Haselnusstorte (Hazelnut Torte)

Servings: 8
Ingredients:

5    Eggs; Large, Separated
3/4 c  Sugar
6 tb ;Water
1 3/4 c  Cake Flour; Sifted
1 ts Baking Powder
1 1/2 c  Hazelnuts (Filberts);Ground*
1 ts Vanilla Extract
2 tb Confectioners' Sugar
1 c  Cream; Heavy, Whipped
Fresh Strawberries,If Desire

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until very light, about 5 minutes. Slowly add
the water. Sift the flour and baking powder together. Mix with 1 cup of
nuts. Fold the flour mixture into the egg yolks. Beat the egg whites
until soft peaks form. Gently fold the beaten whites into the batter. Pour
into a greased and floured 10-inch springform pan. Bake at 375 degrees F
for 30 minutes or until cake is done. Cool cake on a wire rack. When
completely cooled, split the cake into 2 layers. Fold the vanilla,
confectioners’ sugar, and remaining 1/2 cup of nuts into the whipped cream.
Spread whipped cream between the 2 cake layers and on top of the cake.
Chill until serving time. Garnish with fresh strawberries, if desired.

* Hazelnuts are available at most stores under the name of Filberts. They
should be blanched. To blanch, boil the nuts for 5 minutes and when they
are cool enough to handle, remove the skins. To grind, place about 1/4 cup
at a time in a blender, or chop as finely as you can with a sharp knife.