"Death Cafes - more than just talk" aka Clementine Cake with Chocolate Glaze

Conversation and cake June 9/13 Death Cafe

"To increase an awareness of death in order to live life to its fullest."

That's why more than 150 people have come together in Calgary's Death Cafes this spring; but there's more than just talk at these events - there's CAKE!

Yes! "Let them eat cake!" 


Dessert is an essential ingredient at every Death Cafe around the world. Here in Calgary, just like cowboys, oil, and crazy weather, there's more than enough cake to go around.

And those cakes are mmm- mmm- good: they're homemade with fresh eggs, real butter, and whole fat sour cream and yogurt. Come to think of it,  a few pieces of those cakes could take you closer to the topic of discussion than you want to go!

 "Clementine Cake with Chocolate Glaze" is one of the crowd pleasers and it's even gluten-free. Wait a minute -  there's no guest charge at any Death Cafe, so all the cakes are free!

I found this recipe in Bonnie Stern's 2008 cookbook "Friday Night Dinners". But this cake isn't just for dinner - it's for enjoying at a Sunday afternoon Death Cafe.

Clementine Cake with Chocolate Glaze ( Bonnie Stern - Friday Night Dinners, 2008)

Cake:

1 lb. whole clementine (about 4) or oranges (about 2)

6 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups ground toasted almonds

1 tsp. baking powder, optional

Chocolate Glaze:

6 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

¼ cup butter

Place whole clementines in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 hours, adding water if necessary to keep fruit covered. (Place a pate on top of oranges to hold them down). Cool. Cut clementines in pieces and remove seeds. Place the other parts of the orange in a food processor and process until smooth.

In a large bowl, bear eggs and sugar until very light.

In a separate bowl, combine almonds and baking powder, if using. Stir into batter. Add clementine puree.

Tansfer batter to a 9 inch spring form pan that has been oiled, lined with parchment and oiled again, Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until set. If the cake starts to brown too much, cover loosely with foil during baking. Cook cake and remove from pan.

Meanwhile combine chocolate and butter in top of a double boiler or in a microwave, stir until smooth, Cool slightly, Pour or spread over cake.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

 

This is one of the cakes I'll be baking for the September 29th special "Death Cafe and Your Own Personal Directive" You can enjoy your very own piece of this cake with a lot less work than baking it yourself - just register for this Death Cafe at yycdeathcafe@gmail.com.

FYI - there are limited spaces on September 29th. Don't miss the conversation or the cake - register today!

It's a delicious idea!

Wendy Kurchak
B.Ed, B.MusA, CT, DipNursing, DipGuidance