Texas Blueberry Shortcake

Recipe From Will Packwood, Emilia’s, Austin

Blueberries
2 pints blueberries, preferably Texas-grown
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1/2 cup strawberry preserves

Pick through and wash berries and dry on a clean kitchen towel. In a mixing bowl, combine berries, sugar, vanilla extract, and Grand Marnier. Let macerate for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain berries and refrigerate. Reserve liquid.

When ready to assemble the shortcakes, mix enough of the reserved liquid with the strawberry preserves to make them a bit thinner but not runny and set aside.

Shortcake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into walnut-sized pieces
3/4 cup cold whole milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and baking powder. Cut butter into dry ingredients until it is broken uniformly into pieces the size of small peas. Add milk, stirring with a fork to combine. Form into a firm ball with your floured hands. On a floured surface, roll dough into an 8-inch-diameter circle. With a cookie cutter, cut out 10 circles about 2 inches in diameter. Place shortcakes, with sides touching, on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake until golden-brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

Citrus Vanilla Cream
1/2 pint heavy cream or whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large stainless-steel bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar, Grand Marnier, orange zest, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

To assemble, cut each shortcake in half horizontally, like a bagel. Put a shortcake half on a plate. Spread a dollop of strawberry preserve mixture on it, spoon on about a tablespoon of blueberries, and top with whipped cream. Put another shortcake half on top and repeat the process. Serves 10.

Sponge Cake [Rachel Allen]

SERVES 6–8 / VEGETARIAN
This is a classic sponge cake, made all the more gorgeous with the rhubarb cream filling. Also try filling it with raspberry jam and whipped cream, sliced strawberries and whipped cream, or with fresh, hand-picked blackberries and cream. This is perfect for Father’s or Mother’s Day (that’s a hint, boys!) or, of course, as a birthday cake.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour the sides of two 8-inch cake pans, and line the bases with discs of wax paper.
Cream the butter until soft, then gradually add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, beating well all the time. Sift the flour and baking powder, and stir in gently, then stir in the milk until just combined.
Divide the mixture between the two pans, hollowing it slightly in the center, so that it will be flat on top when cooked. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the center of the cake springs back when you push it gently. Turn out onto a wire rack and allow it to cool. (Place the cake that will become the top layer on its base so that the top isn’t marked by the cooling rack.)
Meanwhile, place the sliced rhubarb, sugar and water in a saucepan, cover and cook over a gentle heat for about 10 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft. Take off the lid and boil while stirring until it is thick. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks, then fold in the rhubarb. Sandwich the cakes with the rhubarb cream and sprinkle with sifted confectioners’ or superfine sugar.

Berry Crisp

4c fresh berries
1/3 c sugar
1/4 t lemon zest

3/4c flour
1/4c rolled oats
1/3c packed brown sugar
1/4t cinnamon
5T unslated butter

375 oven.  lightly butter 1 qt baking dish.  Mix berries sugar and zest in dish and spread in even layer.  Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, cnnamon in bowl.  Cut in butter and wor until crumbly.  Sprinkle topping evenly over berries.  Bake 30-40 mins.  Serve warm.

Banana Crisp

Serve with yogurt or ice cream.
Serves 4-6.

4 large firm ripe bananas
1T lime or lemon juice
grated nutmeg
1t grated lime or orange rind
3T brown sugar

Topping:
1/2 c flour or mix of flour and oatmeal
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c butter (1/2 stick) COLD

400 oven.  Butter a 9" pie pan or shallow baking dish.  Peel bananas and slice on diagonal in 1/4" ovals.  Arrange in single overlapping layer and sprinkle with juice, nutmeg, rind and sugar.  Make topping by mixing ingreds in a bowl to coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle evenly over bananas.  Bake until juices are bubbly and topping is crisp and brown, about 20 mins.