Papaver somniferum

POPPY SEED.

Poppy seed cakes are hard to find.

Good poppy seed cakes are impossible to find.

I bring you a recipe for a poppy seed cake, 

that goes so perfect with your morning coffee.

But before that,

 some facts I gathered about this special seed.

5 facts you didn't know about poppy seed

ØIn Indian cuisine, white poppy seed is 

used for flavor, texture and as a thickener.

Ø  The seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats, 

which make them vulnerable for oxidation 

and causes them to turn rancid. 

That is why they are best kept in the freezer.

Ø  For your ultimate poppy seed filling 

for cookies and cakes its best 

to grind the poppy seed twice.

Ø  Poppy seeds are banned in Saudi Arabia.

Ø  Immature poppy seed plants are cut to collect 

the latex called opium, a mixture of morphine, 

heroine, codeine and other related alkaloid drugs.

Poppy seed cake with a lemon glaze

1 cup of freshly grinded poppy seed

1 cup milk

½ cup oil

1.5 cups of sugar

5 egg yolks

5 egg whites

Zest from 1 lemon

1.5 cups of flour

1 tsp. baking powder

pinch of salt

glaze:

5 tbsp. powdered sugar

3 tbsp. lemon juice

* Immerse poppy seed in milk, and let sit for 1 hour.

* Beat egg yolks with half the quantity of sugar until you reach a light a fluffy mixture. Add the lemon zest, the poppy seed mixture and oil. Continue mixing until well incorporated.

*Beat egg white with a pinch of salt, once the volume starts to build up, gradually add the other half of the sugar, and beat until you get a stable mixture.

*Mix both mixtures together.

*Pour into a 28cm buttered and floured cake pan.

(or 2 18cm kugelhopf pans)

Bake for 50 minutes in a 180c degrees preheated oven. 
Make sure the cake gets nice and golden.

*Once the cake has cool down a bit, you can prepare the glaze. Mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice until you get a smooth consistency and pour on cake.
(if you prefer less tart, use part water instead of lemon juice) Decorate with you favorite berries.

* you can also skip the lemon glaze, 

and replace with your favorite chocolate frosting!