Oranges and Lemons say the Bells of Amalfi

I'm still in citrus mode  perhaps because it's Winter here and we need more Vitamin C to stave off colds and flu. Mandarins are so convenient and easy to eat apart from the health benefits which I will leave more appropriately to the next blog (Citrus Salads).

Following last week's post, 10 July 'A Piece of Cake', a friend sent me a really simple recipe for Mandarin Syrup Cakes so here it is along with the lemon variation which I experienced in Italy where the orange component is replaced by lemon and instead of the syrup, pour 1/2 cup of limoncello onto the cake when it is still hot.  The cake was then iced with Mascapone. 

 If you have ever been to Italy, you'll instantly know about Limoncello. Lemons seem to be one of the important staples in the food of Sorrento where the most famous product is Limoncello. Every store or restaurant has it’s unique or favorite brand of Limoncello for sale or to taste.  The photo on the left shows how they generously served limoncello to us in a restaurant in Amalfi and the photo below is us before we drank it.

Have to get these cakes out of the way before the blog name changes.

Clara

Mandarin Syrup Cakes with Greek Yoghurt

125 g / 4 oz soft butter

1 cup sugar

2 tsp grated mandarin zest, plus extra rind removed with a potato peeler

2 eggs

1 cup self-raising flour

1/2 cup buttermilk or yoghurt

1/2 cup mandarin juice

Greek yoghurt or thick cream to serve

Preheat oven to 180 C /355 F. In a small bowl, beat butter, half the sugar, and 2 tsp zest, with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs on at a time and beat well.

Stir in flour and buttermilk or yoghurt and spoon into large greased muffin holes. Bake for 25-30 mins.

In a small saucepan combine mandarin juice and remaining sugar and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 2 to 3 mins until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in remaining rind.

Pour warm mandarin syrup over cakes and accompany with a dollop of Greek yoghurt or thick cream.

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