Come Near To God

 Orange Almond Cake was originally a classic Jewish Passover dessert. It draws on the Sephardic traditions of Morocco, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This cake is adapted from Claudia Roden, author of  many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cookbooks. This recipe was first published in A Book Of Middle Eastern Food  in 1968. This recipe is a favourite of many people who are on gluten free diet.

 A healthy and delicious recipe which uses oranges,almond meal,eggs and sugar. This cake is so moist, soft and dense, and is bursting with citrus flavour  The intense orange flavour is achieved by boiling the oranges for 2 hours, pureed whole and add into the cake mixture. While the oranges are boiling, you will love the natural orange scent permeating in your kitchen. A very nice cake to eat without the guilt.

Orange Almond Cake
Adapted from Claudia Roden A Book of Middle Eastern Food
20cm springform tin, base and side lined
Ingredients

2 oranges(3 Valencia oranges)
6 eggs(yolk and white separate)
250g ground almond(270gm)
1 tsp baking powdeer
250g sugar


Method

• Wash and boil the oranges unpeeled, in water to cover for 1 1/2 hr - 2hrs until they are very soft. Let them cool, then cut them open, remove the pips and turn them into a puree in a food processor.
• Whisk the egg white till still medium peak. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the 6 egg yolks with sugar until pale. Add in the pureed oranges,almond meal and baking powder. 
• Fold in 1/3 of the egg white into the yolk mixture. Mix thoroughly and fold in the rest of the white.
• Bake in preheated oven 160C for 1 hr 15 mins.

Note: Amount of sugar depends on the type of oranges used. To remove orange bitterness, change the water after boiling for 1 hour. Remove pips and seeds after boiling. 

This cake was baked as a dessert for a Moroccan Chicken Tajine meal.

The Mailbox Club

Come near to God and he will come near to you James 4:8

Sunday School has just introduced a bible correspondence course for children. During Sunday School lesson, the children did the first lesson and also learned about letter writing. 

After they have done the first lesson, they also wrote letters to their Sunday school friends. Together, we walked  to a post box which was near the church. The children were very excited to write and post their letters. I am sure they will be thrilled to receive their friend's letter the day after.

I will write more details on the Mailbox Club soon.