Tea Poached Plums Food

PLUMS POACHED IN EARL GREY TEA

Steps:

• Pour the 6 cups of water into a large saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil. Remove from heat.
• Add the tea bags, cover and steep for 10 minutes.
• Remove the tea bags, place the pan back over high heat and bring back to a boil.
• Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
• Reduce the heat to medium low. The liquid should just be simmering, add the plums and poach until tender. The amount of time will vary from 1 minute to longer depending on the size and ripeness of the fruit.
• Remove the plums from the liquid and set aside to cool.
• Continue to simmer the liquid until it is the consistency of a light syrup.
• To serve:.
• Place the plums into small dessert bowls and ladle some of the poaching liquid.

CHAI-POACHED APRICOTS AND PLUMS

Steps:

• Combine sugar and 3 cups water in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Halve vanilla bean lengthwise with a paring knife and scrape seeds into pan, then add pod. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved.
• Add plums and simmer, uncovered, 3 minutes. Add apricots and tea bags and return to a simmer. Cook fruit, gently stirring once or twice, 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
• Allow tea bags to steep with fruit in syrup 15 minutes (fruit will continue to soften as it steeps), then remove bags, gently squeezing liquid from them into syrup. Transfer compote to a bowl or jar and cool, gently stirring occasionally.
• *Available at nutsonline.com.
• **Available at apricot-farm.com.

CARDAMOM POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter a 9x5x3" loaf pan; line bottom and long sides with a strip of parchment paper, leaving overhang. Butter parchment and dust pan with flour, tapping out any excess. Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter a 9x5x3" loaf pan; line bottom and long sides with a strip of parchment paper, leaving overhang. Butter parchment and dust pan with flour, tapping out any excess.
• Whisk baking powder, cardamom, salt, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk milk and 1/2 cup crème fraîche in a small bowl; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat sugar and 3/4 cup butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula, then add vanilla and almond extracts.
• Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with crème fraîche mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; beat just until combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake cake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 55-65 minutes. (Tent with foil if browning too quickly.)
• Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool in pan 15 minutes. Using parchment overhang, gently remove cake from pan and transfer to rack; let cool.
• Slice cake and serve with Tea-Poached Plums and crème fraîche.
• DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.