Toasted Almond Poundcake With Strawberry Rhubarb Compote Food

STRAWBERRY ALMOND POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar and butter. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the sour cream and almond extract and mix to combine. Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour and salt and mix until well combined, scraping the bowl. Fold in the sliced strawberries.
• For the topping: Combine the brown sugar, flour, butter and salt in a medium bowl and cut together using 2 knives or a pastry cutter until it resembles crumbs. Mix in the almonds.
• Generously butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet and even out the surface. Press the remaining halved strawberries into the surface of the batter cut-side down, leaving them mostly exposed. Scatter the crumble over the top of the batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center does not come out totally clean but isn't wet with batter either, about 1 hour. Let the cake sit in the skillet for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze.
• For the glaze: Whisk together the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Using a fork or whisk, drizzle over the cake. Serve directly out of the skillet.

TOASTED-ALMOND POUNDCAKE WITH STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Set aside to cool.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat eggs and 1 cup sugar until thick and pale, about 3 minutes.
• In a bowl, sift together almond flour, cake flour and zest. Fold 1/3 of the flour mixture into eggs until thoroughly combined. Fold in rest of flour in 2 batches. Fold in all but 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Scrape batter into pan, and sprinkle almonds on top. Brush remaining butter over almonds.
• Bake cake until a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. If the top of the cake seems to be getting overly browned before the center is set, cover with foil and continue baking. Let cool on a rack before inverting.
• Meanwhile, make the compote. In a medium saucepan, combine 12 ounces of the strawberries, the rhubarb, 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until fruit breaks down into a puree. Let mixture cool, then taste and add more sugar if desired.
• Just before serving, place remaining strawberries in a large skillet, and sprinkle with sugar to taste. Cook strawberries over high heat until they release their juices and sugar dissolves. Serve slices of the poundcake surrounded by strawberry-rhubarb compote and topped with strawberries.

TOASTED ALMOND

Steps:

• Add liqueurs to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a 10-ounce rocks glass over ice. Top with heavy cream and serve with a short straw.

ALMOND CAKE WITH RHUBARB COMPOTE AND STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• To make the cake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 10-inch cake pan, and set aside. Place the almonds and the sugar in a food processor, and process until the almonds are ground. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in the flour and salt until well combined.
• In another bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir the butter and one third of the egg whites into the dry mixture. Gently fold in the remaining whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Place on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Turn cake out of the pan, turn upright, and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the compote. Combine the wine, water, sugar and vanilla bean in a nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and add the rhubarb. Poach for 1 minute, and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the rhubarb to a bowl, and set aside. Return the pan to the heat, and boil until liquid has reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Set aside. When cool, pour the liquid over the rhubarb.
• Assemble just before serving. Cut the cake into wedges. Spoon the compote onto 6 plates, and top with a wedge of cake. Place strawberry slices over cake, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.