Buttermilk Pudding With Fresh Fruit Food

BUTTERMILK FRUIT TOPPING

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine buttermilk and pudding mix. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Chill for 1 hour. Serve over fruit.

BUTTERMILK PUDDING

Steps:

• In small bowl, soften the gelatin in cold water.
• Then add boiling water and stir until dissolved.
• Using large bowl, dissolve the sugar in buttermilk.
• Add lemon juice and rind.
• Strain the gelatin into it and mix until well blended.
• Pour into 2 quart dish.
• Chill until set, about 3 hours.

BUTTERMILK PUDDING WITH FRESH FRUIT

Steps:

• Mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons of warm water in a small bowl and set aside. Don't worry if the gelatin actually "gels" while you are warming the cream! It completely dissolves once it's placed in the warm cream.
• Put the whipping cream and sugar into a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat only until the sugar has dissolved; do NOT scald! Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and add the gelatin to the warm cream mixture. Stir until the gelatin has dissolved. This will take a couple of minutes of stirring with a wooden spoon until the gelatin is completely incorporated into the warm cream.
• Allow cream to come to room temperature. I have successfully held the pan over a bowl filled with cold ice water, stirring constantly, to reduce the temperature faster.
• Once the cream has cooled to room temperature, add the buttermilk and stir well until thoroughly combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pourable container that can hold 4 cups, to catch any bits of undissolved gelatin.
• Pour the mixture into ramekins, about 1/2 cup per ramekin (the pudding is very rich). Cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and chill to set for at least three hours. At the 1st hour, this is still liquid; at the 2nd hour, it begins to set and by the 3rd hour, it's sheer perfection.
• Serve as is for a refreshing and light dessert, with a few fresh berries on top, or layered in a parfait glass with berries.

MEYER LEMON BUTTERMILK PUDDING CAKE WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Blend buttermilk, 1/2 cup sugar, egg yolks, lemon juice, flour, butter, and salt in blender until smooth. Transfer buttermilk mixture to medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Gently fold buttermilk mixture into whites in 3 additions (batter will be runny).
• Pour batter into prepared dish. Place dish in roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of dish. Bake until entire top is evenly browned and cake moves very slightly in center but feels slightly springy to touch, about 45 minutes. Remove dish from roasting pan.
• Cool cake completely in baking dish on rack. Refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours. Spoon pudding cake out into shallow bowls. Pour cream around cake. Top with berries.

BERRY BUTTERMILK CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-inch baking dish or pan (square or round is OK) with oil and line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and 1 cup sugar. In a separate medium bowl, whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt to combine. Whisk wet ingredients into dry until just combined. (Some small lumps are fine.) Toss berries on a plate with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Fold into batter and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 53 to 58 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Cake will keep, loosely wrapped at room temperature, for about 4 days.