I made the ginger cake that Yumi posted a few days ago twice. The first time was when I was in Safaga. The second was in Giza, where I am now. Both times, I didn't have all the ingredients so I made the most of what I had.
First of all, a few days earlier in Safaga, I made the ginger syrup but without cardamom and with cinnamon powder, instead of sticks, and honey instead of sugar.
When I made the ginger cake later, wine was the only missing ingredient. Yvonne, the house lady who had wine, was sleeping. I didn't want to wake her up to ask for just a spoonful of wine so I skipped it.
I didn't find a small loaf tin, so I poured the mix into four small silicone cups.
Previously, I got to learn that when baking something, especially a cake, the oven shouldn't be opened too fast, not earlier than half an hour. Therefore, I wasn't sure whether I could open the oven after 15 minutes, as Yumi mentioned. In the end, I did open the oven at 15 minutes and I was so cautious as if I was dealing with a ticking bomb. I made a line on the top of the cakes but again, I was too careful that the lines weren't deep enough to be there after it was baked.
The cake was good but a bit sweet for me. However, guests who tried it, liked it a lot.
In Giza, more ingredients weren't there for the ginger syrup. I made it with only ginger and cardamom. No lemon, no cinnamon stick or even powder, no cloves!
I forgot the syrup on the stove so it got darker and a bit burned.
As for the cake, I found wine in the fridge. Yay! Although when I smelled it, it didn't have "aroma". This didn't stop me from adding it to the cake today.
At 15 minutes, I opened the oven. Using a toothpick, I made a shallow circle on the top of one of the cakes but I didn't like how it looked so I didn't make the same in the other cups.
I enjoyed having one piece with a cup of Colombian coffee with milk. It was good. This was the first time I tried Colombian coffee and I liked it.
The cover photo is of the second cakes I made yesterday in Giza.
As usual, a big thanks to Yumi!
Keep sharing recipes with us, please! I'm learning a lot every time I bake something you post! And hopefully, one day, we can bake together!
Wow! Thank you for sharing!!! I'm glad your cake turned delicious and everybody loved it!!
I'll try to share more recipes!! I would love to bake something with you.
Many thanks to you!
I added the photos on Instagram and tagged you there. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLw4hQBN4Mv/?igsh=MWh0dDN2ejhlZjhmbw==
title: Ginger Cake à la Yumi
OMG, Uly! Were you reading my mind? :D I was thinking of "a la dente" yesterday and if I could replace dente with Yumi!
Thanks for your insightful input! :)
My pleasure! (...but it's al dente 😉)
What does Yumi not do? She's an artist, a cook, a world traveler... Yumi, do you happen to play a musical instrument?
Thanks for all the corrections, and welcome back, Uly!
Indeed, Yumi is a multi-talented lady! :)
Nah, I'm definitely not! I've been showing what I can do here and I have lots of things I can't.
I'd been practicing playing the piano since I was five. I had to quit it when I got married at 23. I took the piano every time I had to move due to my husband's job, but I didn't play it again. The piano belongs to both my sister and I, so now she owns it. I still can play even though my skill has become rusty. My daughter had been busy for learning classical ballet, so she didn't have any spare time to take piano lessons. That's I regret. Anyway, I can only play the piano.
I'd like to learn about your marriage. Maybe one day if you don't mind, you can share with us how you and your husband met, did you wear a white dress or a traditional kimono in your wedding party, how many times you had to move, which was your favorite place, did you take your husband's last name (as it's the case in the West. Here, women keep their father's names) etc! :)
My husband and I first met when I was a university student. We were attending a hiku party: he was with his mom and I was with my grandma. They'd belonged the same haiku association. He'd worked for a Japanese pharmaceutical company as a pharmaceutical sales representative, so we had to move eight times. He retired from his job last year and now we live in the Kansai resion. I definitely love the kansai region where I was born and raised.
I didn't wear a kimono(uchikake) because I really don't like wearing kimonos, but now I regret, lol. I think I should wear it. My daughter wore it, though.
I've changed my maiden name into my husband's last name since we married.
Hey Yumi,
Thanks a lot for sharing a glimpse of your life with us! Do you like poetry? Do you write haiku?
Unfortunately, I don't like poetry and haiku. I'm not interested in making haiku. I prefer painting haiga ( a style of painting with haiku).
I’m with you, Yumi! Everyone assumes that because I’m “linguistic,” I automatically like poetry. The truth is, I can’t stand it. I much prefer making music and painting!
@CocoPop It sounds very interesting. Linguistic people automatically love poetry. I wish I would have such a smart brain you do.
How about you, ZZ? Which ones do you prefer: poetry or painting?
@yumiyumayume I think you misunderstood — I can’t stand poetry. People assume that if you love languages, you love poetry, but I don’t 😉
Aw, I see. Yeah, I misunderstood you. Thank you for explaining. That's very interesting.