italian coffee cake

May 17th, 2008

You may not think you could lose weight while on a diet which includes italian coffee cake but it is achievable. It is pivotal to not eat italian coffee cake or other high calorie soups every day but in moderation.

For example, I allow myself moderately high calorie food once per week. I eat a calorie controlled diet for most of the week, say 1400 to 2000 calories each day, and then on the last day, I eat anything - without going overboard of course.

I have been eating this way for the last 6 weeks and it has helped me to lose 5 kilos. I have not increased my exercise plan or taken any supplements or diet food. I have just been careful of what I eat on most days and then eat whatever I feel like one day a week.

On my one non diet day per week, I like to eat italian food. I never believed I could lose 5 kilos while eating italian meals but am very happy to see it can happen. If you want to try some italian food, I advise you make italian coffee cake which is one of my most adored italian recipes.

Italian Coffee Cake (Panettone)

This is a festive sweet bread which was originally from Milan.

2 packages active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped citron
2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts (optional)
Butter or margarine, softened

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in sugar, 1/2 cup butter, the eggs, salt, lemon peel, vanilla extract and 2 1/2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in raisins, citron, pine nuts and enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

Punch dough down; divide into halves. Shape each half into 7-inch diameter round loaf. Place loaves in 2 ungreased 8-inch round layer pans. Cut a cross 1/2 inch deep on top of each loaf. Generously grease one side of a strip of heavy brown paper, about 25 x 4 inches. Fit around inside of pan, forming a collar; fasten with paper clip. Repeat with second loaf. Cover; let rise until double, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake loaves until golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove paper. Brush tops with butter. Cool on rack.

Makes 2 loaves.

You can change the recipe to make it quite a bit healthier or with less calories as this can assist you to lose 5 kilos quickly. It worked for me and could aid you to lose weight also.

Posted in Lose Weight