Applesauce
This lovely, chunky applesauce pairs well with this week’s Bavarian fare.
Ingredients:
4 pounds fall apples of your choice, peeled, cored and quartered
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¾ cup organic cane sugar
Pinch of salt
Method:
1. Combine apples, lemon juice, sugar and 1½ cups water in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low, partially cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are completely soft, about 40 minutes.
2. Mash the apples with a potato masher or large fork, if needed, until applesauce reaches desired texture. Applesauce can be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Polenta Cake with Italian Plums
This luscious cake is kissed with juicy Italian plums and citrus peel.
Ingredients:
4 Italian plums, pitted and cut into wedges
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup polenta or yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons baking powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks, plus 2 full eggs
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
Crème fraîche for serving (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan; line bottom with a 9-inch circle of parchment paper. Arrange plums on parchment in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar over the plums. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat until light. Add egg yolks and eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add lemon peel and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Spoon batter over plums in pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake about 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool cake completely. Invert cake onto serving platter; remove bottom of pan and parchment. If desired, serve with crème fraîche.
Blueberry Cobbler
It’s hard to beat this classic summer dessert—just add vanilla ice cream!
Ingredients:
6 cups blueberries
F&L cobbler crust mix
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup sugar
10 tablespoons cream
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Method:
1. Melt butter in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the F&L cobbler crust mix with the cream, stirring until dry ingredients are just moistened.
2. Bring 1 cup sugar, blueberries and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top with cobbler batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired.
3. Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve the cobbler warm or cool.
Pear Crostata with Blueberries
This rustic tart is fantastic served for dessert—and then breakfast the next day.
Ingredients:
2 pears
½ cup blueberries
¼ cup all purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 egg white, beaten
1 premade or store-bought pie dough crust
2 tablespoons raw sugar
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Roll pie crust into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a sheet pan.
2. For the filling, cut pears in wedges and place them in a bowl. Toss them with the flour, sugar and salt. Fan the pears on the dough circle leaving a 1½-inch border.
3. Sprinkle blueberries on top of pears. Fold over in sections. Use egg wash as glue as you work in sections around the dough. Spread remaining egg wash over folded dough. Dot the crostata filling with butter.
Sprinkle raw sugar over the entire tart. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
