Coffee vs. cappuccino: which do you prefer? Coffee for me.
Every day should start with a smile, a hot cup of coffee and a slice of Paradise Cake.
A preparation that sounds like a promise starting from its name.
How my days start
My days always start with the scent of the aroma of coffee just made that always I take with a few drops of cold milk.
But no cake for me: I am an unconventional Italian and prefer a savory breakfast.
And no smiles. Not in the first 30 minutes from my wakening. I wouldn’t smile even knowing that it is the day I’ll meet Santa Claus.
Then there are the lazy weekend breakfasts, when I have more time and can allow myself to prepare a richer breakfast with coffee or cappuccino, orange juice, something sweet and something savory, bread and butter, fresh flowers. For the smiles see above, I don’t discriminate any day of the week and treat everyone equally.
Today I am sharing a recipe for a classic baked cake of Lombardy origin, perfect for breakfast or as an afternoon treat.
Torta Paradiso has been the merenda of many Italian children of my generation, including myself. I still remember the goodness of the first slice that I ate still warm, and that melted in my mouth, while a cloud of icing sugar tickled my nose.
This is a classic recipe from the Italian baking tradition that deserves to be rediscovered.
Buona cucina, Monica
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I made this recipe in collaboration with Nespresso for the Instagram campaign to present the Nespresso Barista Creations line.
That recipe is taken from the book Gino Fabbri pasticcere. Sweets and talent of a world champion.
I joined a course dedicated to desserts with the Master.
(Paradise Cake) Torta Paradiso Recipe
serves 6
round mold, diameter 20cm
Ingredients
flour 0, 95g
potato starch, 95g
icing sugar, 190g
normal eggs, 3
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
softened butter, 190g
baking powder, 4g
pinch of salt
To make Coffee Paradise Cake:
40 ml caffè
Directions
In a bowl, mix flour, potato starch and salt. Set aside.
In a different bowl, whip butter, icing sugar and vanilla with electric whips.
When the mixture is frothy, add the eggs, one at a time, then add the flour mixed with the starch and mix all the ingredients once again with the whisk.
Line the mold and pour the dough.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180C degrees for about 30 minutes or until the surface is golden brown.
Let cool out of the oven and cover with icing sugar before serving.
To make Coffee version, add it cold, after whipping the butter and before adding the eggs.
