National Library Week Day 2: Hot Milk Sponge Cake and Loaf Pan Giveaway

Hot Milk Sponge Cake

Whoo Hoo! It's Day 2 of National Library Week! Yes, the Food Librarian is bringin' out the Librarian this week. Thanks for your sweet comments about your library...and I always seem to remind someone to return an overdue book! :)

In the baking group, Tuesdays with Dorie, we are making our way through the Dorie Greenspan book, Baking: From My Home to Yours. It is fun and yummy. For the last couple holiday seasons, we've had an optional gift exchange. This year, my "Secret Santa" was Laurie, the founder of TWD! Yes, all you TWD bakers can be jealous! Serious, how cool is that?

And Laurie gave me the best gift ever! An out-of-print, 1929 cookbook Any One Can Bake compiled by the Educational Department of the Royal Baking Powder Company, New York. As you can imagine, everything has Royal Baking Powder in it! :) The recipes are simple and provide a glimpse of the times. Shortening is in a lot of the dishes...it was cheaper than butter and who knew anything about trans-fats in 1929!

Thank you so much Laurie of Slush and the Founder of TWD for my awesome gift. I love it!

Since the lady in these 1929 photos doesn't have a Kitchen Aid mixer, I figure I shouldn't use one either. So, I pulled out my big whisk and went to town.

This involves beating egg yolks, adding sugar, and pouring in hot milk. Lemon juice and zest add a light flavor. Egg whites are whipped up and folded into the batter. Finally, a bit of flour and baking powder are added.

Topped with macerated strawberries (just some strawberries and sugar but I'm sure some liquor would be nice too). I think the Librarian Action Figure would like that too. :)

And that brings us to today's library thing...Book Sales! Libraries often get donated books from the community (thank you donors!) and weed books in our collection to make room for new titles. Most libraries have used book sales where the public can snap up some bargains. The money goes back to support the library's collection and programs. Ask about used book sales at your local library! You never know what you can find...perhaps a 1929 cookbook!

To celebrate National Library Week, I'm having five days of giveaway!

To celebrate Day 2 of National Library Week, I'm giving away the following to one lucky winner:
50 Adorable Loaf Pans

Aren't these 4" x 2" paper loaf pans awesome!? You can make bite-size carrot, zucchini and a host of other breads (I just made persimmon bread and I'll post that later) - perfect for the holidays or a lovely hostess gift. Win a pack of 50 of these oven safe, paper mini-loaf containers (purchased at Surfas in Los Angeles). I gave these away last year too...they are just too darn cute.

To enter the Day 2 Giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat (aka Random). Deadline for all contests: Monday, April 19, 2010 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Librarian Action Figure not included.

Also, don't forget to enter the Day 1 Giveaway: Cookbook and Chef Post-its. Come on, if you are a lurker on the blog, this is your chance to come out of the woodwork! ;)

Come back tomorrow for Day 3 of National Library Week! - mary the food librarian

Recipe:
Click here for the printable recipe

Hot Milk Sponge Cake
Adapted from Any one can bake, Royal Baking Powder Co., 1929 (page 55 with additional instructions on pages 46-47)

4 eggs, separated and room temp
1 c sugar
6 T hot milk (1/4 cup plus 2 T)
1 T lemon juice
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 c all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 t baking powder (of course, this book published by the Royal Baking Powder company suggests their own brand!)

These are my instructions for using a whisk. You can use your whisk attachment on the KitchenAid as well...but you won't feel like a 1929 home economist doing that! :)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Separate eggs (it is easier to separate the eggs when cold, but bring ingredients to room temp before using).
2. Beat egg yolks with whisk until thick and light colored. Add half the sugar, beat together until light and fluffy.
3. Slowly whisk in the hot milk, then the remainder of the sugar.
4. Add the lemon and lemon zest.
5. In a separate bowl, quickly whip the egg whites until light, soft peaks.
6. Fold HALF the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.
7. Carefully, but quickly, fold in the sifted flour mixture.
8. Fold in the remaining egg whites.
9. Pour into ungreased tube pan.
10. Bake for 45 minutes at 350. Remove from oven and cool upside down (like an angel food cake).
11. I served mine with sweetened strawberries.