Political Watch Party

Ginger-Beet Cake, aka, Beat the Candidate of Your Candidate of Your Choice Cake

Regardless of the direction of your political bent, much of America is gathering around the t.v. in greater numbers than anytime in recent memory. It reminds me of the popularity of All in the Family, the t.v. show with Archie Bunker, that racist, bigoted, narrow-minded icon of television in the 1970s. I'm not saying politics is like Archie Bunker, all I'm saying is Americans used to snuggle up to the television in large numbers to watch events, like in these weeks leading up to the 2012 Elections.

Our friend Betty with another beet cake.

So why not have a party? Tonight I've made a big pot of chili, using the late Elizabeth Taylor's recipe, as printed in Life Magazine in the 1960s. Cheese, crackers, breads, celery sticks, round out the watch party. And for dessert? I've made Beat Cake. You may remember it from one of my postings from last year, then titled as Ginger-Beet Cake.

It's made with canned beets. Yes. Really. And fresh ginger, pecans, coconut and the regular cake ingredients. It's really good. But since we all have our favorite candidates and are rooting for them in the debates, then I've dubbed this cake - Beat Cake. You can add icing words on top, "Beat ......." (you fill in the blank. Here's the recipe.

Beat the Other Candidate Cake

1 15 ounce can of sliced beets (not pickled, just canned beets)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rye flour (or you can use 1 1/2 cups regular flour)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar (I substitute 1 1/2 cups Truvia (stevia) and 1/2 cup sugar)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 tablespoons freshly-grated ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup nuts, chopped (you can use walnuts, pecans, almonds, your choice)
3/4 cup grated coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare 2 round cake pans by spraying with oil and dusting with flour and set aside.

Empty the can of beets into a food processor, juice and all, and process until fairly smooth. Add the remaining ingredients except the nuts and process briefly until blended. Add the nuts and pulse-process briefly to mix. Pour half into each of the 2 cake pans and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on racks then remove from pans.

Cover the first layer with the filling, below.

Filling for between the layers:

1 4 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Truvia or sugar
Blend well, then spread on one layer of the cake on a plate. Position second layer on top. Top with dusting of powdered sugar, if desired. Serve with real whipped cream.

And if you're not registered to vote? Go, register, vote, regardless of your affiliation. And have a piece of Beat Cake for dessert.