Caramelized Nectarine And Ginger Shortcakes With Sour Cream Food

PLUM AND BLACK CHERRY BUTTERMILK SHORTCAKES WITH GINGER CARDAMOM WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the buttermilk shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Chill 2 large mixing bowls, a pastry cutter, the flour and cubed butter in the freezer for 15 minutes before assembling the shortcakes.
• Add the flour to one of the chilled mixing bowls. Working quickly, cut the butter into the flour using the chilled pastry cutter (or your fingers); the goal here is pea-size balls of butter. In batches, add the buttermilk until the dough is cohesive yet still moist. (You may not need all of it.) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and lightly press into a 1-inch-thick round. Using a 4-inch biscuit cutter or the business end of a dry measuring cup, cut out 8 biscuits.
• Preheat a cast iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Swirl the oil in the bottom of the skillet and gently arrange the biscuits in the skillet, making sure they are all nestled up against each other tightly.
• Brush the tops with the melted butter and sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Bake until the tops are just slightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• For the plums and cherries: Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the plums, cherries, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, ginger and cinnamon. Cook, stirring very gently as the fruit releases its juice, until the fruit is slightly soft, a few minutes. Take off the heat and add the butter. Gently stir until melted.
• For the ginger cardamom whipped cream: In the other cold bowl, mix together the cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, cardamom and ginger. Beat to medium peaks.
• For assembly: Split a warm shortcake with a fork. Place the bottom on a plate or shallow bowl and spoon on some of the warm plum and cherry mixture. Dollop on some whipped cream and sprinkle with some candied walnuts. Top with the top of the shortcake. Spoon on some more of the warm plum and cherry mixture, dollop on more whipped cream and sprinkle with more candied walnuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 7 more.

CARAMELIZED NECTARINES

Steps:

• 1. Set a strainer over a bowl and cut the nectarines into the strainer, so their juice collects in the bowl.
• 2. Heat the butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. When it is hot but not smoking, add the nectarines and sauté them until they sizzle and their juices reduce and begin to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle the sugar over them and sauté until the juices further thicken and the sugar caramelizes slightly, about 1 minute. You may want to increase the heat under the pan to medium-high. Add the lemon juice and sauté until the juices thicken, then add any nectarine juice that collected in the bowl, and shake the pan so that all is well blended. Let the nectarines cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the juices are very thick, which will take a minute or so. The total cooking time will be about 6 minutes.
• 3. Transfer the nectarines to 4 warmed dessert plates, or to a warmed serving dish, let sit for about 4 minutes so they are not blistering hot when served.

CARAMELIZED-NECTARINE AND GINGER SHORTCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• For biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine first 5 ingredients in processor; blend 10 seconds. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk milk and egg in small bowl. Add milk mixture to processor; blend using 5 on/off turns. Add crystallized ginger. Using on/off turns, blend until dough just comes together. Turn dough out onto work surface; knead gently 5 turns. Shape dough into log; cut crosswise into 8 rounds. Pat each round to 1-inch thickness; place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake biscuits until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• For filling:
• Combine half of nectarines, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice in heavy large skillet. Cook over high heat until fruit is just tender and juices bubble thickly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl; repeat with remaining nectarines, sugar, and lemon juice. Set aside at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. for sour cream: Combine sour cream and sugar in bowl; whisk to blend.
• Cut biscuits horizontally in half. Place 1 biscuit bottom in each of 8 bowls. Spoon filling and sour cream onto each; cover each with biscuit top.

FRESH NECTARINE-GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly oil and flour a removable bottom cake pan (e.g., angel food cake pan). Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat (or whisk) together the eggs, milk and oil. Grate the zest off the lemon (use the rest for another purpose) and add to the bowl. Mix well then add the 2/3 C sugar and the ground ginger. Beat well; stir in the flour and mix until a smooth batter is formed.
• Wash the nectarines and pat them dry. Cut the flesh of four nectarines into small pieces (1/3 to 1/2 inch). Add to batter and stir gently until the fruit is completely incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Slice the remaining necarine very thin and lay the slices on the top of the cake to cover. Sprinkle with the candied ginger and the remaining 2 T sugar.
• Bake 50 to 60 (or 70) minutes until firm and golden. Remove from oven and cool completely before serving.

CARAMELIZED NECTARINE

Steps:

• Cut nectarine all the way around and twist open. Remove pit. Sprinkle sugar on the cut side of each nectarine half.
• Place nectarine, cut-side down, onto a griddle or in a skillet over medium heat; cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer nectarines to a plate, cut-side up, and top each with plain yogurt.