Strawberry cake

Hi dolls,

This cake was inspired by a desert I saw in a cooking show.The cake base is made with lime and a hint vanilla,the custard has a very sweet and strong vanilla flavor to compliment the strawberries.I already gobbled down three pieces and needless to say,the piece in the picture was eaten right after taking the pic.

For the base you need:
2 eggs
180 gr flour
the zest of two limes
130-150 gr of sugar (go for 150 if you have a sweet tooth)
25 gr of butter
100 ml milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons ground almonds
Beat the eggs,butter,sugar and zest with an electric mixer until fluffy.Add half of the milk and keep mixing.
Then add the ground almonds and the vanilla extract.Mix in the flour plus the baking powder and check the consistency.If the dough is too thick,add more milk.If it is runny,add flour.
Preheat your oven to 200 degree celsius-medium high heat.
Line a round oven proof dish with non stick paper and fill in the cake dough.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a  toothpick inserted to the center of the cake comes out clean.


While the baby is in the oven let's prepare the custard:
50 gr cream cheese
1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon corn starch
70 gr sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
100 ml milk
3 tablespoons water

In a small pot bring sugar,butter,vanilla extract and milk to a boil.In a small bowl mix cornstarch with water.
Whisk the creamcheese into the sugar and milk mixture and simmer.Now gradually (!!) add the cornstarch water mix.Add-stir-wait-check consistency!If it is too runny,add more of the cornstarch mix.
You want to get a creamy pudding like consistency.
Remove from the heat and chill!

The cake should be done now.Chill the cake too :)

Cut 400 gr of washed and cleaned strawberries in half (lengthwise) and chill.
For the pink glaze,prepare strawberry flavored jello with 100 ml less water than the package requires.Let it chill for 1 hour.
Once the cake,custard,jello and strawberries are cool,you can begin frosting.
If you have a cake ring,that's great.I am a DIY kinda gal and use aluminum foil,which I fold a couple of times and trace it around the cake,then close it with scotch tape.
Spread the custard in a 1,5 centimeter thick layer,then add the strawberries.

To finish it off,add a thin layer of jello on top.This will keep the precious strawberries fresh.
Now you gotta wait until the cake sets,which will take 2-4 hours.

A lot of work and a lot of ingredients,but it is soooo worth it.The cake is just perfect for spring and I am sure it will be eaten by Sunday :)

Huggies
Cookingchinchillas