Lemon Lime Pound Cake Parfaits With Rainbow Fruit Food

LEMON-LIME POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar and butter. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Combine the flour and salt in a small bowl, then add it to the butter-sugar mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. With the mixer on low, slowly add the lemon-lime soda and mix until combined. Add the lemon and lime zests and mix. Scrape the bowl and mix again.
• Thoroughly spray a Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. Add large spoonfuls of batter to the pan until filled, then even out the surface. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes (a toothpick inserted in the center should not come out totally clean, but it shouldn't be wet with batter either). Let the cake sit in the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully turn it out onto a cake plate and let it cool.
• For the glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, lemon zest and juice, lime zest and juice, salt and about 1 tablespoon water in a bowl and gently whisk until thick but pourable; add a little extra water if needed. Use a large spoon to drizzle the glaze all over the cake. Sprinkle over more zest to decorate. Let the glaze set before serving.
• Whip the heavy cream and granulated sugar together in a large bowl until it forms soft peaks. Slice the cake and serve with the whipped cream and berries!

LEMON-LIME POUND CAKE PARFAITS WITH RAINBOW FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
• Place the thawed spinach right on two paper towels or a thin kitchen towel. Wring the towel until that spinach gives up all its juices. (There will be more than you think!)
• Combine spinach, yogurt, milk, olive oil and vanilla in a food processor. Puree about 30 seconds, until the spinach pieces become really small but don't worry if you can still see actual pieces. Along with the lime zest, that's what'll make the cake green.
• Add the eggs, one at a time. Pulsing in between each one.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and zest. Use your hands to massage the sugar so the oils of the zest really start working.
• Add the spinach batter from the food processor and stir.
• Then set a sifter over the top of your mixing bowl. Pour in the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift over the spinach batter then lightly stir until JUST incorporated.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes.

LEMON LIME PARFAITS

Steps:

• Place one piece of pound cake on a serving plate. Spread with 1 tablespoon of the curd and dollop with 1 tablespoon of the COOL WHIP. Repeat the layers, ending with 2 tablespoons of whipped topping.
• Use a round cookie cutter slightly smaller than the diameter of the mould or dessert cup you're using to cut three rounds from the pound cake slices. Place one pound cake round on the bottom of the push-pop mould or dessert cup. Layer with 1 tablespoon Lemon Lime Curd then 1 tablespoon of the COOL WHIP. Repeat layers, ending by piping the last 2 tablespoons of whipped topping with a pastry bag fitted with a frosting tip for a decorative touch.

LEMON MERINGUE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Line a 20cm round tin, preferably loose-based, with cling film, using more than one piece if necessary to cover the bottom and up the sides, and pop in the freezer.
• Roughly break up the meringues with your fingers into a bowl, aiming for nothing bigger than a golf ball.
• Put the cream and sugar in a large bowl and whisk until starting to stiffen. Stop when it looks floppy, like Greek yogurt.
• Grate over the lemon zest and sprinkle over the gin and meringue rubble. Use a large spoon or spatula to fold the cream up, over and round, until just combined.
• Stir the lemon curd so it's gloopy rather than firm; if it remains too thick, dilute with a tsp of gin. Dollop over the surface of the cream. Take your spoon and fold it in, turning the bowl as you do so - no more than a dozen folds, so the curd forms streaks. Spoon gently into the tin and freeze for at least four hours. Once firm, cover with cling film.
• About 10-20 mins before serving, remove the parfait from the freezer, invert onto a plate, peel away the cling film, and return right-side-up, at room temperature. Serve in wedges with lemon curd drizzled over and the fruit on the side.