My blog SavannaBel mostly centers around the Zambezi Valley, but in this post I am sharing with you a pictorial of food, nature and lifestyle in Australia. It comes with gratitude to everyone who made our recent three-week, sun-drenched holiday in Perth so special.
The graduation of Chris’s youngest daughter Olivia, from university, was the reason we flew to Perth. The occasion brought together a happy contingent of family members from other parts of Australia, as well as the United States. We stayed with Chris’s youngest sister Louise and her family in the beachside suburb of Cottesloe, along with a continual flow of siblings and cousins. We also spent four days cycling, walking, swimming and snorkeling on Rottnest Island, a nature reserve famous for its quokka population, half-an-hour west of Perth in the Indian Ocean.
When Chris and his three siblings were young, their mother, who, by all accounts, was a terrific cook and baker, would make Blitz Torte for their birthdays. Chris’s mother was of German descent, although she was born and grew up in England. A Blitz Torte is so-called because it’s a cake that can be made at lightning speed. Chris’s sister, Dee, made one for Louise’s husband, John, on his birthday, which also happened to be our second last evening together. When I tasted the Blitz Torte I understood why it was the birthday cake of choice. What beats a spicy cake layered with meringue and cream?
Blitz Torte
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients:
Cake
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup household flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
Meringue
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup castor sugar
- pinch of baking powder
Filling
- 1 cup whipped cream
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350/180 degrees. Grease two 8-inch layer pans with removable bottoms.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until smooth and pale, and then beat in egg yolks.
- Sieve together flour and baking powder, and mix into the batter. Add the milk and vanilla essence, and continue mixing until well combined.
- Pour the batter into each cake pan evenly. Set aside.
- In a separate clean bowl (preferably metal), beat the egg whites until they reach the soft peak stage. Beat in the castor sugar a spoon at a time, along with the baking powder, until the mixture is stiff and glossy.
- Divide the meringue evenly and spread over both the batter in each cake pan.
- Bake the cake until a skewer runs through clean, and the meringue is set, about 30-40 minutes. Once out of the oven, run a palette knife around the edge of the pans, remove the cakes, and set aside to cool.
- Whip the cream to a spreading consistency.
- Place one layer of the cake onto a serving plate, meringue side up or down (your preference). Spread the top of the layer with cream, and then place the other layer, meringue side up, on top. Spread another layer of cream on top of the meringue, and decorate with sieved cinnamon.
34 Comments
Beautiful photos Annabel … ah the memories!
Thank you, Dee. And a delicious Blitz Torte made by Yours Truly! Much love to you and all the family … xo
These pictures are amazing! Love the broader scope of your blog. I also am so intrigued by Australia. It looks like such an amazing place. Hope to get there soon. I am certainly going to follow your blog! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, and thank you for following my blog. Australia is quite a country, to be sure, although we were only on the west coast this time. I highly recommend a visit! All the best to you, Annabel
I love the garden in a suitcase! What a clever idea.
Thank you, Carol. Yes, I thought it was so clever, too. I found it in a tiny cafe behind a dress shop. The whole place was unique and the food was terrific.
Wonderful as always!
Truly an isnpiration
Thank you for such a kind comment, chitaiti. All the best to you … Annabel
I have two things to say. First, quokkas!! The cutest animal I’ve never heard of : ) Is it true they have no fear of humans?
Second, blitz torte—sounds and looks like an absolute KEEPER. I want this for my birthday last week!
OK, three things—this Gustav’s place is making me drool!
Haha, Cynthia! Thank you for your lovely comment. Yes, quokkas are unafraid of humans, especially on Rottnest Island where I took the photograph. Much gratitude for stopping by! xo
Annabel , thank you again for sharing your experiences , i love those quokkas ! the happiest animal ? how so ? very cute indeed .
And that dessert looks and sounds deelicious ! Welcome back … Bisous to BiBi & co , after Chris and you of course !
