semolina cheese cake with apple slices

It's an expiration day for ricotta cheese. Box of ricotta, hiding behind a jar of prunes and apricot jam in a fridge. Not so small box, still somehow was able to escape my sight. Sometimes unexpected things can be found and change a course of a daily routine. Ito is barking at me. She wants a whole box of cheese for herself. Cheese lover this dog. I grab my finger over the cheese and let her try before we make wobbling cheesecake. 

One lemon, one big red apple, two eggs, some sugar and good splash of vanilla, a bit of semolina cooked in milk and ricotta is all it takes to make a day more comforting and house pleasantly fragrant. Preparation takes minutes and the oven will take care for the rest. 

The recipe for this gluten free cake was given to me by my dad. There was a time when this cake was on a menu for almost every weekend and he would make it in a springform pan and arrange apple slices on top like a bouquet. I use regular pan, oven dish 32x20cm / 7cm deep, easy to wash :). 

This cake is ideal for 6-8 persons, reasonable humans that will satisfy their cravings for sweet with one generous piece, but we were never reasonable or 'normal' plus it's so light in texture and flavor that you can grab it with a spoon and eat while it's still slightly warm (recommended only for impatient once). 

Recipe

Semolina Cheese Cake With Apple Slices

500ml milk

90g semolina

2tbsp sugar

1tbsp honey

2 eggs

200g cheese (ricotta, or some other low in fat milk way cheese)

lemon, zest and juice

one big red apple

splash of vanilla

pinch of salt

Place milk and one table spoon of sugar in a saucepan and bring to boil. Cook semolina for about 3-5 minutes, stirring consistently. Set aside to cool. 

Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

In a bowl whisk egg yolks with other table spoon of sugar, honey, cheese and zest of lemon. 

When semolina is cool enough add cheese mixture to it, mix everything together. 

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff and combine with the rest of the batter slowly, making sure all is well combined. 

Place the batter in a slightly oiled pan. 

Slice the apple and sprinkle with lemon juice. Place slices over the top of the batter. Sprinkle with demerera sugar (optional). 

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. 

Cake should be wobbling when gets out of the oven. Leave to cool completely, if you can resist. 

 no sugar

 sprinkled with demerera sugar

..while cake bakes we go for a walk.

 

Next to a parking lot just across garbage containers, some people use public 'green areas' as a garden to sit, relax and chitchat. 

While others think only one thing.

Is cake ready!?

Impatient to let it cool. 

Slice of cake, if you can call it that.

Still tastes heavenly and light.