Lemon Cakes with Raspberry Sauce

Lemon Cakes—or Lemon Cupcakes, if you don't have the cannelés pan—look a little "dressy" without having to go to the mess and bother of making icing and getting out the piping bag and all that. Making a little batch of raspberry sauce is a doddle.

I was in the mood for Lemon Drizzle Cake, but I wanted to experiment with other uses for my new cannelés pan that has barely had time to cool off in the month I've had it. It has turned out batch after batch of perfect Cannelés. 

Anticipating my 13th blogiversary next month here at Delightful Repast, I was in the mood for something a little special, a little festive. Lemon Cakes with Raspberry Sauce and Whipped Cream filled the bill nicely. I hope you'll make them soon.

For the first ten years of Delightful Repast, I posted every Thursday. Then I went to every other Thursday, then every third Thursday. Well, I'm going to reward myself for keeping this lark going for 13 years by going to monthly posting, the second Thursday of every month. 

I hope you'll carry on with me monthly, marking it on your calendar or however you remind yourself of things. Or just come back every week and read one of more than 600 posts. Wishing you a delightful 2023!

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Lemon Cakes

(Makes 12)

1 large egg, room temperature
1 large egg white, room temperature
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces/118 ml) milk, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 dip-and-sweep cup (5 ounces/142 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (5.25 ounces/149 grams) sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces/71 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1 Preheat oven to 350F/180C/Gas4. Prepare* the cannelés pan. Or put 2½-inch paper bake cups in a standard muffin tin. In small bowl, lightly combine the egg and yolk, a quarter of the milk, and the vanilla extract.

* You can use a baking spray—not a cooking spray—that contains flour or do what I do: grease (with Crisco shortening) and flour each of the 12 molds. Cooking sprays cause a gummy film to eventually build up on nonstick pans and ruins them. 

2 In medium mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for a minute to "sift." Add the softened butter and remaining milk. Mix on low speed until combined. With mixer on medium-high speed, beat for a minute and a half. Scrape the bowl.

3 Beat in the egg mixture in three batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition. Scrape the bowl and, with spatula, stir in lemon juice and zest (I do it by hand because zest tends to get tangled up in the beaters).

4 Using a 1/4-cup measure as a scoop, divide the batter evenly among the 12 molds. Fill each with a scant (or level) 1/4 cup of batter, then scrape the bowl and spoon it in. Bake for about 20 to 22 minutes or until they are golden and one in the center tests done with a toothpick.

5 Cool in the cannelés pan for 5 minutes before turning them out to cool completely on a wire rack for an hour.

Raspberry Sauce

(Makes about 3/4 cup)

1 10-ounce package frozen whole raspberries unsweetened

1/4 cup (1.75 ounces/50 grams) sugar

1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) water

1 tablespoon (0.5 fluid ounce/15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring all the ingredients to a boil for 2 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, all the while stirring frequently.

2 With a silicone spatula, press the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Cover and cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least an hour.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support.

Jean

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Steamed Persimmon Pudding - Instant Pot or Not

Steamed Persimmon Pudding is one of my favorite comfort food desserts during the cold months of persimmon season. This is the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker version. (Note: A persimmon is known as 'kaki' in some countries.)

If you’d like to make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, go to my original Steamed Persimmon Pudding post. There you’ll also find my recipe for Brandy Butter Hard Sauce.

It’s a classic sauce for this, but what I like even more with it is Custard Sauce (Creme Anglaise). Try both with it and let me know which you prefer. A little vanilla ice cream partially melting next to the warm pudding makes a lovely sauce as well.

Couldn't resist doing a little watercolor painting while waiting another day 

for the persimmons to ripen.

Both pudding and sauce can be made ahead. Just reheat the pudding before serving it topped with the cold sauce. I also like it at room temperature with whipped cream.

Be sure your Hachiya persimmons are perfectly ripe and squishy-soft. It’s handy to have a supply of persimmon puree in the freezer. Just cut your squishy-soft persimmons in half, scoop out the pulp and mash it with a fork; you shouldn't even need to use the blender or immersion blender to puree it. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice per cup of persimmon. Freeze in glass containers for up to 6 months.

