Lekach (Honey Cake)

From the land of milk and honey comes a dessert which has...you guessed it...honey.  Honey cake (Lekach) is often served at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  Eaten to insure a sweet year, it has been a tradition for almost as long as the Jewish faith has been in existence.  A dense loaf cake, Lekach is sometimes colored with coffee or tea and can taste more like gingerbread or lebkuchen depending on the maker.  Recipes vary tremendously.  However, one thing remains the same - honey.  It offers such a soothing and rich flavor, it's easy to see why this is one of those recipes that has been handed down from the ages.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2-1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. apple pie spice
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup clear honey
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• grated rind of one orange
• 2 eggs
• 5 Tbsp. orange juice
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh ginger root

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8 inch square baking pan or medium loaf pan. 
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, apple pie spice and baking soda.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the honey, olive oil, orange rind and eggs.  Using a wooden spoon, beat until smooth, then add the orange juice.  Stir in the chopped ginger.
4. Pour the cake mixture into the pan then bake for 50 minutes or until firm to touch.
5. Leave the cake to cool in the pan, then turn out and wrap tightly in foil.  Store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days before serving to allow the flavors of the cake to mature.

(The original recipe came from "Jewish Cooking" by Marlena Spieler)