PARSHA DESSERT: Parshas Chukas

In this weeks Parsha we learn about the 'Para Aduma'- literally a red cow. We learn that if there is a red cow, one should bring to Mishkan and offer as Korban. The ashes are sprinkled over the person that wants to become tahor-pure again. This is the only way that a person that came to touch a dead body can become Tahor again.

Red Velvet cake Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 Tbls cocoa

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup parev milk(I used rice milk)

1 Table lemon juice

2 Tbls red food colouring + more for icing

1/2 cup soft margarine

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tsp spirit vinegar

Method:

1. Grease 2 round cake pans and line the bottom with baking paper. I didnt have 2 the same size and it was fine.

2. Preheat oven to 180C (360F)

3. In a mixing bowl mix flour, cocoa and salt.

4. In another bowl mix rice milk and lemon juice.

5. In the bowl of a mixer, beat margarine to soften.

6. Add the sugar and beat for a minute. Scrape down sides and beat again for another minute.

7. While still beating, add the eggs one at a time.

8. Add Vanilla essence

9. Mix food colouring into the rice milk mixture.

10. With the mixer on low, add the flour and milk alternatively in three batches- ie: 1/3 flour then 1/2 milk, then 1/3 flour, rest of milk, rest of flour.

11. In a small bowl place the baking soda and add the vinegar to it. It will bubble. work quickly now, add to the batter and mix in by hand quickly.

12. Divide into the two prepared pans and place in middle rack of oven.

13. Bake for 25-30 minutes-or until a toothpick comes out clean.

14. Once baked, allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.

Allow to cool properly.

Once cooled you can shape the cake into a cow. Cut one of the cakes into a figure 8-one side bigger than the other- and place on top of the other cake. use the extra pieces to cut ears for the cow.

Ice with whipped Richs Whip. If not using Richs make sure its sweet enough on its own, otherwise add sugar. I split the whip into two batches and made 2 different shades of red. This made the cow look a little but more like a cow.

When cutting into the cake you can see how velvety the cake looks... so delicious!