Bourbon Soaked Peach And Lardo Crostini Food

LARDO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Chop the lard very finely using a very sharp knife. Add the sage, rosemary and zest and season with salt and pepper. Mix well with the back of your knife or your hands. Alternatively, transfer the lard paste into a bowl and combine with a spoon.
• Serve on slices of unsalted Tuscan bread.

PEACH-BOURBON UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet and stir until the mixture looks like wet sand. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until light amber, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and arrange the peaches in concentric circles over the caramel. Drizzle with the bourbon; set the skillet aside.
• Whisk the flour, ground pecans, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat the butter and the remaining 1 cup sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour, and mix until just incorporated. Pour the batter over the peaches and spread evenly.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if the cake is browning too quickly.) Let sit 15 minutes, then invert onto a platter and let cool completely.

PEACH-INFUSED BOURBON

Steps:

• Place the peaches and bourbon in a large covered glass container or cookie jar. Let rest for 3 days, then strain into the bottle. Store at room temperature. Will keep indefinitely.