Fanouropita (φανουροπιτα)

A 'Fanouropita' (φανουροπιτα) is a cake that is traditionally made in Greece to honour Saint Fanourios, patron saint of lost things, on August 27th. The Saint's capacity to help find something lost is suggested in his name, in the Greek language, φανερώνω (fanerono) means reveal. In seeking the intercession of the Saint, for something lost, the Greek people will take their baked caked to the village church to be blessed. Then it is shared among the congregation. As such, whoever made the cake is supposed to be given hope that whatever they have lost may be found. 

The cake itself is vegan and flavoured with olive oil, cinnamon, cloves and orange. It a sort of Greek version of gingerbread (albeit, without the ginger). Tradition requires the cake to be made with 7 or 9 ingredients and it must contain  fruit and nuts, so that you are able to "find" something while you eat the cake. 

Fanouropita (Φανουρόπιτα)

4 cups self raising flour

1 & 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

1 cup of olive oil

2 cups of fresh orange juice and the zest of two oranges 

1/2 cup of brandy 

1 cup of sugar 

1/2 cup toasted, roughly chopped walnuts

1/2 cup of roughly chopped golden raisins 

Method

Preheat oven to 180C. 

In a separate bowl, combine the flour with the spices. 

In a another bowl, beat the oil and the sugar until well combined. Then add the brandy, zest and orange juice. Beat again to combine. Then fold in the dry ingredients, finishing with the walnuts and raisins. 

Pour the mixture into a greased and lined 30cm diameter baking tin. 

Cook 45-50 minutes in a moderate oven at 180C or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. 

When the cake is cold, dust with icing sugar.