I hate recipes that are vague; as in calling for "2 medium persimmons." First of all, "medium" of one variety of persimmon is not "medium" of another. And who decides what "medium" is? A recent batch of store-bought Hachiya persimmons averaged out to 7.25 ounces/205 grams, so that is my definition of a medium Hachiya persimmon.

Steamed Persimmon Pudding

(Makes 6 servings) 

1/2 cup (2.8 ounces/80 grams) raisins
3 tablespoons (1.5 fluid ounces/44 ml) brandy, rum or hot tea
3/4 cup (6.625 ounces/188 grams) persimmon puree*
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 dip-and-sweep cup (5 ounces/142 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour 
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup (1.75 ounces/50 grams) sugar
2 tablespoons (1 ounce/28 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup (2.66 fluid ounces/79 ml) milk

1/3 cup (1.33 ounces/38 grams) chopped pecans or walnuts 

* From about 1 1/2 "medium" (7.25 ounces/205 grams) Hachiya persimmons

1 In small bowl, soak raisins in brandy, rum or hot tea for 30 minutes to plump them. Start them off with 15 seconds or so in the microwave, then cover them and let them steam. 

2 Butter well a 2-inch deep 7-inch round cake tin or 3-inch deep 6-inch round cake tin. Put a round of parchment paper in the tin and butter it as well. 

3 Stir baking soda into persimmon puree and let stand 5 minutes while proceeding with recipe.

4 In 1.5-quart bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. 

5 In medium bowl with a wooden spoon, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, then persimmon puree, followed by the vanilla and milk. Stir in the flour mixture followed by the nuts and raisins. Turn into buttered tin and cover tightly with foil. 

6 Place rack (with its handles up) in bottom of the Instant Pot cooking pot, and add 2 cups of boiling water to the pot. Center the pudding on the rack.

7 Put on the optional Instant Pot glass lid. Plug in the Instant Pot. Press the Saute key to select that program. Press the Saute key as many times as it takes to change the temperature indicator to Less. Press the Plus or Minus key to change the cooking time to 20 minutes to pre-steam the pudding before pressure cooking.

Note: You need to start with hot water because the Instant Pot set on the Saute function starts counting down the minutes right away (and does not display the minutes, just the word “Hot,” so I set a kitchen timer just to be sure!). 

8 When the beep sounds, it turns Off. Remove the optional Instant Pot glass lid and put the pressure cooking lid in place. Turn the steam valve to Sealing. Press the Pressure Cook key. Leave the indicator on High Pressure and change the cooking time to 35 minutes for the 7-inch pan or 40 minutes for the 6-inch pan.

Note: Since it is already hot, it only takes about 4 minutes to come up to pressure.

9 When the beep sounds, it turns Off. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes, then do a quick release by turning the steam valve to Venting. Then leave the lid in place for another 10 minutes.

10 Carefully remove the lid and wipe any condensation off the foil covering. Using potholders or oven gloves and the handles on the rack, carefully lift out the pudding and set on wire cooling rack. Remove the foil. The pudding should be slightly pulling away from the edges of the pan. Let stand for 15 minutes before unmolding onto a small platter. Slice and serve warm with whipped cream, brandy butter hard sauce or, my favorite, Custard Sauce.

Note: If making it ahead, even a day or two before, cover and store pudding at room temperature and then reheat before serving. 

11 While pudding is steaming, make Brandy Butter Hard Sauce or Custard Sauce. If you prefer your Custard Sauce cold, make it several hours or up to 2 or 3 days ahead. Hard Sauce can be made way ahead; it needs to be refrigerated at least 2 hours or up to 3 weeks.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support. 

Jean

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs

I'd been thinking for months about trying barbecue pork ribs in the Instant Pot pressure cooker, but then my friend Jo mentioned cooking some in the slow cooker mode. So that's what I decided to do.

I usually do my wonderful Oven Barbecue Pork Ribs, but I didn't feel like running the oven on such a hot day; so it was the perfect time to try this. 

The "Normal" Slow Cook setting of the Instant Pot (or Low setting for most slow cookers) for 10 hours cooked them to tender perfection, and then a couple of 3- minute stints under the broiler developed the sticky, crusty finish.

