This is a delightful cake that is fairly sweet and with a little fruity flavor.Markiza cake is multi layered shortbread cake with meringue,nuts,and jam.In most original Russian recipes it is made with rich and sweet dulce de leche frosting.It’s too sweet for my family. I make it with my favorite frosting that goes perfect for this cake.One advice…Plan to spend good amount of time in the kitchen.It’s not a quick cake,but worth all your time and effort.Enjoy with coffee or tea.

Ingredients:

6 eggs (egg yolks and whites separated)

2 1/2 cup sugar

3-4 cups flour

2 sticks butter room temp.

1/3 cup sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Chopped walnuts or hazelnuts

Your choice of jam (I like apricot)

Cream:

2 sticks butter at room temp.

1 (8ozs) cream cheese

8 ozs. heavy whipping cream (or cool whip)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 can condensed milk

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Directions:

In a mixing bowl using hand or stand mixer combine butter with 1 cup of sugar.

Add egg yolks and sour cream.Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.

In another bowl combine flour and baking powder.

Gradually add flour* to the batter.

Form 6-8 balls,cover with plastic wrapper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

* start with 3 cups,gradually adding more if needed.

Meringue:

Whip egg whites until frothy.

Add 1 1/2 cup sugar.

Continue to whip until stiff peeks.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Roll out one ball at a time on slightly floured parchment paper.

Cut edges of cake layer using a 8 or 9 inch cake pan.

Spread about 1 -1 1/2 tablespoons of jam** on the layer.

Spread about 2 +/- tablespoons of meringue.

Sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of nuts on top of meringue.

** Spread jam on every other layer.

Bake for 6-8 minutes depending on your oven then reduce temp. to 200 degrees and continue baking for another 10 minutes.

Repeat steps with the rest of the dough.

Cream:

Whip butter with cream cheese and vanilla.

Gradually add condensed milk.

Gradually on med-low speed pour in heavy whipping cream*,increasing speed as cream thickens a little.

Continue to whip until cream thickens.

*if not using heavy cream,add cool whip.

Assembling:

Slightly heat jam using stove or microwave.Stir and let it cool.

Carefully spread a good amount of cream on the first layer with jam.

Place second layer(no jam)meringue side facing down on top of the first one.

Repeat steps with the rest of the layers in this order:

with jam-cream-no jam-cream-with jam-cream-no jam…so forth.

Apply cream to the sides and top of the cake.

Gently spread cooled jam on top of the cake.

Decorate sides of the cake as desired.I used white chocolate shavings and whipped cream with powdered sugar for top edges.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:105]

I don’t know of healthier breakfast then overnight oats with buckwheat.A filling,delicious,and nutritious breakfast with superfood ingredients and tons of health benefits.Can it get better then that???

Overnight oats are oats soaked overnight in liquid such as milk(any kind).I like to add buckwheat and other super foods to give it an extra boost.They are very versatile and made with variety of ingredients,flavorings,and fruits.

If not using Natures Path’s superfood cereal, you will need to use raw (light green)buckwheat, not roasted. Using raw ingredients known as “live food” has more health benefits because, when food is heated over 118 degrees F. most of the food nutrients are destroyed.Eating more raw food gives you more energy and amazing health results.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup Nature path organic Qi’a buckwheat,chia,hemp cereal*

2 tablespoons ground flax seeds

3 tablespoons plain yoghurt

3/4-1 cup milk (regular,almond,coconut,etz….)

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 tablespoons maple syrup,honey,agave,or condensed milk.

Fresh fruit and/or berries

Choice of nuts

*You can make your own;just add raw buckwheat,chia seeds,hemp seeds,almonds,and cranberries.

Direction:

Place all the ingredients (except fruit) in a glass jar such as mason jar or any other glass container.Stir to combine all the ingredients.Cover with lid and refrigerate overnight.When ready to serve, top with fruit and berries and more nuts or chia seeds if desired.If you like more liquid in your oats add more milk and adjust sweetness to your liking.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:101]

If you like nuts, then this “squirrel cake” is for you.It does take some time to make it.It is fairly sweet and fills you up quickly.

