Dolce Vita Bloggers: Italy's hidden gem!
We can't boast to having visited many places in Italy, but we are working on that. However, we can boast that having family from Praiano, along the famous Amalfi Coast, often means we don't need to visit anywhere else! With it's breathtaking views, cute cobbled streets, quaint villages and, of course, our family, Praiano has everything we could possible want/need.
We'd definitely say that it is our hidden gem; a place where we feel content, safe and at home. We wrote more about Praiano in our Love Letter to Italy, so today instead of talking about the village itself, we're going to share with you, a hidden gem, within our hidden gem. And, that comes in the form of a recipe; one that our Zia Rosetta made for us last year and that we have tried and tested ourselves a few times upon our return home. It's for a Chocolate Cake, made with ground almonds, known as Torta Caprese.
Upon doing further research about this cake, we realized that a classic Torta Caprese is made without flour and is quite straightforward. But we like to do things a little differently in our family, so in Zia Rosetta's recipe you will find a little flour and also Rum, because, well, who doesn't want a bit of alcohol in their cake?!
Ingredients: For One 12 inch cake pan.
- First, start to melt your butter and chocolate over a double boiler. You can let it melt slowly, while preparing everything else.
- Whisk your egg yolks in a large bowl, then add the sugar and mix again until smooth and creamy in texture.
- Add the 3 tbsps of flour and mix. While whisking, reduce the speed of the mixer or hand held electric whisk and pour in the rum.
- Next, add the ground almonds and mix till combined.
- Lastly, whisk up the egg whites, till soft peaks form and then fold them slowly into your mixture.
- Cut a large circle of parchment paper and wet it before placing it on the bottom of the tin.
- Bake at 180 degrees C for one hour.
Homemade recipes made with love passed on from generation to generation is definitely a hidden gem. I'm pleased you are taking this precious gift and giving it renewed life so that it can continue!
This looks so good!! Your nonna looks precious!
Aww thank you! It's actually our Zia Rosetta in the photo, they all look very similar though! :) Our Nanna's one of 11!