Polenta – Olive Oil Almond Cake with Peaches in Honey- Basil Syrup
I know, I know for someone who claims to not like baking, I sure am featuring a lot of cakes this week. I promise you it is a coincidence, not a growing trend…or is it?….;)
This is my entry for this month’s Royal Foodie Joust. If you have not participated, think about participating in the next one! All the details can be found here.
Also don’t forget to vote for your favorite entry! The polls are up and a new winner will be decided on August 6th. Click here to vote!
I was asked by several of the participants to join my event this time and I have agreed, with one condition, I will not be competing in the voting process.
The ingredients which were chosen by last month’s winner, Jennifer from …andtheeggs, are eggs (of course), honey and the season’s beautiful fruit – peaches! There are many wonderful entries already and I am happy to submit mine along with all the others!
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup polenta – finely ground
¼ cup slivered almonds (sliced is better, but they only had slivered at the market)
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup olive oil
½ teaspoon pure almond extract
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
Poached Peaches in Basil-Honey Syrup, recipe follows
Poached Peaches in Basil-Honey Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons honey
2 sprigs fresh basil
2 large firm unpeeled ripe peaches, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9 by 2-inch round cake pan. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, polenta and baking powder. It is important to sift these so that the polenta gets fully incorporated into the flour. Stir in the salt and almonds.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs, egg yolk, milk, olive oil and lemon zest until frothy. Add the sugar, honey, almond and vanilla extracts and mix to combine. Add the dry ingredients, about ¼ cup at a time and beat until the batter is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes, or until a tester comes out with a few crumbs adhering. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from the pan and transfer to a cake plate. To serve, slice and top each piece with poached peaches and their syrup and a dollop of fresh whipped cream!
To prepare the syrup:
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, water and honey and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Do not allow it to boil as it will harden as it cools and become unusable for this recipe. Add the basil, and simmer until thick and fragrant, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the peaches. Cook until just tender, about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool. Remove the basil.
Serve the peaches with the syrup warm or at room temperature.
If you have never made fresh whipped cream, here is how. It is simple and fast!
Pour 8 ounces of heavy whipping cream, 1 TBS confectioner’s sugar and a splash of pure vanilla extract into your mixer. Start whipping it at a low speed and as it thickens crank it up all the way. Whip until it is the consistency you like. It is possible to over-whip, in which case you will make butter!
Figs Olives Wine - August 2, 2007 at 9:36 am
Just gorgeous Jenn! I love polenta cake, and this is just sublime. I’ve got some artisanal polenta I think I’ll try this with.
Valli - August 2, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I’d vote for you Jen!! What a beautiful presentation!!!
Patricia Scarpin - August 2, 2007 at 1:39 pm
OMG, Jenn!! I love all the ingredients here, and the cake looks wonderful!
The Leftover Queen - August 2, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Hi Amanda! Thank you! The better the polenta the better the cake. I am sure you will love it!
Hi Valli! Thanks, you are so sweet! I love your entry as well!
Hi Patricia! Thank You! Let me know if you try it!
Peter - August 2, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Gotta luv it…it’s a super kicked-up cornbread!
lynn - August 2, 2007 at 7:18 pm
What a beautiful cake! I love the peach slices on it and the idea of honey-basil syrup is divine. Yummm.
Meeta - August 3, 2007 at 2:42 am
Lovely Jenn! I can understand what you are saying. I always used to say baking is not my thing but I found a new passion in it. I think I can safely blame the Dbs here!! This one looks extraordinary! I love all the flovors incorporated here!
Cynthia - August 3, 2007 at 8:39 am
Hi Jenn! As always, your posts are mouth watering and totally worth trying.
The Leftover Queen - August 3, 2007 at 8:45 am
Hi Peter! yeah, it is kind of like a cornbread but much sweeter and smoother due to the all-purpose flour.
Thanks Lynn! Yes, it is a really yummy combo! Glad you like it!
Hi Meeta! It is funny, but I am happy. It is the reason I wanted to join – to see if I could get into baking and make those beautiful creations I saw on other blogs all the time!
Hi Cynthia and thank you! As always I appreciate your thoughtful comments!
Sue - August 3, 2007 at 4:04 pm
That cake looks awesome, but more importantly, guess what? Do you wanna play tag, because YOU’RE IT! Click on my site to see the rules and if you want to play.
Lia - August 4, 2007 at 2:52 am
thats cake will be great for accompanion evening tea, thanks for share i shall try next time and let u know 😉
Sylvia - August 4, 2007 at 8:48 am
Love your cake,it looks so yum .Beautiful ,beautiful presentation !!!
The Leftover Queen - August 4, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Hi Sue! Thank you! And thank you for inviting me to play the 8 random things, but I have already been invited and have posted my 8 random things! Thanks for thinking of me though!
Hi Lia! Yes, please let me know what you think!
Hi Sylvia! Thanks so much!
gerda - August 5, 2007 at 6:35 am
boy am i glad i found your page – i think i bookmarked like 10 recipes on the spot.
can’t wait to join this royal foodie joust next time and can’t wait to put your blogroll on my blog!
greetings from austria!
gerda (a.k.a. tschörda)
The Leftover Queen - August 5, 2007 at 1:08 pm
HI Gerda! I am so glad you stopped by and found some useful things! Hope you come over and join the forum!
Jeena - August 6, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Hi there you have a lovely blog, nice pictures too 🙂
Jeena - August 6, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Feel free to visit my blog too 🙂
Click here for jeenas food recipe blog 🙂
The Leftover Queen - August 7, 2007 at 8:54 am
Hi Jeena! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
Johanna - August 8, 2007 at 6:47 pm
yum – peaches and polenta in a cake sounds divine – I love peaches and am looking forward to stone fruit coming into season down under!
The Leftover Queen - August 9, 2007 at 8:45 am
That is true Johanna! You have so much to look forward to!