GOODNESS
Cinnamon: Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen, just like its cousin cassia. It has an ancient pedigree, even being used to embalm a few pharaohs. That may not sound appetizing, but it has been found to be good for the heart, the stomach and the joints. Not impressed yet? Well consider that it also seems to mimic insulin and therefore helps diabetics moderate their sugar levels. So don't be shy with this tasty and healthy spice.
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Recipe

Coconut Angel Food Cake

serves
prep time: 10
cook time: 103

ingredients

  • Cake:
  • 1 1/4 cups egg whites (from about 9 large eggs), at room temperature
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup superfine sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup sifted cake flour
  • 1/3 cup dry unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/3 cup fresh coconut shavings
  • Sauce:
  • 1 bag (1 1/2 cups) cranberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

directions

Cake:

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Beat egg whites and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium until frothy, about 2 minutes. Add cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase speed to high. Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until whites form soft, glossy peaks. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice. In another bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar with flour. Sift 1/2 sugar-flour mixture over egg whites, gently but thoroughly fold into batter using a large spatula. Repeat twice with remaining sugar-flour mixture. Fold in dry coconut in 2 batches. Scrape batter into an ungreased 10-inch angel food tube pan with a removable bottom. Smooth top into even layer. Bake 35 minutes or until top is lightly browned and cake springs back when you press it. Turn pan upside down and rest on the neck of a glass bottle to cool. Run a knife against insides of pan to loosen cake, remove pan. Loosen cake from bottom of pan, invert onto a plate. Cover with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Sauce:

Boil all ingredients in a medium saucepan 1 minute, until lightly thickened. Let cool. Cover, refrigerate 1 hour. Before serving, sprinkle top of cake with coconut shavings. Serve slices with 3 tablespoons sauce.