. . . march 11, 2007
Lemon Lavender Marmalade Tea Cakes
My first encounter with gâteau au yaourt was years ago when I found my Italian roommate in the kitchen with an empty yogurt container and the stationary kitchen mixer wheeling full-tilt. At the time I did not know that it was a French cake nor was I aware of its completely lucid nature. All the many revolutions of the balloon whisk coupled with her kinetic movements about the kitchen pointed to a byzantine process. It wasn't until months later when I saw her in a similar frenzy with a package of jiffy corn muffin mix that I realized that this was more a declarative kitchen style and not representative of a true approach.
The cake possesses a refined disposition and is unaffected in execution. It holds appeal for both chidren and adults without lapsing into the kitsch sentimentality of say a cupcake. The steps are transparent to the degree that it is especially agreeable to child labor. The exploits of children to clean their rooms is really wasted when they could otherwise be in the kitchen making cakes. The cake is based solely on the measure of a yogurt container and only requires knowing your numbers one through four. Moreover it only needs simple mixing that can easily be accomplished with a few cranks of the arm. The only other time I have experienced a food product container as being as integral to process of creation is with concentrated frozen juices or condensed soups. But this is clearly a more visionary usage.
I have, however, elaborated on gâteau au yaourt and in doing so complicated the protocol. Maybe it was improvident; it is definitely more rigorous methodology using various measurements and tools that exist completely outside the world of a yogurt container. This may preclude the capitalization of half-grown workers. As well it has taken on a decidely adult tone with affectations of Provence, a locale specific Frenchness evoked through citrus and lavender. I would contend, however, that it is still relatively undemanding. For the unmucked-up and true non-transgressed, child-achievable form see Maxence's recipe at chocolate & zucchini.
ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon dried lavender
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 cup plain yogurt
zest of 2 lemons
continued . . .
Preheat oven 375°. In a medium « hide
