Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

Makes a 9-inch round cake.

For the Rhubarb bottom:

• 3 1/2 cups rhubarb, washed, dried and chopped in 3/4-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons orange rind (or lime)
• 1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a round 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and butter pan thoroughly. Mix together first four ingredients and pour into pan. Dot with butter and place in a preheated oven. Cook only as long as it takes you to put the cake batter below together.

For the Cake: In the bowl of a mixer combine all together:

• 1 cup cake flour, sifted
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2/3 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup soft unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

With the paddle attachment, beat ingredients for two minutes, scraping down sides as necessary. Then add:

• 1 egg

Beat for another minute.
Pour batter over rhubarb and return everything to oven. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan. Place a plate or cake platter on top of the pan and re-invert cake onto the platter. Remove tin and peel off parchment. Serve warm.

Serves 6-8 generously.

Super yummy!  I think next time I might lessen the sugar by a bit in the rhubarb topping and the cake part as well.  Recipe from simplebites.net

Brazilian Black Bean Soup

Makes 4-6 servings


Ingredients
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (29 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz) vegetable or chicken broth
3 T Cayenne pepper sauce
2 T chopped cilantro (or 2 t dried cilantro)
2 t ground cumin
2 T rum or sherry (optional)

Heat oil in 3 quart saucepan.  Cook and stir onion and garlic 3 minutes or just until tender.  Stir in 1.5 cups of water and remaining ingredients except rum.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  Cook, partially covered, 20 minutes or until flavors are blended, stirring occasionally.

Ladle about half of soup into blender or food processor.  Cover securely.  Process on low speed until mixture is smooth.  Return to saucepot.  Stir in rum.  Cook over medium-low heat 3 minutes or until heated through and flavors are blended.  Garnish with lime slices, sour cream, minced onion, or cilantro, if desired,

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

We think this dish tastes just as good cold!

Raspberry Tart

So, so good!  We had this for dessert this evening, and it is definitely getting added to the "To Make Again" list.

Pate Brisee (Short Crust Pastry):

1 1/4 cups (175 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
1 tablespoon (14 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) unsalted butter, chilled, and cut into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces
1/8 to 1/4 cup (30 - 60 ml) ice water
Filling:
2 cups fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons (30 grams) granulated white sugar
1 tablespoon (15 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Pate Brisee:In a food processor, place the flour, salt, and sugar and process until combined. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal (about 15 seconds). Pour 1/8 cup (30 ml) water in a slow, steady stream through the feed tube until the pastry just holds together when pinched. Add remaining water, if necessary.  Do not process more than about 30 seconds.

Turn the pastry out onto your work surface, gather it into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about one hour to chill the butter and allow the gluten in the flour to relax. 


Once the pastry has chilled, remove from refrigerator and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry into an 11 inch (28 cm) round.  To prevent the pastry from sticking to the counter and to ensure uniform thickness, keep lifting up and turning the pastry a quarter turn as you roll (always roll from the center of the pastry outwards to get uniform thickness).  


Transfer the pastry to a parchment paper lined baking sheet and sprinkle the pastry with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Leaving about a 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) border all around, cover the pastry with the raspberries, stem ends down. I like to start at the outside edge and work toward the center of the pastry in concentric circles, making sure the raspberries are placed close together. (If possible, use raspberries that are of uniform size.) Gently fold the edges of the pastry up and over the filling, pleating as necessary, being careful not to squash the raspberries. Brush the edges of the pastry with melted butter, and then sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar over the raspberries and crust.

Bake the tart in a preheated 450 degree F (205 degree C) oven for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the raspberries have given off just a little of their juice.  (You want the raspberries to hold their shape and not be mushy.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.  Dust with powdered sugar. Serve plain or with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Makes one free form tart.