– photos from 2014 collection – Blood Oranges in my kitchen – sometimes recipe creation can be like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together
I’m dancing a little jig today! (Hey now, get your game on……) – it’s Solstice Day! It is the beginning of a whole new earth-orienting/tipping point – one I like! I’m stoked, for it is the very end of the shortening days of sunlight! Woo-hoo!
Ok, I got that out of my system – always have to mark the day! And, being that we are coming into the prime of Winter Citrus season, it’s a great time to envision using any and all prime offerings you can find in the markets.
After last week’s foraging ventures – off to Lambertville (last Saturday) and to the Summit Antiques Center on Thursday, I have really had a good week. Six jaunty-looking dwarf alberta spruce with red bows were planted in my side porch window boxes to keep the red-bow-tied sheep company. My Clematis seems to have taken its last beautiful stand and gone dormant. A scarf of twinkle lights is draped around the horse weathervane that sits outside as the part of the welcoming committee.
I have been thinking about my Christmas Morning Cake and how I’d like to develop a new iteration of it, which I will discuss below. https://kitchen-inspirational.com/2013/12/25/christmas-morning-cake-the-raspberry-cinnamon-streusel-coffee-cake/
Sometimes a recipe creation can be like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. Often you sit and put a few pieces into the puzzle and have to walk away. Then, you can return, with a refreshed sense of determination and a clearer focus and work on it again. Such has been the process for the cake I am working on in my head.
Today’s recipe on the brain is one which is the coalition of four major inspirations swirling around upstairs. One is visions of the exquisite still lives of Paulette Tavormina. She is by far the most masterful person I have found at arranging and capturing still lives.
image courtesy Paulette Tavormina
Next, the cake I have stuck in my mind is one based on Adventures in Cooking – their Blood Orange Bundt Cake.
http://www.adventures-in-cooking.com/2012/01/blood-orange-bundt-cake.html
Some citrus cakes incorporate the whole fruit. I am always fascinated by this. Last week, a site I enjoy, The View from Great Island, posted two cakes where you do this, blanching the whole fruit beforehand to remove the bitterness that can come with the pith.
Ever since I first made the blood orange bundt cake though, where you purée 4 whole Blood Oranges, in a blender, without the skin in this case, but mixed with a luxurious bath of heavy cream, and blend into a cake batter, I have been wanting to return to the idea. And so, for this year’s iteration, I’m working on a new breakfast morning cake with Blood Oranges and Rosemary – for that piney quality playing off the lively Citrus.
The question becomes can I translate this cake idea from a bundt cake to a single layer cake, perhaps split, with filling, to be baked in a spring form pan? Third, can I Lilly Vanilli-Style, arrange a lovely topper of Candied Kumquats and Meyer Lemon Leaves and Sprinkle the top with Toasted Coconut and Sanding Sugar?
Until I get to work out the details on this, I’ll be”doctoring-up” the Christmas Morning Cake from above by just adding in some lovely piney chopped fresh rosemary – a tblsp would do, filling it with some meyer lemon or kumquat curd and then topping it off with some fresh candied kumquats and meyer lemon slices – adorn with meyer lemon leaves – I will use the photo from below, item four – that gorgeous meringue with winter fruits as inspiration, and create! So, the jigsaw work shall continue – will keep you posted.
one décor inspiration with those little “butterflies” fluttering
Before hitting the ovens, I’m taking a little tour around the food-centric internet to get a whole range of inspiration. Honestly, some of these creations are priceless:
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014495-candied-kumquats-or-meyer-lemons
http://www.thekitchn.com/the-seasonal-baker-10-beautiful-citrus-desserts-164434http://www.thekitchn.com/the-seasonal-baker-10-beautiful-citrus-desserts-164434
https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/citrus-dessert-recipes/ Kumquat Cupcakes
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703727804576017431270916272
http://dlicedorient.blogspot.fr/2015/01/tarte-au-citron-meringuee.html
http://shewearsmanyhats.com/meyer-lemon-creme-brulee/
http://www.bakingobsession.com/2008/02/27/orange-cheesecake-with-candied-kumquats/
the meyer lemon creme brûlée
You really can create terrific ornaments for your desserts with Winter Citrus – but don’t stop there, add some to your tree and table as well!
Note: please note that I have made a correction to this page as I originally stated that the Blood Orange Bundt cake had whole blood oranges, including the skin blended up in the blender – my memory served me wrong and I have corrected this. Please refer to The View from Great Island to see her recipes for whole citrus incorporations and how to prepare whole citrus for incorporation into cake batters.
http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/flourless-whole-meyer-lemon-cake/
http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/minimal-monday-flourless-whole-tangerine-cake-gluten-free/