Vanilla Roasted Black Plums With Toasted Lemon Cake And Ginger Ice Cream Food

LEMON-VANILLA CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with cooking spray; line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the parchment. Beat the egg whites and lemon juice in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the vegetable oil, milk and vanilla seeds in a separate large bowl until smooth. Sift the remaining 1 cup confectioners? sugar, the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl; whisk into the yolk mixture until smooth. Stir about one-third of the whites into the batter with a rubber spatula, then fold in the remaining whites in two batches. Spread the batter in the prepared pan; bake until the cake springs back when gently pressed, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Immediately sift confectioners' sugar generously over the top of the warm cake and loosen the edges with a knife; lay a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) over the cake. Place another baking sheet over the towel and flip the cake with the baking sheets to invert it onto the towel. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake and the towel together into a spiral. Transfer seam-side down to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, vanilla seeds and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until cooled and stiff peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes. Beat in the butter, 1 piece at a time, until combined (the mixture may look curdled). Add the lemon zest and juice. Switch to the paddle attachment and continue to beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Gently unroll the cake. Spread 2 cups of the frosting over the cake about 1/4 inch from the edges, then top with a layer of the lemon curd; swirl together. Reroll the cake (without the towel). Trim the ends with a serrated knife. Transfer to a platter and spread the remaining frosting on the top and sides of the cake.

LEMON GINGER MOLASSES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round baking pan, line with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, the molasses, and the 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and mix until combined. (The batter may look curdled.)
• Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, scraping down the sides. Mix until smooth. With a rubber spatula, fold in the 1/3 cup of crystallized ginger.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick just comes out clean. Don¿t overbake it! Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack, and cool completely. Spread the top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crystallized ginger and grated lemon zest.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, creme fraiche, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed, until it forms soft peaks. Serve cold.

ROASTED PARSNIP AND VANILLA CHOCOLATE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel parsnips, and cut into 1-inch chunks, brush lightly with oil and place on a baking sheet lined with heavy duty aluminum foil (for easy cleanup). Roast until the parsnips begin to soften (as tested with a knife blade) and until the tips begin to turn golden brown. This takes about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes while you start the other ingredients in the stockpot. (Leave oven on for toasting of croutons.)
• Melt the butter over medium-low heat in a large stockpot and gently saute the onion until translucent. (This takes about 10 minutes, but the more important thing is that they look translucent.) Add the chicken stock, slice open the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the pot and add along with the vanilla pod itself. Increase heat to medium, add the roasted parsnips, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, cover and let cook until the parsnips are completely tender, about 20 minutes.
• Once you have the soup underway, toast the croutons in the oven which is already preheated to 400 degrees F. Cut the epee loaf into 3/4-inch thick slices. Brush the bread with oil and place on a foil lined baking sheet (important for cleanup purposes). Sift dark cocoa over the bread and toast briefly in the oven, just to make crispy. Remove and set aside.
• Stir the white chocolate chips into the soup and cook for a further 5 minutes, to allow them to melt and to integrate flavors.
• Remove soup from heat, discard vanilla pod, and stir in heavy cream. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. (Remember, when using an immersion blender, the blade end has to be immersed, or it will make a big mess.) Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice into the pot and stir to combine. (Note: If you hold the sliced end of the fresh lemon or lime against your palm while you squeeze in the juice, the seeds are likely to stay in the rind.)
• Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh dill. Serve with lemon wedges and dark chocolate dusted croutons.

PLUM ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over low heat combine water and 2 tablespoons sugar, swirling occasionally until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Adjust heat so liquid barely shimmers.
• Add plums to pan and cook for 3-5 minutes (or until tender). Cool completely.
• In a saucepan bring cream, milk and vanilla beans to a simmer. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla beans into the cream mixture, discarding pods. Return mixture to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Beat egg yolks and 2/3 cup sugar until pale yellow and then beat in hot milk mixture. Return all to saucepan and cook stirring over medium low heat until mixture thickens (6-8 minutes). DO NOT BOIL. Strain mixture into a bowl. Cool completely in a refrigerator (at least 4 hours), stirring occasionally.
• Pit cooled plums but do not peel. Puree plums with liquid in a food processor or blender until smooth. Fold plum mixture into custard.
• Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.
• Freeze in a covered container for several hours.

LEMON GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients well.
• Place in an ice cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

OVEN-ROASTED PLUM CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Butter 8 ramekins and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Combine the sugar and orange zest well.
• Cream the butter, 2 T of brown sugar, and the granulated sugar mixture for 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Add the vanilla and mix well.
• Add the flour and baking soda and beat on low speed for only 15 seconds.
• Pour in the buttermilk and beat for 30 seconds more.
• Remove from mixer and use a spatula to finish blending the ingredients if necessary.
• Place a half plum, cut side up, into each cup.
• Spoon the batter into the ramekins, dividing the batter among them evenly.
• Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar evenly over each plum.
• Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean.
• Cool the cakes 10 minutes.
• To serve, top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.