MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

     Title: A buche de noel   --   french yule log cake
Categories: Xmas, Cakes, Desserts, French
     Yield: 10 Servings

MMMMM--------------------ALMOND SPONGE SHEET-------------------------
     3    Egg yolks
   1/2 c  Granulated sugar
     1 md Orange; grated rind & juice
   3/4 c  Almonds; blanched & ground
          .  with 3 Tbsp granulated
          .  sugar
   1/4 ts Almond extract
   1/2 c  Cake flour
     3    Egg whites
     3 tb Granulated sugar
          Confectioner's sugar; in a
          .  sifter

MMMMM-----------------------MERINGUE BASE----------------------------
     3 lg Egg whites
       pn Salt
   1/4 ts Cream of tartar; scant
 1 1/3 c  Granulated sugar

MMMMM------------------------FILLING BASE-----------------------------
    12 oz Semisweet baker's chocolate
          .  melted with 1/3 cup
          .  strong coffee
     1 tb Vanilla extract
     3 tb Dark Jamaican Rum
     4 tb Butter; unsalted, softened

MMMMM--------------------------FILLING-------------------------------
     4 tb Butter; unsalted, softened

MMMMM-------------------------DECORATION------------------------------
     3 tb Unsweetened cocoa; in a tea
          .  strainer
          Confectioner's sugar; in a
          .  sifter

MMMMM---------------------SPUN CARAMEL VEIL--------------------------
     1 c  Granulated sugar
     3 tb White corn syrup

    SPECIAL EQUIPMENT SUGGESTED

 A jelly-roll pan about 11 by 17 inches; butter, wax paper, and flour
 for the pan; an electric blender or food processor for the aImonds; a
 table-model electric mixer for the meringue; a pastry bag with
 3/8-inch tube opening and a separate tube with l/8-inch opening, for
 the mushrooms; a buttered and floured no-stick pas try sheet for the
 mushrooms; a serving board to hold the log plenty of wax paper; an
 oiled broom handle suspended between 2 chair backs and newspapers on
 the floor, for the caramel. ** For the directions, please see part #2
 **

MMMMM