Coconut Pound Cake

My daughter's friends visited us over the weekend and they wanted me to bake a cake for them.  I made this cake for evening tea.   

It is so hot in Mumbai, I was hesitant to use the electric oven.  Made this cake in a mud vessel on the gas and it turned out perfect.  I remember, my mother used this method to bake  cakes and biscuits for us.  This particular cake mud pot the East Indians call it "Forum".  The bottom pan is placed on firewood chula with sand in the inner side (see Pic) and on the lid again fire wood used to be lit.  Living in an apartment this facility is not possible. But, still the cake got nicely browned on top.  This method of baking can be used with an aluminum vessel or cooker, one can bake cake or biscuits.    This cake got baked in 45 to 50 minutes.  

Sending this to the month  Blogging Marathon. Our host Srivalli,  suggested that we can show different techniques / method  of baking.   

For the cake the coconut used is also homemade.  I had made coconut juice and the residue dried in the sun for 2 days.  On the third day just microwave on high for a minute.  Viola desiccated coconut ready.

Thank God I took pics before serving, this cake vanished in minutes.

Ingredients

150 Grams Self raising flour
150 Grams Sugar 
150 Grams Unsalted Butter 
2 Large Eggs or 3 Small
1 Teaspoon Vanilla essence
1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder
A pinch of Salt
3 Tablespoons Milk
2 Tablespoons heaped Desiccated coconut - Homemade
A pinch Yellow food color

Method

Grease and paper lined baking pan.

Sieve together self raising flour and baking powder, mix in desiccated coconut and keep aside.

In a bowl separate the eggs,  yolks and whites.  Beat the whites till stiff.  Keep aside.

Mix the yellow color and milk, keep aside

In another beat the butter and sugar, till light and fluffy, add the yolks, essence and beat well again , then add the sieved flour and little milk,  continue to whisk till both the  flour and milk is incorporated, then add the eggs white and with a spatula fold it in gently, pour the batter  into  the lined  pan bake for 35 to 45 minutes. 

As explained above I, used a mud pot to bake.   Heat the pot with sand in it for 15 minutes on high flame, then place the cake pan, cover it again with a mud lid.  On high flame for 10  minutes, then reduced the flame to medium low and bake till done .

These are my priceless possessions / collection.  I have a collection of sizes and shapes in mud vessels, some my friend Reena, my beta's mother brought all the way from Kerala for me.  Simply love these pots.

 If baking on an electric oven at 180 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Labels : Blogging Marathon, Cakes, East Indian, Homemade

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