixer, beat until fluffy and pale yellow, about 1 minute. Beat in the yogurt and liqueur until completely smooth. Working in batches, beat in the sifted flour, alternating it with the olive oil. Gently but thoroughly fold in the apples. 3. Scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan, tap it on a counter to level the batter, then smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake the cake on the center rack until the top is golden, a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean**, and the cake springs back when you touch it, 55 to 65 minutes. Let the cake cool on a rack. 4. Run a thin knife around the side of the cake to loosen it. Remove the side and the bottom of the pan, then place the cake on a cake platter. (The cake can be baked up to 3 days ahead.) Wrap it loosely in plastic until ready to use. Serve the cake sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, accompanied by creme fraiche, if desired. * For serious! I can't tell you how many lemon yogurts I picked up at my totally yuppie gourmet grocery store before finding a single one with real, actual lemon in it and not artificial flavoring. I'm not naming names, but there were brands that I really expected better from. I finally landed on Stoneybrook Farms low-fat with lemon puree on the bottom. Why I went through this trouble when I could have just, uh, squeeze lemon juice into a plain yogurt, I don't know. But just to warn that if you're going through the effort of making a cake from scratch, you might want to make sure your lemon yogurt is the real deal.

GRANDMA'S FRESH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Sprinkle sugar over apples in your largest mixing bowl. Sift dry ingredients together twice, then add to apples. Add remaining ingredients, and stir until well mixed. Batter will be very thick.
• Spread into a greased 9" X 13" cake pan or pyrex dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes, until cake springs bakc when touched lightly, and apples are tender when pierced with a skewer.
• Cool and serve. Cover leftovers tightly with foil to retain moisture.

GRANDMOTHER'S APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Generously grease an 8-inch round cake pan (no need to grease if pan is nonstick).
• Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the apples, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the Calvados, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and the cinnamon. Set aside until needed.
• Whisk together the yogurt and the remaining sugar in a large bowl, until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Combine the flour and baking soda, then add the oil and eggs, whisking well after each addition. Stir the apple pieces into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Set on a sturdy baking sheet and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
• Note: The cake is best made several hours before serving, or better yet, the night before.