CHICKEN CURRY DINNER (continued)

I'm sorry to admit that in all my many cookbooks, including hundreds of recipes I've collected, I can't find the definitive recipe for the cardamom cake that completes my chicken curry dinner. But I remember it as a pound cake with cardamom flavor. So I'll provide here a basic recipe for pound cake and add the cardamom flavoring.

CARDAMOM POUND CAKE

serves 8

This should really be called a "half-pound" cake because the proportions are about half of the classic, which makes two loaves, or one huge one. The idea is the same: roughly equal amounts (by weight) of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. It remains a delight, especially when toasted. It's worth using cake flour here for extra tenderness, but if oyu don't have cake flour, the usual all-purpose kind is just fine.

1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus some for greasing pan

2 C (9-oz) cake or all-purpose flour

1 t baking powder

1 t ground cardamom 

pinch salt

1 C sugar

5 eggs, separated (at room temperature)

2 t vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom in a bowl and set aside.

2. Use an electric mixer to cream the butter until it is smooth. Add about half the sugar and beat until it is well blended, then add the remaining sugar. Beat until the mixture is light in color and fluffy in texture, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl if necessary. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.

3. Mix in the dry ingredients by hand just until smooth; do not overmix, and do not beat. Add the vanilla and stir until blended. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until they hold soft peaks; fold them in gently but thoroughly.

4. Turn into the loaf pan and bake for about 1 1/4 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the top comes out clean. Let the cake rest in the pan for 5 minutes before inverting onto a rack. Remove the pan, then turn the cake right side up. Cool before slicing. Store at room tmeperature, covered with waxed paper, for a day or two; you can gain a couple more days by wrapping in plastic, but at some loss of texture.

This now completes the menu for the chicken curry dinner. I'll be happy to respond to requests for what should come next. Stay tuned.