Culinary Travel: Panama

Controversial. Revolutionary. Amazing. The Panama Canal has been called "The Eighth Wonder of the World"... and with good reason! It took 250,000 people from all corners of the globe more than 10 years to build, and it stands as a monument to mankind's ingenuity and power of conviction. In 2014 the Canal celebrates its 100th Anniversary.

The Panama Canal is a unique experience which can't be reproduced anywhere else in the world. See 5,000,000-ton vessels rise and drop more than 50 feet as they make their way through Panama from one ocean to another, and learn about the history and future of this marvel of modern engineering.

This wonderfully light and airy sponge cake is prepared the Panamanian way, drenched in a rum-and-sherry syrup.

Sopa Borracha (Rum Cake)

Ingredients

Cake
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar

Rum Syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks, each broken in half
2 strips (2 inches long) lemon zest
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup pitted prunes, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup light or dark rum
1/3 cup dry or sweet sherry

Directions
Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8- or 9-inch square pan.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until creamy in bowl. Separately in bowl, beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Fold beaten egg whites into yolk mixture and fold combined egg into flour mixture, stir enough to wet the dry ingredients.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until knife tip inserted in the center comes out clean.


Rum Syrup:

 In saucepan, combine sugar, cinnamon sticks, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1-cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir, sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook for 7 to 8 min. Add raisins and prunes during final minute of cooking.

Remove syrup from heat and stir in the rum and sherry. Allow syrup to cool for 30 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and lemon zest before serving.

 Cut cake into 16 squares and arrange on platter. Saturate with syrup and top each with raisins and prunes.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com