Sunday, August 31, 2014

Lekach (Traditional Honey Cake)




3 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 c sugar
6 eggs, well beaten
1 c honey
2 tbs vegetable oil
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c chopped nuts
1/2 cup chopped citron
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 ts ground cloves
2 tablespoons brandy

Mix and sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda.  Add sugar gradually to eggs and beat until light.  Stir in honey and oil.  Add raisins, nuts, citron, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and brandy.  Mix in flour, beating vigorously. Pour into cake pan lined with greased paper. Bake in slow oven (300) for 1 hour.  Invert pan until cake is cold.

Honey, Rice, and Date Pudding

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped dates or raisins
1/3 to 1/2 cup honey
2 cups cooked rice

Mix beaten eggs and milk.  Arrange alternate layers of rice, dates or raisins in a greased baking dish.  Drizzle honey over each layer. Repeat until all rice and fruit is used.  Pour egg-milk mixture over all.  Bake in moderate oven for 45 minutes.  Serves 6

American-Jewish Cookbook.

Dried Fruit Tzimmes

2 lbs mixed dried fruits (apricots, peaches, pears, prunes, raisins)
1/2 cup white or brown rice
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of cinnamon
2 cups water

Wash fruit and drain.  Combine with remaining indredients.  Heat to boiling.  Simmmer slowly about 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is almost completely absorbed.  Shake pot occ. to prevent sticking, add in a little boiling water if necessary.  Serve hot or cold.  Or turn into a shallow casserole, dot with butter, and brown slightly under broiler flame. Serves 4 to 6

Source: The Complete American Jewish Cookbook