Baby Jonathan

born 5/30/2013

Lemon pound cake

Ingredients:

Pound Cake:
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 1/2 TBL lemon juice
1 1/2 TBL lemon zest
1 cup sugar plus 2 TBL
1 cup unsalted butter room temp
5 eggs, room temp, beaten

Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice

Glaze:
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 TBL lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.  Spray a loaf pan with non stick spray.  In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt.  Whisk sour cream and lemon juice together in a small measuring cup.  In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the lemon zest and sugar.  Rub with your fingers to activate the zest, just until fragrant.  Add the butter to the bowl and beat the butter/sugar mixture until fluffy and very light in color, maybe 5 minutes.  In my opinion, proper beating of the butter/sugar is the most important step.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Mix in the eggs in 3 additions, beating well with each addition till the mixture is smooth.  Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.  With the mixer on low, alternately add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the sour cream mixture in 2 additions.   The dry ingredients should be added first and last.  Once all the ingredients have been added, scrape down the bowl and beat for another 30-60 seconds to ensure a nice, fluffy batter.

Transfer the batter to a loaf pan, filling 1/2 - 3/4 to the top.  Smooth the top, then tap the pan to release the air bubbles.

Bake the cake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.  Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let rest for 10 minutes.  Turn out the loaf cake onto the rack to start cooling.  While the cake is in the oven, make the syrup.  Combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over med high heat.  Stir frequently.  When the sauce starts to bubble, turn the heat down to simmer and simmer for 2 minutes, or until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Set aside.
While the cake is out of the pan and still warm, take a basting brush and brush the syrup over all sides of the cake.  Use all the syrup.  It looks like a lot, but the cake will absorb the syrup.  Let cool completely.

To make the glaze:

Add the confectioner's sugar to a small bowl or measuring cup.  Whisk in the lemon juice to the desired consistency.  Pour over the top, covering completely.  Allow the glaze to set 15 or so minutes before serving.  

This cake keeps well stored in a ziploc bag.  You can also freeze the (unglazed) cake for later use.

***NOTE***  This cake is almost the same as Meyer Lemon cake, but it is not made with Meyer Lemons .  The procedures and tastes are VERY similar!  Both are excellent!!!!!

Christmas 2015

Feta & herb dip

Easiest.  Dip.  Ever!

On a plate or bowl layer the following:
olive oil (about 5 TBL)
feta cheese (about 1/2 cup)
diced grape tomatoes (about a handful)
scallions (about 3)
sprinkle with oregano, salt & pepper to your liking
Serve with crackers (I used Kasha original crackers)
Done and done!
Delicious!

Pineapple bars

PINEAPPLE BARS

Crust:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cubed (1 stick=1/2 cup)

Filling:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream OR greek yogurt
pinch salt
16 oz. crushed pineapple (fresh is best!)

Topping:
1 cup crust topping
1 cup vanilla almond granola cereal (Trader Joe's brand)


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish with nonstick spray.
Add flour, sugar, salt and cubed butter to a mixing bowl and mix with fingers or forks until combined and crumbly.  Set aside 1 cup of the topping mix in another bowl and combine with the granola.
Take the remaining mixture and firmly press into the baking dish.  Use the palm of your hand to flatten.  Bake 15 min.
While the crust is baking, beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, sour cream, flour, cornstarch, extracts and salt.  Stir well.  Fold in pineapple.
When the crust is done baking, cool for about 5 minutes.  Pour filling over cooled crust.  Sprinkle with granola topping.
Bake 1 hour or until top is lightly browned.
Cool, refrigerate** for about an hour and cut.
Eat and enjoy!
**These will cut much easier if they are cold**

Horseradish

Ingredients:
Grated horseradish root (approx 1 cup)
2 TBL white vinegar
dash sea salt
dash sugar

We have had the same horseradish root growing for years.  It literally is 4 feet around!  We dug some up the other day, and washed it, peeled it, and grated it outside.  It's very pungent!  This recipe makes a mild horseradish.  For a stronger taste, use less white vinegar.  We just used a microplane grater to grate the root.

Raw, peeled root