Thanksgiving got here late this yr, in order I saved basting the turkey each thirty minutes, I used to be already considering of recipes for Christmas. With the aroma of the chook roasting within the oven, soccer on TV because the background sound and the sight of two of my kids stress-free on the couch —a heavenly image, provided that that they had not been residence for the reason that summer time—, my thoughts saved going again to …yuletide log!
Strolling by way of Portobello Market, Notting Hill
Matthew and Kyra in entrance of Westminster Abbey
For a few years, I purchased our Christmas yuletide log on the bakery, and it was good. However final yr I made a decision to deal with it myself. It appeared like an enormous process, however I confronted it in chunks to make it appear simpler. I took the cake recipe from one of my recipes, and the chocolate mousse filling from one other one. For the chocolate ganache, I had to perform a little research. However on the finish, I put all of it collectively and the end result was essentially the most scrumptious yuletide log. I made a decision there after which that I wouldn’t purchase it from the bakery anymore.
Dinner at Zedel
Tower Bridge from the Tower of London
The William Shakespeare Theater
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham!
The Borough Market
The Shard
Strolling by way of Mayfair
Refueling at Portobello Market
I really like previous maps
Notting Hill bookstores
Westminster Abbey
Pre-dinner pints
Lunch at Mercato Mayfair
The Notting Hill Bookstore (have you ever seen the film?)
So this yr, I’ve made it once more. I’ve altered the chocolate cake recipe a little bit bit, including a pair extra eggs to it so the cake is barely extra manageable as I roll it (final yr it was a little bit of a problem, but it surely labored ultimately!)
I can be trustworthy with you: whereas a lot of the recipes I make are quite simple and easy, as a lot of the Spanish cooking is – good components, minimal interference with the flavors – yuletide log is a little more labor-intensive, as you’ll be able to think about. It isn’t onerous to make, it simply takes a little bit bit extra time, due to the completely different steps. Having stated that, I encourage you to make it this Christmas. I’ve made a degree to publish this recipe early sufficient within the month, so you’ll be able to collect all of the components and may time your self to make it.
The funniest and most educated tour information on the Tower of London
Borough Market
That is the place Matthew works, SONOS at Leather-based Market
The solid of the Pórtico de la Gloria from Santiago de Compostela on the V&A Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
Mercato Mayfair contained in the previous St Mark’s Church
Previous, new, trendy, conventional…all coexist
St John’s Chapel on the Tower of London
V&A Museum
And I can be trustworthy with you as nicely concerning the origin of yuletide log. In France, it’s known as bouche de Noel. In Spain, tronco de Navidad. Xmas log appears to have a Scandinavian origin. So clearly, this Christmas deal with doesn’t have a very Spanish origin, nor it’s a generally loved dessert at Christmas in Spain, like turrón or polvorones are. Subsequently, relatively than sharing with you some Spanish custom or facet of Spain’s historical past for this publish, I free myself to share with you a bit a few current journey to England and Scotland.
At Brindisa
Regents Avenue
Strolling by way of Hyde Park
Down the road
The place he lived, the place he studied
Live performance at St.Martin-in-the-Fields
Life. St-Martin-in-the-Fields
St Paul’s Cathedral
Sunday mass at Westminster Cathedral
Anniversary dinner at Lina Shops
A FALL TRIP TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
This journey that has been within the works (or relatively, on the want listing) for a number of years now, ever since we couldn’t rejoice our twenty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary 5 years in the past with a visit because of the pandemic. With the excuse, or in celebration of our thirtieth wedding ceremony anniversary, Dave and I traveled to London, the place our oldest son now lives, and Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, one of many lands of Dave’s ancestors and a bucket listing merchandise for a few years.
Neither of them upset.
We have been in London pre-Christmas, so we may take pleasure in the principle well-known shops, particularly Selfridges, Liberty’s and Harrods, already embellished for Christmas. The attractive Christmas lights hanging over Regents Avenue and Oxford Avenue, forming the form of big angels, wouldn’t be lit till per week later, but it surely was nonetheless a sight to see.
Consider it or not, it didn’t rain a lot
The Prince of Wales Theater for The Ebook of Mormon
It began to appear like Christmas!
