Spiced Plum Butter Food

SPICED PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine juice and plums in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Place plum mixture in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Press pureed mixture through a fine sieve over a bowl; discard solids.
• Combine plum mixture, sugar, and remaining ingredients in pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1 hour or until thick, stirring frequently. Cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 months.

KATE'S HEALTHY SPICED PLUM UPSIDE DOWN CAKE WITH VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• HINT: The plums do not need to be ripe. Although my plums refused to ripen, they still baked up to be sweet and soft because the heat caramelized their natural sugars.
• NOTE: Vanilla Custard should be made ahead of time and chilled in the refrigerator. Caramelized Plum Topping and Spiced Cake should be made right before serving.
• CARAMELIZED PLUM TOPPING: Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease sides only (not bottom) of 10 inch cast-iron skillet. If you do not have a cast-iron skillet, you can use a 10 inch cake pan or a 9" by 9" square pan. Set aside.
• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Stir in ½ cup brown sugar. Spread in bottom of prepared skillet or pan. Arrange plum slices slightly overlapping in a pretty spiral pattern working from outer rim to center. If using blueberries, arrange plum slices first, and then arrange one ring of blueberries around the outer rim of the pan. Arrange the remaining blueberries in a circle in the center of the pan filling in the gaps. Sprinkle a even layer of nuts over fruit. Set aside.
• SPICED UPSIDE DOWN CAKE: In a medium bowl, sift together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, ¼ cup sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat milk, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and orange zest.
• Stir flour mixture into egg mixture just until combined. Pour batter over fruit and nuts. Let rest for 5 minutes to allow baking powder to activate. Bake at 350F degrees for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from oven. Let rest for 5 minutes to allow cake to absorb juices. Invert onto a platter that is at least 12 inches in diameter. Use a platter with raised sides if you have one, so that the juices are not spilled and wasted. Do not pour off excess juices, the cake will absorb the juices as it cools. Serve warm topped with Vanilla Custard, vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream.
• VANILLA CUSTARD: Mix 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, and salt in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, scraping corners of pan with spatula, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Gradually whisk at least half of hot mixture into egg yolks. Then, whisk back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla until you cannot smell alcohol. Pour into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on Vanilla Custard to prevent tough layer from forming. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled.
• NOTE: Leftover Spiced Plum Upside Down Cake and Vanilla Custard should be stored in the refrigerator and may be eaten warm or cold.

SPICY PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, process the plums, onion and garlic in batches until smooth. Transfer to a Dutch oven. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until reduced by a third, 60-90 minutes., Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

SPICED PLUM SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add half and half; stir just until dough forms. Gather dough into ball with floured hands. Gently knead 8 times against side of bowl. Roll out dough on floured surface to 3/4-inch-thick round. Using 3-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut out 5 biscuits; place on ungreased baking sheet. Gather dough and reroll as needed to make 1 more biscuit. Bake biscuits until pale golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. (Biscuits can be made 8 hours ahead; cool completely and store in airtight container at room temperature.)
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add plums and sugar. Cook until sugar dissolves and becomes syrupy and plums are just tender, stirring constantly, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon and ground ginger. Cool 5 minutes. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature; rewarm before serving.)
• Using electric mixer, beat cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Add 2 teaspoons powdered sugar and beat to firm peaks. Fold in crystallized ginger.
• Cut biscuits in half; place bottom halves on 6 dessert plates. Top with warm plums, then cream. Cover with biscuit tops. Sift powdered sugar over.