Lemon Soda Buttermilk Parfait Food

LEMON-SODA BUTTERMILK PARFAIT

Steps:

• Prepare the lemon gelatin: Pour 1/4 cup club soda into a medium bowl. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin on top, and let the gelatin bloom for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a double boiler or a medium stainless-steel bowl set over a saucepan with an inch of simmering water. Cook over low heat just until the lemon syrup begins to steam, about 3 minutes. You should have a viscous, syrupy liquid with no discernible traces of sugar granules. Pour the lemon syrup into the gelatin mixture, and stir well to combine. (There should be no visible undissolved gelatin, but you could pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, if need be.) Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups club soda, and transfer to a bowl set over an ice bath.
• Prepare the buttermilk gelatin: Pour the cold water into a medium bowl. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin on top, and let the gelatin bloom for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a double boiler or a medium stainless-steel bowl set over a saucepan with an inch of simmering water, combine the heavy cream, buttermilk and sugar. Scald over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved completely.
• Stir the scalded cream mixture into the gelatin-and-water mixture, then pour into a smaller bowl set over an ice bath. Let cool for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent the edges from solidifying. Remove the bowl from the ice bath, and let stand at room temperature. After about 5 minutes, once the mixture is the consistency of melted ice cream, start assembling the parfaits.
• Gather four 8-ounce parfait glasses and prepare an ample ice bath that can comfortably and securely fit all four of the glasses without tipping them over.
• Using a tablespoon, carefully pour 2 tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the bottom of each glass, and place each glass into the ice bath to set for 10 minutes.
• Pick up a parfait glass, and give it a little jiggle to confirm the layer has set enough to receive - and support - the next layer. Then repeat Step 7 with the lemon mixture, allowing it to set until firm in the center, about 30 minutes.
• Continue layering the buttermilk and lemon gelatins alternately, until the glasses are full, allowing each layer to fully set in the ice bath before proceeding to the next. Add more ice to the ice bath as needed, and don't be tempted to hasten the process. If either mixture begins to firm up while you are working and is no longer spoonable or pourable, gently rewarm it for a few seconds over a pan of simmering water to liquify once more.
• Cover and refrigerate the parfaits until thoroughly chilled and fully set, or up to 2 days. Before serving, be certain to temper for 20 minutes at room temperature for perfect, tender results. Finish with whipped cream.

LEMON-ALMOND BUTTERMILK LOAF WITH BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 9 x 5 x 2 1/2-inch metal loaf pan. Sift flour, salt and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in almond extract. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions each, beating until well blended after each addition. Add ground almonds and lemon peel and beat 1 minute. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until deep golden brown and cracked on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 5 tablespoons lemon juice in small bowl until sugar dissolves.
• Place rack on baking sheet. Turn cake out onto rack, top side up. Using skewer or toothpick, poke holes 1 to 2 inches apart all over cake. Brush top and sides of cake with all of lemon glaze, allowing some glaze to soak into cake before brushing with more. Cool cake completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.) Slice cake. Serve with Balsamic Strawberries.

RASPBERRY BUTTERMILK CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Grease 6 non-stick mini round molds with a thin layer of butter (or a 12-inch pan). Sprinkle with flour. Invert the molds and gently shake the excess flour off. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with 1 cup granulated sugar until you get a pale yellow foam; the texture of the egg yolk will be thicker. Add the vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Sift the dry ingredients.
• Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the egg mixture. Mix until well combined. Add butter, brown sugar and lemon juice.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar with the fresh raspberries.
• Reserve 6 pistachio kernels and slightly crush them. Set aside.
• Pour a layer of cake batter into the molds. Cover with raspberries and whole pistachio kernels. Finish with the remaining cake batter.
• Place the molds on a baking tray. Bake for 5 minutes at 375°F, then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 40-45 minutes (rotate the tray half-way through the baking process). A skewer or a toothpick inserted into the cake should come out clean.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes.
• This next step is optional (first photo). Loosen the sides of the mold using a knife. Place a serving plate on top of the mold and invert the cake.
• Garnish with fresh raspberries. Dust with powdered sugar (using a fine-mesh strainer) and finish a sprinkle of the reserved crushed pistachios.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Serve with hot tea.
• Bon appétit!

LEMON PARFAIT

Steps:

• Layer the lemon curd with scoops of lemon buttermilk sherbet, lemon sorbet, and rich lemon ice cream in two tall glasses. Sprinkle with the diced candied lemon rind. Serve immediately.

LEMON BUTTERMILK SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: position oven rack in middle position; preheat to 325°.
• Grease and flour a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
• In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a liquid measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, lemon juice, and vanilla.
• In a big bowl, beat together the sugar and lemon zest with an electric mixer on medium speed, until moist and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Transfer 1/4 cup of sugar mixture to a small bowl, cover, and reserve.
• Add the butter to the remaining sugar mixture and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the yolk until combined.
• Decrease mixer speed to low.
• Mix in 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by half of the buttermilk mixture.
• Repeat with half the remaining flour mixture and the remaining buttermilk mixture.
• Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until smooth, about 30 seconds.
• Give the batter a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure it is thoroughly combined.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and gently tap the pan on the work surface to settle the batter.
• Bake until the cake is golden brown and a pick comes out clean, about 28-34 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool for 10 minutes.
• Glaze: meanwhile, whisk the glaze ingredients together until smooth.
• Gently spread the glaze over the warm cake and sprinkle evenly with the reserved sugar mixture.
• Cool completely, at least 2 hours, then serve.

GLAZED LEMON BUTTERMILK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• To prepare cake, combine rind and 3 tablespoons juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Coat a 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
• Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
• Place butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add remaining 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, rind mixture, and extract, beating until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and 1 cup buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beating at low speed, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
• To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons juice, and 1 tablespoon buttermilk in a small bowl, stirring until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm cake. Garnish with grated lemon rind once glaze is set, if desired.

ORANGE AND BUTTERMILK PARFAIT

Steps:

• Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 3/4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing a 5-inch overhang; set aside. Put 3 tablespoons water into a small bowl. Sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 7 minutes.
• Heat 1/4 cup cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until warm to the touch. Pour into gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Let cool, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Bring sugar, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook until syrup registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put egg whites and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Reduce to medium-low speed; add syrup in a steady stream. Raise to medium-high; beat until cool, thick, and glossy. Transfer to a bowl.
• Put remaining 3/4 cup cream, the buttermilk, orange zest and juice, orange-flower water, vanilla, and gelatin mixture into the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Transfer to a large bowl. Using a spatula, fold in egg whites in 2 batches. Transfer to prepared pan; smooth top. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours (up to overnight).
• To serve, lift out parfait by overhang; cut into slices, dipping a sharp knife into warm water and wiping it dry each time. Serve with candied kumquats. Garnish with orange blossoms if desired.