Jeffersons Vegetable Layer Cake Food

LAYERED VEGETABLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F & lightly butter a deep cake pan 8 inches in diameter, then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs & garlic, then season to taste with salt & pepper, before sprinkling half of this crumb mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Slice all vegetables as thinly as possible, which is best done with a mandoline or in a food processor with a thin cutting disc.
• The vegetables are to be layered in the prepared pan ~ lightly seasoning with the crumb mixture every couple of layers ~ starting with half of the potatoes, then half of the parsnips, then half of the turnip, then half of the sweet potato & finally half of the rutabaga.
• At this point sprinkle a little more than half of the remaining breadcrumb mixture over everything, then start the entire process again, finally topping the last layer with the remaining crumb mixture.
• Whisk together the eggs, vegetable stock & cream then season lightly.
• Pour this mixture evenly over the layered vegetables & cover with aluminum foil, pinching around the edges to seal.
• Bake for 1 hour, then remove the foil & bake another 30 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler to high, then turn the cake onto a heatproof plate. Remove & discard the parchment paper lining before placing the cake under the broiler for 4 or 5 minutes or until it is crisp & golden.
• Let it cool just slightly, then cut into wedges & serve.

JEFFERSON'S VEGETABLE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the peppers, zucchini, squash, and eggplant, on rimmed baking sheets in a single layer. Drizzle with half of the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven, and bake for 10 minutes. Turn vegetables over, drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender and cooked through, 10 to 20 minutes more.
• Layer the vegetables in a 9-inch springform pan, in the following order: eggplant, red pepper, yellow squash, red tomatoes, 10 basil leaves, zucchini, mango, and yellow tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange remaining 10 basil leaves decoratively on top of the cake.
• Soak the gelatin sheets in enough cold water to cover. In a small saucepan, place the tomato water over medium heat until hot to the touch. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatin sheets, and add to the tomato water. Stir until dissolved. Let cool slightly. Measure 1 cup; set remaining tomato water aside for another use. Pour evenly over the cake.
• Wrap with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.
• Slice cake, and serve garnished with a leaf of basil, and a tablespoon-sized scoop of goat cheese. Drizzle plate with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust with flour, and tap out the excess.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, sugar and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla until combined.
• Alternate folding the flour mixture and the milk into the batter with a spatula, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes on the same oven rack until golden on top and the centers spring back to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Rotate the pans about halfway through if they seem to be browning unevenly. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: While the cakes cool, beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Once it's all been added, increase the speed to medium-high, and beat until white and fluffy. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk, and beat to incorporate. Beat in the remaining milk, one tablespoon at a time (the frosting will be spreadable but not runny).
• To assemble: Place 1 cake layer right-side up on a cake plate or stand, and spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

GYPSY JAMBOREE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour two 8 inch diameter cake pans.
• Place the vinegar in a measuring cup, and pour in the milk to equal 3/4 cup. Set aside.
• Beat the sugar with the shortening in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, and continue beating until batter is smooth.
• Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in another mixing bowl, and stir to blend. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture, alternating with the milk mixture. Stir in the lemon and vanilla extracts. Pour batter into prepared cake pans, dividing evenly.
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick or small knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Run a small knife around the inside of the pans before inverting to remove the cakes. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.
• To make the icing, beat the butter, egg yolk, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Gradually sift in the confectioners' sugar, alternating with the hot water, stirring until smooth. Do not add the cocoa until step 7.
• To frost the cake, place one layer on a cake plate. Use about half the icing to cover sides and top of the cake. Stir the cocoa into the remaining icing and blend well. Place the second cake layer on top of the first, and frost with the chocolate icing, meeting the plain icing halfway down the side of the cake.

TOMATO, BASIL, AND RED ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange alternating slices of tomatoes and onions on a serving platter. Drizzle with vinegar and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with torn basil leaves.

EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut eggplant in half; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place in oven; cook until tender, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven; when cool enough to handle, scoop flesh into a strainer to drain. Transfer drained eggplant to a bowl; add garlic, parsley, bread crumbs, Parmesan, egg, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Form mixture into 2-inch patties.
• Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Place frisee on serving platter; drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with fritters.

EASY LEMON LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line the base of two 20cm sandwich tins with baking parchment. Beat the butter and sugar together for 3 mins using an electric whisk until smooth and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Fold in the flour and baking powder until well incorporated, then fold in the yogurt, vanilla and lemon zest. Divide between the tins and bake for 30-35 mins until golden and a skewer inserted into the middles comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, make the drizzle. Tip the sugar, lemon juice and 100ml water into a small pan set over a medium heat and stir until dissolved. Add the lemon zest, bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 mins until the zest has softened and the liquid is syrupy. Remove the zest to a sheet of baking parchment using a slotted spoon, and remove the syrup from the heat.
• Leave the sponges to cool for 10 mins in the tins, then pour over the warm drizzle. Leave to cool completely.
• For the icing, beat the butter and icing sugar together using an electric whisk for 4-5 mins until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go. Add the vanilla and soft cheese and beat for 4 mins more until thick and creamy. Don't worry if it doesn't look thick at first - it will loosen, then thicken again as you beat it.
• Remove the cooled sponges from the tins. Spoon the icing into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Put one sponge on a cake stand or serving plate, and pipe just under half the icing around the edge using a circular motion for a wavy effect. Pipe a little more icing over the empty middle (this doesn't need to be neat) and smooth with the back of a spoon. Chill for 45 mins-1 hr until set. Top with the second sponge, then pipe eight blobs of icing around the edge at regular intervals, leaving a gap between each. Spoon the candied lemon zest into each gap, then serve.

SUMMER TOMATO WATER

Steps:

• Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth, and set it over a bowl or a large liquid measure. Add tomato pulp, seeds, and juice and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. (Tip: For clear liquid, don't stir the pulp.) Tomato water will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, or it can be frozen and used throughout the year.