Lost and Found Dad’s Sinner and Saint Birthday Cake

24

July 14, 2013 by mickeydownunder

 Today is Dad’s birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!

He would have been 87!

My dad meant (and STILL means) THE WORLD (and then some!) to me!

I can always STILL hear his voice and he makes his presence known in various ways ALL the time!

Dad’s humor “constantly” comes out through me!

I can FEEL him smiling down from the heavens, ESPECIALLY today at Chef Georgio aka hubby (Make No Bones About It fame) and me!

My name is Joanne aka mickeydownunder aka Joanna aka FANG and I have a confession, true!

I have been a “tad” more forgetful of late, but “sense” I am not the only one too!

I came across Fanouropita Cake (also spelled Phanouropita) the other day and immediately put it “on my list” to do.

It was only when I went looking for it, I could not find it!

Isn’t that always the way too?

While I am not a religious person, I do believe in traditions and what caught my eye (other than the lovely photos and ingredients), was the story behind the cake too!

The cake is “traditionally” made on the eve of Saint Fanourios’ Name Day on August 22nd; interestingly, our anniversary too!

The cake is brought to the church of Saint Fanourios for the priest to bless it during a special ceremony and afterwards, everyone gets a share, but not before asking “for the Saint’s mother’s sins to be forgiven.*”

So, let’s recap…

I have LOST my dad, but FOUND I am the person he (and I) am SO proud of who I have developed into, true!

Should I keep you in suspense, WHO is the sinner and WHO is the saint too? lol

My understanding is this cake can be made anytime of the year; lucky for me!

If someone has lost something or someone, Saint Fanourios can help me or thee!

Interestingly, when I opened my What’s On The List folder, I had previously saved Fanouropita (Cake For Lost Things) from Serious Eats.

NOTE
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh noooooooooooooo, ran out of enough self-raising flour, so used all-purpose flour and adapted my initial recipe. Because I wanted to make this cake sugarless using Xylitol, I find the ingredients work much better with self-rising flour.

If using only all-purpose flour, ONLY add 1 tablespoon baking powder.

Ingredients for Lost and Found Dad’s Sinner and Saint Birthday Cake

3 3/4 cups (use cups, not ounces please) all-purpose flour, sifted
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon Himalayan fine ground pink salt
1 cup Naturally Sweet Xylitol (original recipe uses sugar)
2 teaspoons mixed allspice
3/4 cup macadamia oil
1 1/4 cup orange juice, no preservatives, no added sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla powder (original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
Naturally Sweet Xyltiol Icing Sugar (sugarless)
butter and flour for coating pan

In a large bowl, whisk together sifted flour, mixed spice and xylitol.

Add orange juice, oil and vanilla; stir to combine.

NOTE
Batter will be very thick, but would suggest you taste and if you think the batter is “way” too thick, than add a little bit more orange juice.

Pre-heat oven to 180C. (350F)

In a spring form pan, butter and flour (like Grandma used to do lol); shaking excess flour from the pan too!

Add batter to spring form pan.

Bake until golden brown and skewer comes out clean.

NOTE

Original recipe called for 45 minutes; mine was done and lovely golden brown in 30 minutes.

Remove from oven; let cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove spring form and continue to fully cool on a wire rack.

Dust with icing sugar and ENJOY!

My name is Joanne and I have another confession too!

I have never used a stencil to put icing sugar on and even thought the cake “slightly” cracked on top, the taste (per Chef Georgio) was “spot on.” (Australian lingo for “PERFECT!”)

Thank you Chef Georgio for assisting me with the stencil; as I always like to give a compliment and acknowledge what for me people do!

Thank you for allowing me to share Dad today, true!

Like in life, he was (and is STILL) always SO special too!

When I did Julie Goodwin’s GATHER Cookbook Review, it made me feel special sharing mum with you too!

I hope you can FEEL the love that I have for my dad today on his birthday!

Reading your comments would really MAKE MY (and his) DAY!

FOLLOW UP NOTE

This cake is so versatile too! Perhaps next time, will add lemon or orange zest and some macadamias (Dad’s favourites) or some pistachios. (mine too!)

 *SOURCE
Lost Something?  Make a Fanouropita Cake!
http://cakeappreciationsociety.com/lost-something-make-a-fanouropita-cake/

Update
The word has truly got out that I love being invited to fun-filled food parties.

Thanks to From Calculus to Cupcakes this week, I was “once again” invited to the Foodies Friends Friday Linky Party and thought I would be slightly naughty by bringing this sugarless cake!