Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream

My absolute favorite thing that I am craving going into summer is angel food cake. I got this recipe from Williams Sonoma, I've been wanting to make one from scratch. In the past I have taken the easy route and made one from a box, so we'll see how it goes. I know there is a TON of egg whites in here, but it's the yolk that's got all the cholesterol and fat...ahhh but I hate waste...I'll have to find some other recipe now that just calls for yolks!
After the cake is cooled I hull and cut about 20 strawberries or so and add about 1-2 tbsp of water and some sugar (add to taste - at least a couple of Tbsp.) and I smash the crud out of them with a potato masher (lol! I know but it's all I have!) Then in a separate bowl I whip up about 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (add 1 tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla) use a handheld mixer and whip it until consistency of cool whip (do not over mix though or cream will curdle)

I have to find a good recipe for some lemon curd, I was at a dinner and they served angel food cake with warm lemon curd and it was heavenly! Just another idea for ya :)

Eggs are easier to separate when they are cold. Carefully crack the egg and, holding it over a bowl, pass the yolk back and forth between the shell halves and let the whites fall into the bowl. Drop the yolk into a separate bowl, then transfer the whites to a third bowl. Separate each additional egg over an empty bowl, for if any speck of yolk gets into the whites, the whites will not whip up properly. If a yolk breaks, start fresh with another egg. Let the separated egg whites come to room temperature before using them in the batter.

Ingredients:

1 cup cake flour

1 1/4 cups superfine sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cups egg whites (from about 10 eggs)

1 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

Fresh berries for serving

Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Line a 10-inch angel food cake pan with parchment paper.

Sift together the flour, 1 cup of the superfine sugar and the salt three times; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium-low speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar, increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the whites are soft and foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup superfine sugar and beat until medium-firm peaks form when the beaters are lifted. Do not overbeat. Stir in the lemon juice, vanilla and lemon zest.

Transfer the egg mixture to a very large bowl. Sift one-fourth of the flour mixture over it and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold it into the whites using deep strokes. Add the remaining flour mixture in three equal additions, sifting and folding each time.

Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and gently smooth the top. Bake until the cake is golden and springs back when touched, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and invert the pan onto its feet or the neck of a wine bottle. Let cool completely.

Gently run a long, thin-bladed knife around the outer sides of the pan, pressing it firmly against the pan to prevent tearing the cake. Then run the knife or a skewer around the inside of the tube. Invert the pan and let the cake slide out. Remove the paper lining. Garnish with berries and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serves 10.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, Dessert, by Abigail Johnson Dodge (Simon & Schuster, 2002 ).