Roasted Nectarines With Buttermilk Custard Food

ROASTED NECTARINE CUSTARD CAKE, NECTARINE CARPACCIO, LAVENDER HONEY BRULEE AND CITRUS CRACKER DOUGH ROUNDS

Steps:

• Nectarine Custard Cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream sugar, butter and lemon zest together. Add flour then egg yolks and slowly add roasted nectarine paste and milk in thin stream to prevent lumps and/or mix to form a paste. Whip egg whites to soft peaks and carefully fold into above mixture using a rubber spatula. Pour mixture into muffin tins or similar size ceramic dishes that have been brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with granulated sugar and bake in a water bath for approximately 35 minutes at 325 degrees F. Unmold while still warm, let cool then set in refrigerator. (See Cook's Note)
• Nectarine Carpaccio: Bring water, sugar, and scraped vanilla bean seeds to a boil, remove from heat, and let cool to body temperature. Shave nectarine using a mandolin or other similar tool and place in the cooled syrup. Let sit for approximately 2 to 4 hours.
• Lavender Honey Brulee: Bring milk, cream, and scraped vanilla seeds to a boil. Mix yolks and honey with a whisk. Add hot liquid slowly at first to avoid cooking the yolks. Cook the mixture until temperature reaches 185 degrees F. Immediately strain into a clean bowl and (sprinkle gelatin in 1/2 ounce of cold water and let it sit until gel is formed), add gelatin then white chocolate. Cool quickly over an iced water bath then pour into an 8-inch square container. Set in refrigerator.
• Citrus Cracker Dough rounds: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Sift together flour and confectioners' sugar. Make a well and add in the egg and orange zest. Mix until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Roll out on board until you can see through the dough. Using different size round cutters, make a unique design. Place on aluminium foil that you have crushed up and let dry. Bake at 325 degrees F. until it is golden. Let rest until cool.
• Assembly and Suggested Serving: Place the Nectarine Custard Cake off center in dish. Cut the brulee into rounds that are the same size of the cake. Sprinkle top of the brulee with granulated sugar and with blowtorch caramelize the sugar. Place on top of the custard cake. Put a few slices of drained nectarine carpaccio on top of the brulee and place citrus crackers up against the Nectarine Custard Cake. Garnish with fresh lavender.

NECTARINE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, 4 tablespoons butter and eggs. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter to the bottom of a cast iron skillet or 9-inch cake pan, swirling the pan until the bottom and sides are well coated. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the melted butter. Arrange nectarine slices on top in a single layer. Scoop the batter evenly over the nectarines, smoothing out the top. Place into oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake and turn upside down onto a serving plate. Serve immediately.

ROASTED NECTARINE CUSTARD CAKE, NECTARINE CARPACCIO, LAVENDER HONEY BRULEE AND CITRUS CRACKER DOUGH ROUNDS

Steps:

• Nectarine Custard Cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream sugar, butter and lemon zest together. Add flour then egg yolks and slowly add roasted nectarine paste and milk in thin stream to prevent lumps and/or mix to form a paste. Whip egg whites to soft peaks and carefully fold into above mixture using a rubber spatula. Pour mixture into muffin tins or similar size ceramic dishes that have been brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with granulated sugar and bake in a water bath for approximately 35 minutes at 325 degrees F. Unmold while still warm, let cool then set in refrigerator. (See Cook's Note)
• Nectarine Carpaccio: Bring water, sugar, and scraped vanilla bean seeds to a boil, remove from heat, and let cool to body temperature. Shave nectarine using a mandolin or other similar tool and place in the cooled syrup. Let sit for approximately 2 to 4 hours.
• Lavender Honey Brulee: Bring milk, cream, and scraped vanilla seeds to a boil. Mix yolks and honey with a whisk. Add hot liquid slowly at first to avoid cooking the yolks. Cook the mixture until temperature reaches 185 degrees F. Immediately strain into a clean bowl and (sprinkle gelatin in 1/2 ounce of cold water and let it sit until gel is formed), add gelatin then white chocolate. Cool quickly over an iced water bath then pour into an 8-inch square container. Set in refrigerator.
• Citrus Cracker Dough rounds: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Sift together flour and confectioners' sugar. Make a well and add in the egg and orange zest. Mix until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Roll out on board until you can see through the dough. Using different size round cutters, make a unique design. Place on aluminium foil that you have crushed up and let dry. Bake at 325 degrees F. until it is golden. Let rest until cool.
• Assembly and Suggested Serving: Place the Nectarine Custard Cake off center in dish. Cut the brulee into rounds that are the same size of the cake. Sprinkle top of the brulee with granulated sugar and with blowtorch caramelize the sugar. Place on top of the custard cake. Put a few slices of drained nectarine carpaccio on top of the brulee and place citrus crackers up against the Nectarine Custard Cake. Garnish with fresh lavender.

NECTARINE CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• 2. Whisk together (by hand works great) buttermilk, sugar, eggs, flour, and salt until smooth.
• 3. Put the pie crust into a 9" pie plate. Spread the chopped nectarines in the crust. Pour buttermilk mixture over them.
• 4. Bake 40 minutes or until just set, covering crust edges if over-browning. Cool completely. Serve with Redi-Whip if desired.

ROASTED NECTARINES WITH MULLED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C (fanforced 180C).
• Put the nectarines in ovenproof casserole dish so they fit snugly.
• Scatter with the sugar and dot with the butter. Add the wine, spices and orange zest.
• Cover dish with foil and roast nectarines for 30 minutes, until the fruit is soft.
• Cool nectarines in the syrup, (I refrigerated and served cold).
• These can be served on their own or with either yoghurt, ice-cream or custard.