Lithuanian Birch Log Recipes

LITHUANIAN BIRCH LOG

Steps:

• MAKE CAKE. Cream egg yolks and sugar. Add lemon juice and rind.
• Beat egg whites until stiff. Add to the above mixture alternately with flour and baking powder.
• Pour into a jelly-roll pan or cookie sheet lined with greased paper. (Parchment?) Bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Cut off and reserve 1/3 of the cake. Place the two-thirds on a clean dish towel; spread with filling and roll up.
• Roll the reserved 1/3 into 3 or 4 smaller rolls to make branches. Unequal thickness looks best. Cut one end of each little roll diagonally. Attach it to the large roll/log with icing; put at different angles. You're aiming for a tree here.
• Frost the entire surface with frosting. Make birch-bark markings with either a fork and/or melted chocolate.
• FILLING:.Boil the prunes. Drain; cool to room temperature Mash up finely (put thru sieve, food mill, food processor, etc.)
• Ceam sugar and butter. Add egg yolks and beat well. Add prune pulp to the egg mixture, along with vanilla and cocoa.
• FROSTING:.Boil some water in the lowe part of a double boiler. Keep over low flame.
• Place everything except vanilla into the top part of the double boiler. Beat until well-blended. Put it over the lower part and beat constantly until the frosting forms stiff peaks. Takes about 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Pour into a mixing bowl. Add vanilla. Beat another two minutes or until it's of spreading consistency.