Pistachio & Lemon Polenta Cake

 

Rainy days drive many a cook to baking, seeming the perfect counterbalance to the damp greyness, which in Ireland can last all day long. This was a drizzly, sideways rain kinda day. I was hungover, albeit mildly. But enough to manifest an apathetic humour... I wanted to go for a walk -but I didn't want to go for a walk in the rain. I wanted to go get the paper -but I didn't want to drive in the rain. I knew if I didn't do something...anything, marginally productive, I would be filled with self loathing. Oh and also, me and a half eaten packet of pistachios, had been giving each other the eye for about three weeks.

And so it began.

It all came good. Pouring tea, pouring memories, eating cake.

It all came good. Pouring tea, pouring memories, eating cake.

Let me just introduce this cake, for my fellow 'not so keen on sponge' people, this is one for us. It's nutty, lemony and moist. And for gluten intolerant tummies it works really well.

Take;

  • 250g butter room temp.
  • 250g caster sugar
  • 3 eggs at least free range
  • zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 120g ground pistachios
  • 60g polenta flour/fine maize meal (or plain flour if gluten is tolerable)
  • 9" /23cm spring form cake tin, greased and lined

Icing

  • 100g icing sugar
  • zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp rose water (optional)

Do;

  • turn oven on to 160'C/Gas 3
  • beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy
  • add the eggs 1 at a time
  • add the lemon zest and juice
  • in a separate bowl mix your dry ingredients
  • mix dry into wet, pour into prepared cake tin, smooth over top
  • bake for 40-50 mins -check at 40!
  • cover with foil if it's browning on top but still not cooked fully
  • allow to cool before icing
  • to make icing; sieve the icing sugar, add the lemon and rose water if using and mix with a whisk before pouring over the cake
  • enjoy with tea/coffee/prosecco/lemonade/ dollop of creme fraiche/whipped cream
 

Artichokes & Butter

 

Despite the fact that artichokes grow extremely well in Ireland, I didn't have the pleasure of "m-eating" one until I moved to the big city of Dublin (wink). They have a sort of dinosaur/alien like quality, in feel and appearance. I would like to shake hands with the first person who persevered and removed all the tough, inedible, spiky outer leaves and eventually reached the delicious heart of this beast. 

We always steamed them whole and peeled the leaves, dipping them into melted butter as we began to reach the center. Lately though, by the very fact of their thriving in the garden and therefore producing almost (ssshhh...) too many, I've taken to peeling them quickly and paring down to the heart, dropping them into a pot of simmering lemony water until tender, followed by a non-optional baptism in liquid butter with a generous squeeze of lemon. I then walk around the house with the warm saucepan and a spare fork, stopping to share with anybody who crosses my path. The path is filled with smiles, mostly because I fought the prickly beast, tended to it's cooking and now the heart is offered freely.

The red variety have spikes but are considered tastier.

The red variety have spikes but are considered tastier.

Take;

  • a couple of artichokes 2-3 for 2 people, for a pre-dinner snack
  • lots of butter
  • fresh black pepper & salt
  • 2x lemons

Do;

  • get a large bowl of cold water, squeeze one lemon in to prevent the artichoke going brown from the air
  • put a pan of water on and bring it to a simmer
  • peel away the outer leaves, watching out for little thorns found on some varieties
  • when you reach the softer central leaves (see top photo) slice the top off
  • using a paring knife carefully work down to the solid heart
  • scrape away the soft hairs with a teaspoon
  • place in the cold lemony water while you continue prepping
  • when they're all done, cut any lager ones into quarters or thirds
  • simmer until tender
  • melt butter in a small pot, add lemon juice and zest if unwaxed, s&p -taste and adjust to your liking
  • enjoy straight from the pan...or a bowl at the table
  • you can also eat the younger ones raw in a salad