Thank you for your lovely comment, Calie. Quokkas were said to be the happiest animals on the planet in a story in the Huffington Post that showcased pics of the critter continually smiling at the camera. 🙂 I also read that the reason they never stop smiling is “an accident of evolution.” Nice thought, though!
The dessert was delicious … try it!
Lots of love to you … xo
Hi Annabel . I loved this story & all the wonderful photos. I hope you will make it across to Sydney next time.
Love Kathy.
Hi Kathy … you can be sure that next time we’ll include the east coast, too. I would have LOVED to have seen you all. Thank you for your kind comment, and this comes with much love … xo
I’ve shared in that same path of footsteps in the sand beneath the lighthouse at Rottnest – a wonderful place to be! Seems that you had a special time away. Good! x
Rottnest Island was a beautiful nature reserve, Cherie, and such an interesting place. Lovely to hear from you and thank you for your kind comment. Lots of love … xo
I think you are secretly in love with Gustav!! Great images, delicious looking food, cutest of creatures and sounds like you had an inspirational and rewarding time with family.
Haha, Louise! I fell in love with Gustav’s Cafe, a quaint little “shack” set behind a dress shop, which served just the best food. Perth is a foodie’s paradise! Thank you for your lovely comment. I wish you had been there, too! xo
Great photos, great toes, great food. I want a quokka.
Thank you for your wonderful comment, chef mimi. Better get yourself to western Australia!
Hey Annabel thanks for thinking of us…your keen readers…even when you are on holiday. Loved the Australian stories, all told with your African flavour. The torte is a crowd pleasure for sure. I’m so glad you and Chris had such a good time xx
Thank you so much, Hellie! We were spoiled rotten in Perth, and yes, the Blitz Torte is definitely a winner. I highly recommend it! Much love to you … xo
Once again, you’ve taken me somewhere I’ve never been. What a lovely trip you had!
Thank you for your sweet comment, Michelle. It was a lovely trip indeed!
Well done Annabel – really super! Will try the cake LOL Mum
Thank you so much, Mum. Perth was beautiful … with great food! The cake is definitely worth trying; it’s really yummy. Adding some fresh berries or stewed fruit (if it’s cold weather) would, I think, be a great addition … although it might be seen as sacrilege by some! Lots of love to you … xo
What a fabulous trip you had, Bella! The 4 days cycling, walking and swimming on Rottnest Island sounds idyllic – just my sort of holiday! No wonder the quokkas are so happy! You take the most fantastic photos and I want to eat everything that Gustav produces! Yummy torte too and lovely that this cake tradition continues. Much love to you both. xx
Thank you for your kind compliments, Kate! You would have indeed loved Rottnest … right up your alley! I wanted to eat everything Gustav produced, too. Lots of love back to you … and thanks for stopping by. xo
Annabel, glad you are home safely. What beautiful photos and memories. I am sorry now we weren’t there earlier to enjoy all the beautiful feasts you had. Definitely will be getting into a blitz torte and must try and get the recipe for the yummy chia seed dessert Dee whipped up. Lots of love to you both and looking forward to the next “Rottnest”. Mandy xx
Lovely to hear from you, Mandy, thank you. It was SUCH a pleasure meeting you all … and just a joy for Chris to reconnect with his long, lost family. I hope you and Johnny will make it out here soon, when the farming allows. I have eaten Dee’s chia seed dessert as brekky many times since my return. It really is delicious … and so good for you. I bought the chia seeds in South Africa, especially! This comes with much love to you and Johnny, and of course your special Mum and Dad … Annabel xo
… loving the chip Chat! Please tell me any yummy combinations that you come up with Annabel 🙂
I will do, Dee. So far I haven’t been too adventurous, just varying quantities on the same ingredients: coconut milk, coconut water, fresh pineapple juice, roasted almonds, fresh pomegranate seeds … mixed in with three tablespoons of chia seeds. YUMMO! xo
Lovely photos and anecdotes, Annabel. And I just HAVE to try making the Blitz Torte..
Thank you for your sweet comment, Zsa Zsa. The Blitz Torte is definitely a winner. Let me know what you think! xo
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