Pork Curry and Coca Cola cake

Curried Pork Stew

By DASH

This comforting aromatic stew is full of tender chunks of pork.

MAKES  6   ACTIVE TIME 25 min. TOTAL TIME 1 hr. 1 min. 

INGREDIENTS

1 (3-lb) boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 Tbsp canola oil

3 Granny Smith apples (2 chopped, 1 sliced very thin)

1 large onion, chopped

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin

1⁄2 tsp cayenne

2 (14-oz) cans reduced sodium chicken broth

1⁄2 tsp salt

1⁄4 tsp black pepper

1 1⁄2 cup baby carrots

1⁄2 (20-oz) package frozen butter nut squash cubes, thawed

Sour cream for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1 In a large pot, sauté pork in oil in several batches until browned.

2 Return all cooked meat to pot. Add chopped apple, onion, curry powder, coriander, cumin, and cayenne. Cook on medium, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 1⁄2 hour.

3 Add carrots, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes more. Add sliced apple and squash and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When pork and vegetables are tender, remove pot from heat. Garnish each portion with sour cream, if desired.

KITCHEN COUNTER

Makes 6. Serve: 6. Per Serving: 460 calories, 22g carbs, 37g protein, 25g fat, 130mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 3g fiber

© 2016 AMG/Parade

https://parade.com/28627/dash/curried-pork-stew/

Note on the stew:  the store only had cooked winter squash in the freezer so I got that instead of frozen butternut squash.  Well the winter squash was not only cooked but pureed too.  I only added a couple tablespoons of the puree to the stew and stirred it in the liquid to thicken it a little. 

I had problems with this cake.  As made, the batter was too thin and I had to add a cup and a half more flour before it looked right. It took about 10 more minutes in the oven too. Later I looked up other recipes by the same name and some had a cup of cola and other had 12 ounces.  8 ounces would have worked out better.  Also the frosting was thin but I let it cool and thicken a little before I poured it over the hot cake as instructed.  The frosting promptly ran off the top of the cake and puddled under it.  The picture is of the cake slice is turned upside down. Also had some cinnamon added. There is a second recipe following the one I used which I think will provide better results. Also included in the second recipe is a history of the cake.

Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Author: Hayley Parker

Prep time:  1 hour 30 mins  Cook time:  30 mins  Total time:  2 hours Serves: 15-18

This Coca Cola Chocolate Cake is a dream come true for any soda pop fan! Moist, fluffy chocolate cake with a pourable, delectable cola frosting.

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed

• ¼ cup cocoa powder

• 1 (12 oz) can Coke (do not use diet)

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ cup buttermilk

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• FOR THE FROSTING:

• 1 (12 oz) can Coke (do not use diet)

• ½ cup butter, cubed

• ¼ cup cocoa powder

• 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a 9x13" rectangular baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.

2 In a medium saucepan, add in the butter, cocoa powder, and can of Coke and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally until smooth. While Coke mixture melts, whisk together the granulated sugar, flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined. Pour the melted Coke mixture into the flour mixture and combine well.

3 Add in the buttermilk and gently whisk in to combine. Crack in the eggs and stir in the vanilla, whisking until cohesive and smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for approx. 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist, not wet, crumbs.

4 During the last 15 minutes of the cake baking, make your frosting. In a small saucepan, boil the second can of Coke for 12-15 minutes or until reduced by half and thickened slightly. Whisk in the butter to melt.

5 In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Pour in the Coke/butter mixture and whisk until smooth. If adding chopped pecans, do so now. Pour the frosting over the still-hot cake and let set at room temperature for about an hour before cutting into squares.

I looked on-line for a history of Coca-Cola cake and hoped for a recipe that made a little more sense. I found this one. It uses a more conventional cake making method and less coke in both cake and icing recipes: 

History of Coca-Cola Cake:

In the deep South, drinking Coca-Cola soda pop is a religion.  It is such a staple in the Southern culture that most Southerners refer to Coca-Cola and all soda pop for that matter as just “Coke.”  Because of this Coca-Cola love, it seems natural that the Coca-Cola cake also finds its origins in the south.  It is very common to go to a church social or family reunion and find a Coca-Cola sheet cake on the dessert section of the buffet table.

