Nostalgia.

Celebrate.

I've mentioned here before how champagne is my drink of choice for any occasion.  I always keep a few bottles in the fridge and especially love to serve it in a chilled champagne flute.  I came across the recipe from one of my favorite bloggers (and fellow Washingtonian) Apollinas for Pink Champagne Cake.  Swoon.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

The Cake

2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. table salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup brut sparkling wine

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

6 drops red food coloring

6 egg whites

The Frosting

1/2 cup shortening

1/3 cup brut sparkling wine

5 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin

1 Tbsp. cold water

3/4 cup heavy cream

Apollina's cake.  Gorge.  She imported the gold glitter from London.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Cream butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer until mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Combine 3/4 cup sparkling wine, milk, and vanilla.

Add flour and wine mixtures alternately to butter mixture, combining well after each addition. Tint batter with red food coloring.

Beat egg whites in a separate bowl with clean beaters until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold egg whites into cake batter in thirds, stopping as soon as whites are incorporated. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.

Bake cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center has only or or two crumbs on it, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn cakes out onto a rack to cool completely.

Beat together shortening, 1/3 cup sparkling wine, and powdered sugar for frosting in a bowl until smooth. Spread 1 cup frosting on top of one cooled cake round. Place second cake round on top of the frosted round.

Sprinkle gelatin into water in a small saucepan. Let mixture sit for 5 minutes, then gently warm over low heat until gelatin dissolves. Cool to room temperature.

Beat heavy cream until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add gelatin mixture to cream; continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Working in batches, gently fold whipped cream into remaining frosting.

Spread frosting onto top and sides of cake, being careful not to overwork. Refrigerate cake 1 hour with a large bowl over the top to

protect frosting. Use a spatula to gently swirl frosting before serving.

Champagne Every Day.

I know Champagne is for celebrating, but it is my drink of choice for any occasion. I love a Kir Royale. Traditionally it is made with Crème de cassis, but more modern recipes call for Chambord. I place 3 tablespoons Chambord into my chilled champagne flute and then add champagne. I top it of with four or five fresh raspberries. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! XO