Vanilla Sponge

2011 ends in a few hours ................and I have made no plans for the night and no resolutions either. Instead decided to bake a Vanilla sponge cake first then assemble it into a Gateau. Now, what is a Gateau????

Gâteau is the French word for cake. It is generally a more delicate and complex confection than an American layer cake, with a génoise base and a cream or buttercream filling. It can be light or rich, rectangular or round, and often has fresh decoration such as fruit or whipped cream that makes it perishable. Gâteau can also be very elaborately decorated with spun sugar and chocolate.Source

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup + 2 tablespoons All purpose flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsps fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsps vanilla sugar
• 6 tablespoons warm milk

Steps:

1. Sieve flour, baking powder - three times. If making a chocolate sponge , just replace the 2 tablespoons of flour with cocoa powder and sieve.
2. In a stand mixer beat the eggs and salt, gradually add the sugar and beat until they turn pale. Add vanilla sugar and lime juice , continue beating until creamy and the mixture has soft peaks.
3. The sifted flour would be very light , hence add spoon by spoon and fold into the cream gently, so that it does not lose its volume.Add milk and fold well.
4. I have used a springform pan here and lined it with wax paper.Just place the paper at the bottom of the pan to be safe ,but don't grease the pan with butter. Pour out the batter .
   
5. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees celsius ( gas oven) and bake for about 15 - 20 minutes max. Check if  a skewer comes out clean. Take it out and let it rest for another 20 minutes. Pass a knife around the pan and declamp it. set it to cool on a wire rack.

As the cake cools on the rack, I shall get ready with the butter cream filling.
To be continued..........................................................