Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd and Raspberries

I am a dedicated chocoholic . . . but tonight that may have changed . . . I cannot believe that I have never made lemon curd until today!!! I think the name turned me off and lemon is not my very favorite flavor but after trying this dessert . . . I say chocolate can just take a seat on the bench for a while . . . the bitter sweet part of this dessert is that you can use the egg whites to make this heavenly Angel Food Cake (light and low fat) and then whisk the egg yolks in the luxurious (butter laden) lemon curd . . . they cancel each other out essentially. I am going to make this the next time I have my girls over . . . or to impress my in-laws . . . or because it is snowing . . . or . . . whenever . . .
Angel Food Cake

10 egg whites at room temperature
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Cream of Tarter
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp minced Lemon Zest (optional)

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Whip the egg whites in a large bowl with the salt until frothed. Add the cream of tarter, almond extract, vanilla extract, and slowly add the 3/4 cup of the sugar. Beat egg whites until stiff.
2. Whisk the flour and remaining 3/4 cup of sugar together in a bowl. Gentle fold flour mixture into the eggs whites until just combined.
3. Evenly divide the batter between two UNGREASED loaf pans. Run a butter knife through the center of the batter to release any large air bubbles.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until nicely browned. Cool pans cake side down on a wire rack for 1-2 hours. Run a spatula down the sides of the pan and under the cake to release it. Slice and serve. Enjoy!

Lemon Curd

1 cup of Sugar
3 1/2 Tbsp Cornstarch
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp Water
Zest of 1 Lemon
6 Tbsp lemon juice
6 Egg Yolks room temperature
1/2 cup Butter, cut into 1 inch pieces

1. Whisk the sugar and cornstarch together in a sauce pan. Add the water, lemon juice, and lemon zest and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk half of the lemon mixture with the egg yolks and then add back to the remaining lemon mixture. Boil for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add whisk in the butter. Pour mixture into a bowl and place a layer of plastic wrap on the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving. Enjoy!

- Lemon curd is delicious on pancakes, pound cake, as a cake or cupcake filling, pavlova or tart topping, etc.

- Angel food cake is wonderful topped with fruit, cut up in a trifle, drizzled with chocolate, dipped in chocolate or caramel, etc.