A spice cake fit for a Duke (Fresh Ginger Cake)
Leo | May 20, 2009Catherine and I stumbled into this wonderful little non-academic book club. The premise is simple. Each month we all read the same book and then have a pot luck supper at one of the members’ homes to talk about it. Sort of like dinner theater, but for books.
Since this month’s selection was Dune, it was perfectly obvious to me that nothing but spice cake would do. However, as one might expect, Melange is incredibly hard to find locally. Luckily, I found this recipe from Maxie’s Supper Club at Chow and decided that fresh grated ginger, while less trippy than melange, would be an adequate substitute.
Maxie’s recipe did not disappoint! The flavor was rich, intense and the black pepper added just the right bit of bite. The freshly grated ginger was a delight not only for the taste buds, but also provided a springy, almost meaty, texture not unlike carrot cake. The result is a heady, earthy treat with a decidedly old-fashioned* feel.
In short, this is pure comfort food. Perfect for enjoying a a cup of tea while enjoying your favorite book. Read the rest of this entry »