Ingredients for batter:

preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 1/2 cups of your favorite nuts.toasted,cooled, and chopped in a blender (you can have them mixed using variety)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 sticks butter melted but not hot
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup flour

Directions for cake batter:
In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat eggs on high speed until they will be foamy and pale.Add the sugar,sour cream and butter. Mix on low.

Combine flour,nuts, and baking powder.
Gently combine the flour mixture with the whipped eggs.

Grease a 9 x 2 3/4 spring-foam pan.
Pour half of the batter to the pan and spread it with spoon or spatula.
Bake for about 13-15 minutes.
Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Amaretto syrup:
1/2 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons Amaretto liquor

combine all ingredients.Let cool

Ingredients for cream:

Inside-
1 can condensed milk ( cook the cans for two hour in water, or use prepared Dulce DE leches)
2 sticks butter softened at room temp.
4 tablespoons sour cream

Beat together butter with dulce de leche. Add sour cream, and beat again.

Carefully slice the cake to have four layers all together.
Spray or add syrup using a spoon on each layer.
Spread the cream evenly on each layer leaving the top.

Outside-
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder (sifted)

Beat together heavy cream with sugar.Gradually add cocoa powder.
Spread the cream all over the top and sides of the cake.

Decorate the cake as desired. Top it with mixed nuts,chocolate, sifted cocoa.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:115]

kievskiy cake-2

Kievskiy cake is meringue cake with nuts in between two sponge cakes slightly soaked with syrup and apricot preserve that’s covered with delicious cream!. Sounds so delightfully tasty already, but wait until you try it… It can’t be better. Its a very popular Russian/ Ukrainian cake that got it’s name from “Kiev” city in Ukraine in early 1950’s.There is also lots of variation on making this cake, and this recipe is the one that my family adores .(especially my mom,who is not a big fan of sweets).

Meringue takes some time to bake, I like to make it day before I make the whole cake.When Apricots in season I like to make my own preserve, (apricots and sugar simmering over low heat for about 1.5 hours) but otherwise I use store bought.

For Meringue:

4 egg whites
1 1/2 cup sugar

For Cake:

6 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

For Cream:
1 can condensed cream

2 sticks butter softened at room temp.

1 package cream cheese

8 oz container whip cream topping (Also you can beat heavy cream with powdered sugar, taste will be slightly different but still taste good) *

Apricot jam or preserve (or any other of your choice)

cooled sugar syrup (boil 1 cup water with 3 tbsp. sugar. let cool)

finely chopped walnuts or peanuts

crushed maria’s cookies or graham cracker cookies

* You can also omit whip cream, just add 2 sticks butter and 1 more can of condensed milk.

Directions:

Meringue:
Heat oven to 250 degrees.

On high speed beat egg whites with sugar until really stiff about 20-25 minutes.

Line the bottom of 9″ spring foam pan with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes on 250 degrees then reduce to 175 degrees for another 4 hours. (I like to leave it in the turned off oven overnight)

Cake:

Heat oven 325 degrees.

On high speed beat eggs with sugar, when the batter is stiff and light, add flour and mix it well.

Pour the batter into 9” round baking pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes.

Let the cake cool.

Cream:
Beat butter with cream cheese until smooth.

Gradually add condensed milk and beat well until combined.

Add whip cream and beat again.

note: If you will use heavy whipping cream instead of whip cream topping, then beat it together with powdered sugar in separate bowl then fold it in gently to the cream.

Assembling:

Slice the cake in half.Using a tablespoon pour sugar syrup on the cake(don’t over do it)

spread the jam or preserve.
spread a good layer of cream
sprinkle with nuts
place meringue cake on top, and add another good layer of cream.

Soak the other slice of cake with syrup, and spread jam or preserve.Place it on top of the cake.

Spread the remaining cream all over the cake. Sprinkle cookie crumbs on the top,(and sides if you like) and nuts on the sides of the cake.Or you can do how ever you like depends on your preference. Keep it in the fridge for at least two hours. Serve with a cup of hot tea.Enjoy!

Markiza Cake

Overnight Oats with Buckwheat

Squirrel Cake with nuts

kievskiy cake