Poppyseed Cake

We first enjoyed this cake made by our friend Cindy Saylor. It is best made from a can of Solo poppyseed filling but you can also use plain poppyseeds. The option of preparing the cake with rice (or soy) milk makes it pareve, an appropriate dessert to serve after a meat meal. In general I don't like this type of substitution, but the flavor of the pareve creamer is masked in this recipe by the sweetness of the poppyseed filling and the pure vanilla. It's most convenient to buy the rice milk in 8 ounce packages to cut down on any waste.

Ingredients

1/2 lb vegetable shortening or butter
1.5 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs, separated
2.5 oz poppyseeds or 1 can Solo Poppyseed Filling
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup unflavored rice milk (or soy milk) mixed with 1 T. vinegar or 1 cup sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Oven Temp: 350°F., 55-60 minutes
Yield: 2 greased 8"x3" loaf pans or one greased 9" tube pan

Cream shortening or butter in the large bowl of an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Separate the eggs into two bowls. Briefly whisk the yolks together. Stir seeds or poppy filling into the whisked egg yolks, add to the mixer bowl. Stir the baking soda into the sour cream or the non-dairy creamer mixture, add to mixer. Add the flour and vanilla and mix only until the flour is fully incorporated into the batter. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Fold the egg whites into the batter.

Gently put the batter into the prepared pan(s), and quickly rotate the pan(s) against the counter to remove any large bubbles. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean.

This cake may be glazed with a mixture of melted butter (1 T.), confectioner's sugar (1 cup) pure vanilla extract (1 tsp.), and water (enough to reach a thin spreading consistency). Place under the broiler until the glaze just melts.

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