Pre-dinner, once more
Indian meals at Dishoon
Sticky pudding
Sunday roast at The Crown
The Lamb and Flag, the oldest pub in Covent Backyard
Notting Hill
Selfridges
Liberty
The goodbyes
London was as lovely as ever, and it was very wistful to stroll by way of a number of the areas that maintain a particular which means for each Dave and I: London Enterprise Faculty on Baker Avenue, the place Dave did his grasp diploma for 2 years, and the residence the place he lived, proper throughout the road. Or Trafalgar Sq. and Embankment, the place my faculty was, subsequent to the church of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, that I used to go to at noon virtually day by day earlier than lessons, to hear without cost to the choir rehearsals. Hampstead Heath, and the residence constructing the place Dave lived in the course of the first month of his MBA, hosted by household mates, and the Victorian and Albert Museum, simply down the road, that we visited.
It was great visiting with Matthew and Kyra and see how that they had established their routines, their information of the completely different London areas and neighborhoods, their mastery of the transportation system, the numerous eating places that they had found, and the way all these will change into their future recollections.
We watched a premier league soccer sport, Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, watched a musical within the Theater District, attended a live performance at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, had Sunday roast at a complicated pub, day by day pints pre-dinner at many different pubs, strolled by way of Hyde Park, spent a morning in Portobello Market and Notting Hill, visited the Tower of London (consider it or not, I had by no means been!), and likewise visited Matthew in his workplace within the Leather-based Market, a really hip a part of city near the Borough Market and The Shard. We had meals from many alternative worldwide cuisines, every of them completely different, every of them scrumptious. Our youngsters stunned us with not one, however two anniversary dinners, one Italian, one French. What else can I say! Although each Dave and I have been very acquainted with London, on this go to we found new points of it.
And since this publish is already getting a bit lengthy, and I don’t wish to hold you longer than obligatory (it’s a must to get to the recipe!), I’ll hold Edinburgh for my subsequent publish. I’ll go away you, although, with an inventory and hyperlinks of the attractive and scrumptious eating places through which we ate, in case you’re planning a go to to London.
Blissful baking!
SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS WHERE WE ATE (AND RECOMMEND!)
- Zedel, French delicacies within the coronary heart of Piccadilly
- Lina Shops, Italian delicacies with completely different places across the metropolis. We ate on the Brewer Avenue Soho location
- The Crown, in Islington, for essentially the most scrumptious Sunday roast
- Dishoon, Indian delicacies in Coal Drops Yard, close to King’s Cross. So good!
- Brindisa, Spanish delicacies. Like being in Spain! Genuine components and completely executed
- Milk Seashore, Australian delicacies within the coronary heart of Soho
- Mercato Mayfair, a variety of eating places below one roof —that of the deconsecrated church of St. Mark’s! A should go to
- Taro Soho, Japanese delicacies on our final day in London
Xmas Log
Tronco de Navidad
Sugared Rosemary
- 4 –5 rosemary sprigs
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar divided
Chocolate Cake
- 1 and 1/3 cups flour
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened pure or dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 giant eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 Tablespoons gentle olive oil canola oil, or melted coconut oil
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- For rolling 1-2 Tbs unsweetened pure or dutch-process cocoa powder
Ganache Topping
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
Make the sugared rosemary:
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Place the rosemary sprigs in a medium heatproof bowl and put aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium warmth, carry the water and 1/2 cup of sugar to a simmer, whisking till the sugar has dissolved. Take away the pan from the warmth and permit to chill for a couple of minutes. Pour the sugar syrup over the rosemary and stir. Cowl the bowl and put aside for quarter-hour. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Utilizing a slotted spoon, switch the rosemary from the sugar syrup and place it on the ready baking sheet. Permit to dry, uncovered, for 1 hour. Pour remaining sugar into plastic container supplied with a lid. Gently shake the container, coating the rosemary sprigs within the sugar. Take away the sugared sprigs from the container and place them on a parchment paper and allow them to dry, uncovered, for no less than 1 hour at room temperature or within the fridge. You’ll be able to then cowl them and retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 days.NOTE: ideally, you make these the day earlier than
Make the cake:
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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Generously butter a parchment-lined 12×17-inch cookie sheet (you’ll be able to beforehand butter the cookie sheet itself, so the parchment paper sticks). You want an especially nonstick floor for the skinny cake to roll.
