Lardy Cake

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

TO MAKE THE SPONGE: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 1/4 cup warm
water (110 degrees) and yeast. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Add 1 1/4 cup warm water and flour. Mix on low speed, 2 minutes; the sponge
should feel like a very wet dough. Place sponge in a lightly oiled bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Store
sponge, refrigerated, up to one week, or freeze in plastic up to three
months. Bring sponge to room temperature before using. TO MAKE THE DOUGH:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine
1 cup warm (110 degrees) water and yeast. Let stand until creamy, about 10
minutes. Add 1/2 cup warm water and the sponge. Mix on low speed until
combined, about 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Add to
yeast mixture, and mix on low speed 1 minute. Change attachment to dough
hook, and mix on medium-low speed until dough is smooth and just sticks to
your fingers when squeezed, about 8 minutes. Lightly flour a work surface.
Turn out dough, and knead four or five turns into a ball. Place dough,
smooth side up, in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let
rise in a warm place until dough has doubled and is slightly blistered and
satiny, about 1 hour. Punch dough down, and fold over four or five times.
Place folded side face down in bowl. Cover, and let rise again in a warm
place until doubled in bulk and satiny, about 50 minutes. Divide dough in
half, and wrap in plastic until ready to use. TO MAKE THE CAKE: Using a
rolling pin, roll out half the dough into a 16-inch square on a lightly
floured work surface. Cover remaining half with plastic; set aside. In a
small bowl, combine spices. In a large bowl, combine dried fruit. Spread 4
tablespoons butter over top of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around
perimeter. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons brown sugar over butter. Sprinkle one
quarter of the combined spices over the sugar. Sprinkle one quarter of the
dried fruit over the spices. Using the palms of your hands, gently press
fruit into dough. Fold four corners of square into center, creating a
smaller square, enclosing filling. Gently press down on dough with rolling
pin. Spread 2 ounces butter over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around
perimeter. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons sugar, another quarter of spices, and
another quarter of the fruit. Using the palms of your hands, gently press
fruit into dough; fold dough into thirds. Transfer dough to a piece of
parchment paper; roll out into an 11- by 16-inch rectangle. Carefully
lifting parchment, transfer to baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to
chill butter. Repeat steps one through four with remaining dough, butter,
brown sugar, spices, and dried fruit. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine jam
and cognac in a small saucepan. Set over low heat; cook until liquefied.
Strain mixture; discard solids. Brush surface of lardy cakes with jam
mixture. Bake cakes until golden and puffed, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool
slightly before serving. Lardy cake will keep up to three days, very
tightly wrapped in plastic. Reheat cake before serving. Makes two 11- by
16-inch cakes.
Recipe Source: Martha Stewart Living - <www.marthastewart.com> Recipe from
Martha Stewart's mother, Martha Kostyra
Formatted for Mastercook by Lynn Thomas - dcqp82a@prodigy.com
Recipe by: Martha Kostyra
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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