KUMQUAT OGURA CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE: Preheat oven @ 150 degrees. Grease and line a 8" square x 2 1/2" tall pan.
• Whisk ingredients (A) together in a mixing bowl. Add in (B). Set aside.
• Whisk egg whites until frothy & add in sugar. Continue to whisk until soft peaks.
• Gently fold in the whites into (1). Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle chocolate chips over top.
• Steam bake in a preheated oven @ 150 degrees for 40 mins.
• Once tester comes out clean, remove from oven and let cool completely.
• Slice the cake into 2 and spread the chocolate swiss meringue buttercream in between.
• KUMQUAT MARMALADE: Half kumquats and remove seeds.
• Place all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. If they have softened, turn off heat and let cool down a bit.
• Blend kumquats coarsely or finely (up to you) and return to the pot. The kumquat puree will look opaque.
• Meanwhile sterilize 2 jam jars.
• Cook the puree on medium low heat until it looks glossy. (you can do the wrinkle test, it will form)
• Pour hot jam into sterilized jars and cover it immediately. When it cools the safety seal will go down. Do not open jars until time to consume.
• CHOCOLATE SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM: Prepare a double boiler with a gentle simmer.
• In a heat proof bowl, combine egg whites, sugar and salt into it. Mix well but no beating is required.
• Place the bowl over the double boiler and placing a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.
• Stir once in awhile to prevent the egg white from curdling at sides. Aim to have the temperature to reach at least 146F/63C for food safety reasons.
• Once the temperature is reached, remove from heat and beat it till it is silky white.
• Add vanilla extract and mix well. If the mixture is still hot, place it over a bath of ice water to cool it down.
• Add the butter chunks one piece at a time and continue to beat while doing so.
• Continue to beat till all the butter has been added and the buttercream is smooth and silken.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave and let cool for a minute before mixing into the room temperature buttercream.