Recipe - Steamed Sponge Cake

6 Eggs
1 (up to)
1 One half cup Sugar
2 One half tablespoon Water
1 One half cup Flour
One half teaspoon Baking powder
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

1. Separate eggs. Beat yolks in a large bowl. Add sugar and water; beat
until fluffy.

2. Sift together flour and baking powder. Gradually add to eggs, mixing
well. Then blend in vanilla extract.

3. Beat egg whites until they form peaks and are stiff but not dry. Fold
into batter.

4. Line a cake pan (about 8 or 9 inches square and about 3 inches deep)
with waxed paper or foil. Pour batter into pan. Rap the pan sharply on the
table several times to remove large air bubbles.

5. Steam until done (20 to 25 minutes). See "Howto Section". Test for
doneness by inserting a toothpick: If no batter adheres, the cake is done.

6. Let cake cool slightly. Place a large flat platter over the pan and
invert cake onto it. Remove waxed paper or foil. Turn the cake rightside
up and cut in 2inch squares. Serve hot or cold. (Hot is better.)

NOTE: This cake is fine for summer since it needs no ovenbaking. It's also
excellent for lowfat diets. To keep it dry, place a cloth under the
steamer lid to catch and absorb the steam drippings. VARIATIONS:

1. For the sugar, substitute powdered sugar.

2. For the vanilla extract, use either halfvanilla and halfalmond
extract; or halfvanilla and halflemon extract.

3. Use an electric mixer: Beat the egg whites until stiff. Gradually add
the sugar and beat 2 minutes. (Omit the water.) Add the egg yolks and
vanilla extract; beat 2 minutes more. Sift in the flour and baking powder,
and mix well with egg mixture to make a smooth batter. Pick up steps 4, 5
and 6.

4. In step 4, line a Chinese bamboo steamer with a damp cloth; pour in the
batter and steam. Or pour the batter into paper cupcake cups or greased
custard cups.

From The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook, ISBN 0517658704. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.