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Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt collectively in a medium bowl. Put aside.
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Utilizing a hand mixer or a stand-up mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and 1/2 cup sugar on excessive pace for 4-5 minutes or till stiff peaks kind. Switch to a different bowl.
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Utilizing the identical mixing bowl (no want to wash it), add the egg yolks, remaining sugar, oil and vanilla extract. Beat on excessive pace for 3-4 minutes or till thickened and light-weight in shade.
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Add half of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk combination. Beat on low pace for 10 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg whites and beat on low for 10 seconds.
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Add half of the flour combination and beat on low or fold with a silicone spatula till mixed. Repeat with remaining flour combination. Keep away from over-mixing so egg whites don’t deflate. Batter can be very gentle.
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Unfold batter evenly into ready pan. Gently faucet the pan on the counter a pair occasions to pop any air bubbles. Bake for 15-16 minutes, checking a few minutes earlier than the 15 minute mark to keep away from over-baking the cake.
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Because the cake bakes, place a skinny kitchen towel flat on the counter. Place a bit of parchment paper bigger than the cake on high of the kitchen towel. Utilizing a positive mesh sieve, mud parchment with some cocoa powder.
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As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, shortly run a knife across the edges to loosen it. Instantly invert it onto the parchment/towel. Peel off the parchment paper that was on the underside of the cake because it baked.
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Roll the cake: start tightly rolling the new cake up with the parchment/towel. Do that slowly and gently. Permit the cake to chill utterly rolled up within the parchment/towel. You’ll be able to place it within the fridge to hurry this course of up, about 3 hours and as much as 1 day.
Put together the chocolate mousse filling:
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Whip the cream till delicate peaks kind, and regularly add the cocoa powder, one tablespoon at a time. Add within the icing sugar and the vanilla extract and proceed to whip till stiff peaks kind.
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Take away the cake roll from the fridge and permit to take a seat on the counter for a couple of minutes to heat.
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Gently and really slowly unroll the cake. Unfold the chocolate mousse evenly on high, leaving a few 1/2 inch border across the cake. Use a small offset spatula to unfold. Gently roll the cake again up, with out the parchment/towel this time. Roll it slowly. This half is usually a bit messy.
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Fastidiously place the rolled up cake on a reducing board. If the outside of the cake seems to be moist, mud with a little bit cocoa powder. Cowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for no less than half-hour and as much as 2 days earlier than shaping and topping with ganache.
Make the ganache topping:
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Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Warmth the cream in a small saucepan till it begins to simmer. Pour over the chocolate and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to softly soften the chocolate. Slowly stir till utterly mixed and chocolate has melted. Refrigerate, uncovered, for no less than half-hour and as much as 1 hour to thicken.
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Take away rolled cake from the fridge and gently place on a platter. Diagonally slice a 0.5-1 inch part off every finish. Place every part on either side of the roll, forming two branches (you should utilize 1 Tbs of the chocolate ganache as “glue”)
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Unfold the thickened ganache everywhere in the high and sides of the cake, leaving the reduce ends uncovered. Use a fork to make textured strains resembling tree bark. Embellish with sugared rosemary sprigs and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar simply earlier than serving.
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Cowl leftover cake and retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- Make the sugared rosemary forward of time.
- You can also make the roll cake upfront as a result of it should cool/chill utterly earlier than filling. Refrigerate for no less than 3 hours and as much as 1 day.
- You can even refrigerate the stuffed cake roll for as much as 2 days.
- You can also make the chocolate mousse 1 day upfront (cowl and refrigerate till prepared to make use of).
- You can also make the chocolate ganache topping 1 day upfront. Cowl and refrigerate. Nevertheless, in the event you let it sit for longer than 1 hour, it would thicken an excessive amount of. To skinny it out when prepared to make use of, stir and heat it in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water for about 1 minute. Don’t microwave it.
- Complete cake could be made 1-2 days upfront too. Cowl and refrigerate till prepared to embellish and serve.
- You can even freeze the assembled cake earlier than or after including the ganache. Cowl and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than persevering with with the recipe. It’s finest to embellish with sugared rosemary sprigs and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar closest to serving.
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