Ingredients
- THE COCHIN JEWS OF INDIA PREPARE A SEMOLINA CAKE CALLED APAM. ONE IS PREPARED WITH COCONUT, THE OTHER FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH RUM. I ADD APPLES AND HONEY TO THIS CAKE FOR ROSH HASHANAH- THE JEWISH NEW YEAR. THIS IS AN EASY CAKE AND CAN BE PUT IN THE OVEN JUST BEFORE YOUR GUESTS ARRIVE SO ITS READY TO SERVE BY THE TIME DINNER IS DONE. L’SHANA TOVA!
- INREDIENTS
- • 1.5 CUPS FINE SEMOLINA OR RAVA
- 4 TABLESPOONS MAIDA
- 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
- • 120 GRAMS UNSALTED BUTTER CUBED
- • 3/4 CUP NATURAL ORANGE JUICE
- • 1/2 CUP GOLDEN HONEY
- • 3 TABLESPOONS DARK RUM
- • 400 GRAM SMALL RED APPLES (3 PIECES)
- • 3 EGGS WHISKED
- • 1 TEASPOON GROUND CARDAMOM, CINNAMON OR NUTMEG
- • ½ TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT
- • 2-3 TABLESPOONS GOLDEN HONEY MIXED WITH 2 TABLESPOONS MELTED BUTTER FOR BRUSHING
- • ONE 10 INCH ROUND TUBE PAN WITH A REMOVEABLE BOTTOM OR AN 8 INCH ROUND CAKE PAN
Instructions
- • COMBINE ORANGE JUICE AND RUM IN A SHALLOW PAN. PEEL, CORE AND HALVE THE APPLES THEN CUT EACH HALF INTO 3 EVEN LENGTHS. PLACE IN THE ORANGE JUICE AND RUM.COOK ON A LOW HEAT FOR 5-7 MINUTES.SWILL THE PAN ABOUT TO PREVENT BURNING. COOL.
- • MELT THE BUTTER IN A NON-STICK SKILLET ON A LOW FLAME. ADD THE SEMOLINA AND STIR WELL ABOUT 3 MINUTES. LET COOL COMPLETELY.
- • WHEN SEMOLINA HAS COOLED STIR IN THE FLOUR, BAKING POWDER, HONEY, EGGS, GROUND SPICE OF YOUR CHOICE AND VANILLA.
- • STRAIN THE APPLES FROM THE ORANGE JUICE AND POUR THE REMAINING COOLED RUM AND ORANGE LIQUID INTO THE SEMOLINA BATTER AND WHISK WELL.
- • COVER TIGHTLY AND REFRIGERATE.
- • MEANWHILE PREHEAT OVEN 325F. PREPARE MIDDLE RACK.
- • REMOVE BATTER FROM THE FRIDGE AND STIR WELL.
- • POUR BATTER SLOWLY INTO THE WELL-BUTTERED CAKE PAN. IT IS A THICK BATTER AND YOU WILL NEED TO EASE IT INTO THE PAN USING YOUR SPATULA. SMACK THE PAN ON THE COUNTER TO SETTLE THE BATTER.
- • ARRANGE THE APPLES EQUI-DISTANT FROM EACH OTHER IN THE BATTER IN SETS SO THEY ARE SPREAD EVENLY AROUND THE BATTER. PRESS DOWN GENTLY ON THE APPLES SO THEY SINK INTO THE BATTER AND SPREAD JUST A LITTLE BIT. THE BATTER SHOULDNOT COVER THE APPLES.
- • PUT PAN IN THE MIDDLE RACK. PLACE ANOTHER BAKING TRAY ON THE RUNG ABOVE. THIS PREVENTS THE CAKE TOP FROM COOKING TOO FAST.
- • BAKE 30-40 MINUTES UNTIL THE TOP IS GOLDEN BROWN.
- • BRUSH APPLE TOPS GENEROUSLY WITH HONEY BUTTER AND LET SIT ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN THE CAKE PAN AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.
- • RUN A SHARP, SMALL KNIFE ALONG THE EDGES TO LOOSEN THE CAKE. INVERT IT ONCE ON TO A PLATE AND THEN AGAIN ONTO A SERVING PLATTER APPLE SIDE UP.
- • IF USING A TUBE PAN SLIP THE PAN OUT FROM THE BOTTOM.
- • SERVE WARM WITH ICE CREAM OR WHIPPED CREAM.
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