ABC - Spicy Yogurt Pound Cake

This post comes to you from beautiful Morocco where I'm vacationing. It's beautiful and sunny here, with temperatures in the upper 80s. Food is super fresh here; from seasonal vegetables and fruits (I've especially enjoyed the ripe strawberries), to meat (chicken is slaughtered and plucked upon buying – doesn't get any fresher than that). Did I mention the breathtaking scenery?

Seville Orange trees are used as street decoration pretty much everywhere in Morocco

Koutoubiya Mosque in Marrakech in southern Morocco

That's the Mediterranean Sea in northern Morocco. We brought chairs with us and enjoyed the sound of the waves.

A little park with water fountains right outside the condo I'm staying in

Back to business... baking business, that is. This month's recipe for ABC of the Month, Spicy Yogurt Pound Cake, is chosen by yours truly.

When I read the ingredients list, I was intrigued immediately: yogurt, butter, brown sugar, warm spices like cinnamon, allspice and cloves, orange zest, cocoa powder, and finely ground nuts (I used almonds instead of walnuts). Baking in a different kitchen (and country) always comes with hurdles. I couldn't find allspice so I omitted it, and I used all granulated sugar. Without a regular oven, I made due with a large Tefal toaster oven which did its job really well. One big advantage though: easy access to 82% European-style unsalted butter and the freshest farm eggs you could ever find.

My mom and I baked up a storm on Sunday. We served the pound cake (and the other goodies) at a familygathering and everybody loved it. My personal opinion: the cake was delicious and moist. The wonderful flavor of almonds came through really well, and so did the orange zest. The spices gave the cake a really nice aroma and lingered in the background without overpowering the cake.

Don't forget to check out the ABC blog roll: Wafae and Chaya. And, if you'd like to give this recipe a try, you can find the recipe for it HERE.

My mom's holding the plate :o)

Bon appetit!

ABC - Mocha-Almond O'Marble Cake

The Mocha-Almond O'Marble Cake is our third ABC of the Month recipe from Flo Braker's book, Baking for all Occasions.

This recipe was chosen by Wafae and boy, did she pick a winner. This is an easy and delicious cake. You start with a light-colored batter that's almond flavored. You take 2/3 of the batter and pour into a baking pan. The remaining 1/3 of the batter is mixed with chocolate syrup and a bit of instant espresso powder. Pop it in the oven and let the cake do its magic and basically marble itself. You don't believe it? Ha! I didn't believe it either but the picture below doesn't lie :o)

The chocolate batter (and gravity, I guess) created this pattern all by itself. I didn't swirl it at all. Cool huh?