Cooking at 43° North: Baking away those winter blues

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

I remember the winters when I was a young girl. We had large amounts of snow. It was a wonderland for us kids. Not so great for my dad, who had to keep pipes from freezing and snow cleared for the milk to be picked up on a regular basis.

Operating a dairy farm demanded that all systems be 100% at all times. For us kids, it was a world of pure fun during those big storms. Sleigh riding was perfect. I remember one winter morning when my father walked in early and announced to all of us, “Get your ice skates on and get outside. You’ll never see the likes of this again.”

He was right. It had snowed about a foot the day before, then warmed up enough to rain in the afternoon. Overnight it froze. It got so darn cold that we kids skated right in our yard and across the fields for about three days after that major cold snap. It was like one big ice rink.

The view of the farm was like nothing I had ever seen or will ever see again. Everything had a thick coating of ice. I remember that storm like it was yesterday. My dad was right. I never did see anything like that again. Yes, we’ve had ice storms, but not ice thick enough to skate on. Schools were closed and the power was out for days and days. It took the plows forever to get the roads clear. It was misery for many, but for us kids it was the best of times. What a magical memory that is.

During these winter storms, everyone was homebound. Outside activities, chores and reading were pretty much the choices we had to keep ourselves amused. But this was also the time my mother would kick her baking into high gear. Bread, pies, cakes, cookies — you name it and she made it.

My favorite was when she made her cinnamon buns. When the yeast came out in the morning, we knew what her plans were for that day. Away she would go into the kitchen while the snow came down and piled up. The house smelled delightful while these tasty treats were in the oven. By the next morning, crumbs were all that was left of those buns. (In case you were wondering, yes, us kids were all little butterballs.)

I know that this is the time of year when many are weary of all the baking and goodies from the holidays. Yet I can remember the visits from friends and relatives that came during those bitterly cold January evenings. My mother would always make something for them to snack on with coffee or tea. Here I have the perfect recipe for such occasions.

Karin Soderberg is a member of Harpswell Aging at Home. She retired here from Mystic, Connecticut, in 2014, and feels her move to Harpswell was the best decision she ever made. Her involvement in the Kellogg Church, People Plus and activities with Harpswell Aging at Home makes her a valued member of our community.

Karin brought a dessert to an event we attended together this past summer. It was delicious — simple, yet elegant. This is a no-fail dessert that can be assembled quickly. The combination of fresh lemon, vanilla, almond and butter makes it a mouthwatering treat.

Swedish visiting cake

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar (plus more to sprinkle on top)

Grated zest from 1 lemon

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup flour

1 stick butter, melted (allow to cool slightly)

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add lemon zest to sugar and rub together until oils are released. The sugar should smell delicious.

Whisk in eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in salt and extracts. Change to a spatula and stir in flour.

Using a little of the melted butter, grease a 9-inch skillet or cake pan.

Fold in the melted butter and mix.

Pour batter in the pan and sprinkle the top with almonds and some sugar.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan.

This cake can be served warm or at room temperature. But really, is there anything more delicious than warm cake? Enjoy!

Cooking at 43° North, a program of Harpswell Aging at Home, brings Harpswell residents together for cooking programs, in person and online. Watch the Anchor calendar for listings.

HAH always needs cooks for its Meals in a Pinch program, which provides nutritious meals to seniors in need of emergency assistance. For more information, contact Julie Moulton at 207-330-5416 or juliemoulton28@gmail.com.