“Of all the recipes, the most widespread, according to the Coca Cola Company, is one for a gooey chocolate cake with miniature marshmallows, pecans and probably more calories per square inch than anyone can count.”  

It is unclear to researchers if Coca-Cola cake was a created in a home kitchen or a clever way for The Coca-Cola Company to market their soda.  Historians have found newspaper articles to confirm that using cola in cake recipes originated in the Southern United States.  The earliest reference to a Coca-Cola Cake recipe appears in 1950’s Cookbooks and was brought to the forefront again in the 1990’s.

1952 – First reference found to a published recipe:  Chocolate Cola Cake recipe published in the Charleston Gazette, August 8, 1952 (p.20), “Unusual’ dishes awarded second, third place in contest“  Mrs. E.D. Greer or Lillybrook, W.VA. supplied the recipe

1997 – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, founded in the south, was looking for ways to further incorporate Coca-Cola into their menu.  They came across the classic Coca-Cola cake recipe, increased the cocoa ratio and reintroduced it as Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake.  They decided to offer this dessert for limited periods on their menu.  The cake became so popular with customers that Cracker Barrel would continue to receive requests, letters and phone calls asking for the cake to be on the regular menu all year.  Finally in 2009, Cracker Barrel made the Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola cake a permanent menu item and it has become their signature dessert.  When you mention Cracker Barrel, people strongly associate the Coca-Cola Cake.

 Coca-Cola Chocolate Cake Recipe:

Prep Time: 20 minutes  Cook Time: 40 minutes  Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup Coca-Cola soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 

2 eggs 

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

* For buttermilk substitute:  In liquid measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar, pour in milk to the 1 cup line.  Let stand for 5 minutes then use the amount you need for your recipe. 

 Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly oil and dust with flour a 13- x 9-inch baking pan.

In a small bowl, combine coca-cola soda, buttermilk and vanilla extract; set aside.

In medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda; set aside.

In large bowl, on low speed, beat together the butter and sugar until combined.  Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until blended.  Starting with the flour mixture, beat in a little at a time alternating with the Coca-Cola mixture until you have ended with the flour mixture.  Continue to beat for 2 additional minutes until the batter is light and fluffy.  Stir in the marshmallows.  Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.  It is normal for the marshmallows to float to the top of the cake batter when cooking.

Bake approximately 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the cooking (once you reach 30 minutes, check cake every few minutes until done).  Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean or when the internal temperature  registers approximately 205 to 209 degrees F. on your cooking thermometer.

While the cake is baking, prepare the Coca Cola Chocolate Icing.  Do not make the frosting in advance, as you you need to pour it over the cake shortly after baking.

Remove cake from the oven to a cooling rack.  While the cake is still hot, pour the prepared Chocolate Icing over cake and spread evenly to cover the cake.  Let cake cool completely before serving.  Serve alone or accompanied by vanilla ice cream.

   Topping Suggestion:  Coarsely-chopped Pecans sprinkled on top of chocolate icing (optional).

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Coca Cola Chocolate Icing:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature or softened

1/3 cup of Coca-Cola soda

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

4 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the butter, Coca-Cola soda, and cocoa powder until butter has melted.  Whisk in the powder sugar, one cup at a time, and then add the vanilla extract.  Stir until icing is smooth.

History References:
FAQs: Cakes- Cola Cakes, by the Food Timeline, Colacake – Yes it’s true, Cooking with Coke, by Dena Kleinman, New York Times, June 6, 1190 (p.C6)

History of Cracker Barrel’s Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake, by Nora Zelevansky, May 30, 2013

Recipe Source:

I slightly adapted this Coca-Cola cake recipe featured on the Coca-Cola Company website.  Recipe contributed by Lee Avery Catts to Atlanta Cooknotes, published by The Junior League of Atlanta.