Once again I have pulled out the Original Plum Torte Recipe and added a new fruit. I’ve tried strawberry coconut, blueberry lime, and now caramelized figs.
Follow the original torte recipe but top torte with quartered figs and brown sugar. To make this torte with whole wheat flour, start with 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 regular and some add moisture (milk or caramel syrup will do very well) ensuring that the batter still pours into the pan like cake batter.
This recipe also seemed to call out for Amaretto caramel drizzled over it so I made some of that too.
Amaretto Caramel Syrup:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup Amaretto
Directions:
In a small sauce pan, mix water and sugar until mixture feels like wet sand. Boil on high until it reaches a dark amber colour. Stir frequently and keep an eye on it to prevent burning. When colour is achieved, move pot to a deep stainless steel sink and very carefully but quickly pour in the amaretto. Wear long sleeves and get your arm out of there fast – the caramel will sputter and jump as soon as the liquid is added. Bring the pot back to the stove and whisk over medium heat until it reduces slightly. It’s ready when it feels sticky between your fingers.
Mmmm – plate lickin’ good!
August 26 2010 | Baking and Growing Food and Harvest and Recipes | 10 Comments »
I’ve cleaned off my blueberry bushes at home and like a shark with the taste of blood I needed MORE. Blueberries are best in season (what isn’t?) but they also freeze really well. They thaw a bit mushy, but are still perfect for smoothies, baking, compote or simply on plain yogurt. I found an organic farm in Richmond that had the big, sweet, Blue Crop variety for a mere $1.50/lb. It was near the river where I went blackberry picking and they had a cool old homemade machine they used to pick through the berries (which I found strangely endearing).
While most of the 40 lbs of berries I bought were simply washed and zipped up in freezer bags for the rest of the year, I did find time to convert my old fav, the Plum Torte, into a Blueberry Lime Torte.
To make, follow the recipe instructions for the Plum Torte here and simply swap blueberries for plums and add the juice and zest of one lime.
August 12 2010 | Growing Food and Recipes | 15 Comments »
This was originally printed in the New York Times, Wednesday September 9, 1992 in an article called Eating Well by Marian Burros.
Ingredients:
-
3/4 c sugar
- 1/2 c unsalted butter
- 1 c flour, sifted
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch salt, optional
- 2 eggs
- 12 Italian prune plums
- Sugar and lemon juice for topping
- 1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Add flour, baking powder, salt and eggs and beat well. Spoon the batter into an 8”, 9”, or 10” spring form pan. Split and pit the plums and place the halves, skin side up, on top of the batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar and lemon, depending o the sweetness of the fruit. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake about an hour. Remove and cool; refrigerate or freeze if desired. Or cool to lukewarm and then serve plain or with whipped cream. Yield: 8 servings. Note: to freeze, double wrap torte in aluminum foil place in plastic bag, and seal. To serve, defrost and reheat briefly at 300 degrees.
For variation:
Strawberry Coconut Torte
Blueberry Lime Torte
Whole Wheat Caramelized Fig Torte with Amaretto Caramel
September 28 2009 | Baking and Harvest and Recipes | 3 Comments »
