Fig Cake Recipe By Paula Deen Food

FIG PRESERVE CAKE

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in a large mixing bowl;add oil and eggs,beating well at medium speed with electric mixer.
• Add buttermilk and vanilla,beating well.
• Stir in preserves and pecans or walnuts.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan 10 minutes;remove from pan and place on serving platter.
• Pour buttermilk glaze over cake while both are still warm.
• BUTTERMILK GLAZE.
• Melt 1 tablespoon real butter in saucepan over low heat,add the buttermilk and the powdered sugar and heat till dissolved,then add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• If the glaze is to thin or thick add powdered sugar or more buttermilk accordingly till you get the consistency you like.

CARAMEL CAKE (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• Using an electric mixer cream butter until fluffy. Add granulated sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed.
• Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 4 inches above counter dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Filling:.
• While cake is baking, in a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to remain in pans as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with a toothpick over entire surface. Spread 1/3 of filling mixture on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. Top with last layer and repeat process again.
• *Cook's Note: As you stack layers together, stick them with toothpicks to prevent cake from shifting.
• Frosting:.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick. Be sure to add cream in small amounts because you can always "add to", but you can't take away. Frost cake and sprinkle top with chopped nuts, if desired.

PAULA DEEN'S WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In a 1-quart pot with a lid, bring 2 cups water and the salt to a boil.
• Add the rice and stir well.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Drain excess liquid from the rice.
• Meanwhile, combine all the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large bowl, combine the rice, artichoke hearts, peas, green pepper, green onions, tomatoes, reserved marinade, and half of the dressing.
• Toss well.
• Cover and chill or eat at room temperature.
• Just before serving, toss again and taste.
• Add some of the remaining dressing, if desired.
• Sprinkle with the almonds and serve.

FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Wash figs gently in cold water.
• Place in a large bowl, fill with cool water and soak for 20 minutes.
• Make a syrup by boiling the sugar and water together in a large saucepan.
• When syrup is clear and just thick, around 15 minutes add figs and lemon slices.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Boil hard 1 minute.
• Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Carefully pour into a blender and pulse to grind figs and lemon slices.
• You may want to cook down for 10 or 15 more minutes to desired thickness.
• Ladle into clean hot sterile jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

PAULA DEEN'S FRESH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Grease 10" tube pan, combine 3 Tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, coat pan with sugar mixture.
• Mix flour, soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon; set aside. Beat oil and sugar until blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and then stir in apples and vanilla. Add flour mixture until blended; stir in pecans and raisins.
• Transfer to pan and then drop and shake the pan to release bubbles.
• Bake 1 1/2 hours - 1 3/4 hours until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack 15 minutes, remove from pan and glaze.