Almond Cake with Strawberries and Guava

Olivia produced the most beautiful heart shaped Almond Cake.
She is a master. The cake was moist and light and the balance of almond and sweetness was magical. She piled whip creme with strawberries and guava on top.

The entire gathering moaned in ecstasy with each bite. People went back for seconds and thirds!

Below from Olivia Chase:

How we inspire each other. On Tuesday night Kira lent me the Rose Bakery book and in it I read "A bowlful of strawberries is really nice, but adding a hint of lemon and even half a teaspoon of sugar can make it great." For Thursday's cake I did not find my recipe in the cookbook rather the inspiration for "making it great".

Almond Torte with Whip Cream Strawberries and Guavas

I made Lulu a double recipe in a 13" heart shaped pan but the following is a
single recipe which will make a 9" cake.

1 1/4 cups sugar
8 oz soft almond paste
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla

6 eggs, at room temperature

1 cup flour, all-purpose
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

1/2 pint whip cream, whipped
1 basket strawberries, sliced
2 lbs pink and white guavas, peeled and cored...discard the core...it is full of seeds
2 Tbls sugar
1 lime, juiced

Butter bottom and sides of a 10 inch cake pan and line with parchment paper.
Pre-heat your oven to 325'.

In a food processor mix sugar and almond paste until the paste crumbles into small pieces.
Add the butter and vanilla and continue processing untill you have a smooth batter. Add the
eggs one by one, mixing until each one disappears into the batter. Empty the contents of the food
processor into a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift the flour
mixture into the batter and stir gently until you no longer see any flour but make sure not to overmix.

Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a wooden tooth pick comes out
clean. Wait 5 minutes and turn out onto a platter.
Slice the fruit and add the sugar and lime juice.
To serve top with unsweetened whipped cream and fruit.