Gingered Blueberry Shortcake Food

LEMON SHORTCAKES WITH GINGERED BLUEBERRIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the lemon zest, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and use your fingers to quickly flatten each piece of butter into the flour mixture. The butter should be pliant but not melty. If it starts to get too soft, refrigerate the mixture for a few minutes before moving on.
• In another large bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup/120 milliliters heavy cream with the lemon juice and egg until combined. Add the cream mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened.
• Tip the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Work it a few times, just to get the mixture to come together, but don't overwork it. Pat the dough into a 5-inch square. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into two rectangles, then cut each rectangle crosswise into 3 pieces. Separate them on the parchment paper, slide the parchment paper onto a baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
• Just before baking, brush the top of each shortcake with cream and sprinkle liberally with granulated sugar. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one shortcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, smash 1/4 cup/35 grams of the blueberries. Add the remaining whole blueberries and crystallized ginger and toss to combine. Whip the cream to medium-stiff peaks with the confectioners' sugar, if using.
• To serve, split the shortcakes in half and top the bottom half with whipped cream and berries. Replace the top.

FRESH BLUEBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, lemon juice and 2 cups blueberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes. Stir in remaining blueberries; let cool to room temperature., Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in cream just until moistened. , Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to a 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter. Place 1 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. While hot, cut biscuits in half horizontally and spread insides with butter. Set aside to cool., Just before serving, place heavy cream in a chilled small mixing bowl and with chilled beaters, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining 1-2 tablespoons sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Spoon cream over the bottom of each biscuit. Top with berry mixture and biscuit top. If desired, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

BLUEBERRY GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 11x7 inch baking dish.
• In a large bowl, mix together the oil, 1 cup sugar and molasses until well blended. Beat in the egg. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and salt. Remove 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture, and toss with blueberries to coat. Stir the remaining dry mixture into the wet ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, mixing after each addition. Carefully stir in blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and sprinkle remaining white sugar over the top.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.