Shall We Dance? Fairy Cakes, #SundaySupper

Shall We Dance? The Japanese film with the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein song as its title track made me want to dance. Do you have a song that motivates you?



 Shall We Dance? a Japanese movie (with English subtitles)
was a big box office hit at many US art houses in 1996.
An American rendition of the film starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon 
was released in 2004.


Today’s #SundaySupper theme is music. Susan, the inspired baker/cook of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen will host the discussion around the virtual dinner table at Twitter. You are invited. (Scroll down to see the participation details.)

The Japanese movie version of Shall We Dance? and the title song evoke a poignancy of sorts for me. Sweetness, as it were, of how despite the concerns and curveballs in life, there is a buoyant joy that appears when dancing. So, to celebrate this flight into happiness, I made fairy cakes for our musical #SundaySupper. The birthplace of fairy cakes is Great Britain (where it was thought that this petite sponge cake was the perfect size for a party of fairies.) Great Britain is also mecca to ballroom dancers from around the world. (Blackpool, England hosts the Super Bowl of all dance competitions as mentioned in the movie Shall We Dance?)



Fairy Cakes


One of my English friends kindly sent me Mary Berry’s Baking Bible. The recipe is adapted from the cookbook. The cakes are light and sweet – all the elements of a perfect Waltz or Foxtrot. 

Fairy Cakes

The birthplace of fairy cakes is Great Britain (where it was thought that this petite sponge cake was the perfect size for a party of fairies.) I’ve adapted a recipe from Mary Berry’s Baking Bible.

Ingredients: 
  • One stick (4 ounces) softened unsalted butter
  • 100 grams (a little less than a ½ cup) caster or superfine sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 100 grams (7/8 cup) self-raising flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • Whipped cream
Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F/180 degrees C
2. Cream the sugar and butter until fluffy and light.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time.
4. Pour in the vanilla.
5. On low speed, beat in the flour and baking powder until well combined.
6. Divide the batter into muffin tins lined with 12 cupcake cases.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool.
9. Scoop out the centers of the cupcakes with a melon baller, mini ice cream scoop or knife. (A knife proved the to produce the cleanest circles.) Cut in half to create wings. Set aside.
10. Place raspberry, strawberry or your favorite jam into the hole. (About ¾ teaspoon.)
11. Pipe, frost the cupcake tops with whipped cream. 
12. Decorate with the cake wings, a spot of jam and nonpareils to produce a fairy cake you fancy. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Here are a few more musically inspired recipes.

Prelude (Beverages):

Calimocho (Red Red Wine Cocktail) from La Cocina de Leslie inspired by Red Red Wine by UB40
Dark & Stormy Cocktail Recipe from An Appealing Plan inspired by Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
Horchata from Treats & Trinkets inspired by Horchata by Vampire Weekend
Orange Crush from Magnolia Days inspired by Orange Crush by REM
Pineapple Lemonade Slushy with Coconut Water from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz inspired by Lemon Tree by Peter, Paul & Mary
Strawberry Tequila from Shockingly Delicious inspired by Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles

Overture (Appetizers):

Mustard Dill Beer Bread from Curious Cuisiniere inspired by In Heaven There Is No Beer a German Polka

Intermezzo (Entrees & Sides):

Chicken and Bacon Cheddar Waffles from I Run For Wine inspired by Glady’s Knight
Classic Fried Chicken from The Food Army Wife inspired by Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band
Margarita Chicken from In The Kitchen With KP inspired by Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet
Meatball Duet from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings inspired by On Top of Spaghetti by Tom Glazer
Pan-Seared Halibut with Corn Hash and Asparagus Puree from Crazy Foodie Stunts inspired by Saturday Night Fish Fry by Louis Jordan
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy BBQ Pulled Pork from Neighborfood inspired by Something Like That by Tim McGraw
Spaghetti and Pork Meatballs from Family Foodie inspired by On Top of Spaghetti by Kidsongs
Teriyaki Burger from Juanita’s Cocina inspired by Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet

Finale (Desserts):

Banana Cream Pie Bars from Peanut Butter and Peppers inspired by Tra La La Song by The Banana Splits
Banana Pancake Ice Cream with Maple Brittle from Foxes Love Lemons inspired by Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
Cherry Pie from My Cute Bride inspired by Cherry Pie by Warrant
Cherry Marshmallows from Pies and Plots
Chocolate Cappuccino Cream Puffs from Runner’s Tales inspired by Choux Pastry Heart by Corinne Bailey Rae
Chocolate Chip, Walnut and Caramel Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwich from Ruffles & Truffles inspired by Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani
Chocolate Covered Caramels from Big Bear’s Wife inspired by At Last by Etta James
Coconut Rum Blondies from Gotta Get Baked inspired by I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts by Danny Kaye
Easy Blueberry Recipe: Fruit Tart from Growing Up Gabel inspired by Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino
Espresso Nib Ice Cream from Vintage Kitchen Notes inspired by Black Coffee by Ella Fitzgerald
Fancy Watermelon Lime Popsicles from Daily Dish Recipes inspired by Watermelon Crawl by Tracy Byrd
Fresh Peach Pie from Killer Bunnies, Inc. inspired by Sweet Sweet Pie by PWEI
Jammin’ Oatmeal Cookies from What Smells So Good? inspired by Jammin’ by Bob Marley
Many Flavors Whipped Cream from Noshing with the Nolands inspired by Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass
Peach Basil Pie from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen inspired by Peaches by POTUSA
Pina Colada Poke Cake from Cookin’ Mimi inspired by Two Pina Coladas by Garth Brooks
Peach Donuts with Brown Sugar from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks inspired by Peaches by POTUSA
Peach Strudel with Honey Bourbon Frozen Yogurt from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures inspired by My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music & Wild Honey by U2
Rainbow Pops from The Urban Mrs inspired by Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
Salted Ripple Chip No-Churn Ice Cream from Cupcakes & Kale Chips inspired by Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan
Salted Peanut Swirl Peanut Butter Ice Cream from girlichef inspired by Salt Peanuts by The Quintet
Shall We Dance? Fairy Cakes from The Ninja Baker inspired by Shall We Dance from the Japanese Film
Sugar Crusted Zucchini Bread from That Skinny Chick Can Bake inspired by Sugar, Sugar by the Archies
Tangerine Sorbet from Webicurean inspired by Tangerine Speedo by Caviar
Yeasted Banana Bread from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner inspired by I Like Bread and Butter by The New Beats

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.
Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement?
It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here ? Sunday Supper Movement.

Wishing you the courage to say yes when Life asks Shall We Dance?

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

 

 

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