Honey Vanilla Pound Cake
Extra honey on top, cause I’m cool like that.
As promised, I’ve made a honey desert for you, my dear readers, to celebrate New Years Day with. May the honey symbolise all the sweet things that are to come your way in the new year.
Here are how some other cultures celebrate the coming of the new year (taken from english-zone.com):
Ecuador: In South America “Ano Viejo” is celebrated by creating a fake person or dummy. The scarecrow-looking person will be completely dressed and stuffed with old newspapers and firecrackers. The dummy is usually placed outside the home. He represents something that happened during the last year. At midnight each family lights the dummy on fire. As the dummy goes up in smoke, the firecrackers also go off to add to the festivities. The old year is forgotten and the new year begins.
Greece: In Greece, St. Basil fills the children’s shoes with presents at midnight.
Denmark: It is a good sign to find your door littered with a pile of broken dishes at New Years. Old dishes are saved all year to throw them at the homes where their friends live on New Year’s Eve. Many broken dishes were a symbol that you have many friends!
Japan: People in Japan spend weeks planning for their New Year celebrations. They buy special food and make decorations for their front doors out of pine branches, bamboo, and ropes that are believed to bring health and long life. Fan ropes are also hung over the doors and roofs with seaweed or ferns to bring them happiness and good luck. Children receive “otoshidamas” which are small gifts with money inside. They also send New Year cards to their friends and hold forgetting-year parties to say goodbye to the old year. The Japanese also forgive friends and family for any misunderstandings and disagreements they may have had that year so they can make a clean start of the new year. On December 31st, bells are rung 108 times to chase away 108 troubles. The people all laugh after the gongs because laughter will drive away the bad spirits. With all the bad spirits gone and troubles and enemies forgiven, they enjoy a day of celebration.
So, how about you my daaaaaahlings? Do you have any special traditions? I’ll be at home, nice and cozy. HH isn’t really one for crowds and cold weather.
Looking forward to spending the next year with you!
Honey Vanilla Pound Cake, from Ina Garten’s Back to Basics
½ lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter at cool room temperature
1 ¼ c. sugar
4 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 c. cake flour
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp baking powder
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan.
Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, put the eggs, honey, vanilla, and lemon zest in a separate bowl. With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the egg mixture, one egg at a time, scraping down the bowl and allowing each egg to become incorporated before adding the next egg.
Wisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. With the mixer on low speed, add it very slowly to the butter and egg mixture until just combined. Finish mixing the batter with a rubber spatula and pour it into the prepared pan. Smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, turn out on a baking rack, and cool completely.
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Whether I am making a mess in the kitchen, spending Hubby's hard earned money, or trudging along on my hamster wheel (aka the dreaded treadmill), shenanigans are always afoot! If you are looking for trouble, you've found her.
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