Lithuanian Birch Log

Ingredients

Cake

• 9 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• juice of one lemon
• grated rind of two lemon
• 10 egg whites
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• butter or shortening, for greasing pan

Filling

• 3 cups pitted prunes
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• semisweet chocolate, melted (optional)

Frosting

• 2 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup cold water
• 1 dash salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. 1

   MAKE CAKE. Cream egg yolks and sugar. Add lemon juice and rind.

2. 2

   Beat egg whites until stiff. Add to the above mixture alternately with flour and baking powder.

3. 3

   Pour into a jelly-roll pan or cookie sheet lined with greased paper. (Parchment?) Bake for 15-20 minutes.

4. 4

   Cut off and reserve 1/3 of the cake. Place the two-thirds on a clean dish towel; spread with filling and roll up.

5. 5

   Roll the reserved 1/3 into 3 or 4 smaller rolls to make branches. Unequal thickness looks best. Cut one end of each little roll diagonally. Attach it to the large roll/log with icing; put at different angles. You're aiming for a tree here.

6. 6

   Frost the entire surface with frosting. Make birch-bark markings with either a fork and/or melted chocolate.

7. 7

   FILLING:.Boil the prunes. Drain; cool to room temperature Mash up finely (put thru sieve, food mill, food processor, etc.)

8. 8

   Ceam sugar and butter. Add egg yolks and beat well. Add prune pulp to the egg mixture, along with vanilla and cocoa.

9. 9

   FROSTING:.Boil some water in the lowe part of a double boiler. Keep over low flame.

10. 10

    Place everything except vanilla into the top part of the double boiler. Beat until well-blended. Put it over the lower part and beat constantly until the frosting forms stiff peaks. Takes about 7 minutes. Remove from heat.

11. 11

    Pour into a mixing bowl. Add vanilla. Beat another two minutes or until it's of spreading consistency.