New Year, with Christmas Cake

I cannot believe another year has flown by. It has been an incredible year, and for me so much has changed. A year ago, I could not have being right here. In my favorite city, in my dream of a neighborhood, and so many new opportunities. New friends and new joys, tempered by new stresses and worries too. We need those in life, to make the bright moments shine, and our triumphs greater. To remind us of how beautiful life is.
And so, I wish that your New Year is full of happiness, and that if it comes to pass, that you brave the sadness too. May your life be full of dreams and hope. And, like my Christmas-cake-at-New Years, may it be sparkling, scented, and sweet.

Pain d’Epices with Candied Ginger
Spice Mixture
1 gram cardamom
1 gram cinnamon
1 gram nutmeg
1 gram cloves
1 gram black pepper
5 grams candied peel, minced finely (or zest from half an orange)
½ tbsp grated ginger
Cake ingredients
1 ½ cup AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
¼ cup honey
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp granulated sugar
½ cup milk
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tbsp candied ginger, cut into small pieces
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease (or line with parchment paper) a 8 or 9 inch round cake pan. Grind together the cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper. Grate ginger, and mince the candied peel very, very finely (or zest an orange). Combine in small bowl.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a small saucepan, combine butter, honey, sugars, milk, and spices (including grated ginger and peel/zest) heat over low flame until combined and the sugar has dissolved. After removing from heat, whisk in eggs. Add this wet mixture to the dry flour mixture, whisk thoroughly until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Place slices/pieces of candied ginger in a pattern over the cake, avoided the ½ inch near the edge. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a tester poked into the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool before removing from pan. Serve with the candied ginger side up.

Some Goodies to usher in the New Year:
This gorgeous Tumblr got me through finals.
I would love to have some of these in my kitchen.
A new magazine. So perfect for long, cozy winter nights.