Of course, barbecue ribs (slow cooker or otherwise) are like meat candy, so I don't eat a large serving or have them very often. 

Mr Delightful was really happy with these ribs, so I'm going to be making them again. All part of what I call my Streamlined Cooking! Are you a rib fan? No need to wait for grilling weather!

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs

I think the 6-quart Instant Pot could easily hold 6 pounds of ribs.

(Serves 3 or 4)

The Ribs

4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) pork back ribs

The Dry Rub

1/4 cup (1.75 ounces/50 grams) dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground dried chiles (I make a little mixture of my own)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

The Barbecue Sauce

(Makes about 1/2 cup)

1/3 cup organic ketchup

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons country Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1 In a small bowl, stir together all the barbecue sauce ingredients; cover and refrigerate.

2 In a small bowl, stir together all the dry rub ingredients.

Note: This is the part where I would tell you about peeling the tough membrane off the bony side of the ribs, but my friend told me she didn't bother and it made no difference with the slow cooker method, so I skipped it. However, I am accustomed to doing that and may, or may not, do it next time. 

3 Apply dry rub all over. Roll the rack of ribs up like a rug, meaty side out, and place it on its edge in the inner pot of the Instant Pot. If cooking two racks of ribs, place the largest coil in the pot--it will move itself out to the sides of the pot--then put the other coil in the center.

Note: May be made ahead to this point, refrigerated and finished the next day.

4 Put on the optional Instant Pot glass lid, or use the pressure cooking lid with the steam release handle turned to Venting. Select the Slow Cook program. Within 10 seconds, press Slow Cook to set temperature to Normal. Within 10 seconds, press “+ or –“ to set time to 10 hours.

5 Move your oven rack to 6 inches below your broiler. The top position in my oven is 4 inches below the broiler, but I think I'm less likely to burn things at the slightly lower level! Turn the broiler on High. Place the ribs on a foil-lined 18x13x1-inch half sheet pan. Using about half the sauce, lightly brush the underside (bony side) of the ribs with a little sauce, and brush the meaty side of the ribs with the rest of the half. Broil for about 3 minutes (you'll have to be the judge of that!).

6 Take the pan out of the oven, and brush the top of the ribs with the remaining half of the sauce. Broil for another 3 minutes (again, you'll have to sort the timing out with your broiler).

7 Let the ribs rest for 5 minutes before cutting apart. 

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support. 

Jean

Italian Meatball Sandwiches

Italian meatball sandwiches make a great meal in any weather, but meatballs and sauce might be too much trouble to cook on a hot summer afternoon. No worries. I do my summer cooking in the morning.

I developed this recipe with dried herbs so that it could be what I call a Pantry Meal, a meal I can make from what's always on hand rather than having to make a grocery run. And I like to make a double batch and freeze half for another day. 

How many sandwiches this recipe makes depends on what size rolls you get. Today the bakery had some crusty French rolls that were just under four inches, so I put two meatballs on each one; so I could make eleven sandwiches. If they'd had the rolls that are just under six inches, I would have put three meatballs on each and made seven sandwiches. (Ooh, the math, my brain is smokin'!) 

Though I usually aim for perfectly round meatballs, when making them for a sandwich I like to flatten them out slightly. Some people put the meatballs straight into the sauce, but I like to brown them first, get a nice crust on them before simmering them in the sauce. But if you do it the other way, that's okay too.

Are you a meatball sandwich fan, or would you rather have your meatballs and sauce on some spaghetti? I also like to make double batches of my Spaghetti Meat Sauce and freeze it in these meal-size portions. 

Pyrex 3-Cup Rectangle Storage Containers

Italian Meatball Sandwiches

(Serves 4)

The Meatballs (Makes 22) 

2 slices good white bread, crusts removed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) milk
1 large egg
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
1 1/2 teaspoons very finely minced shallot
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound (16 ounces/0.45 kg) very lean ground beef

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

The Sauce

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup very finely shredded carrot
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes (organic fire roasted)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
3/4 teaspoon basil
3/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

The Sandwich

Crusty French rolls or homemade buns
Thinly-sliced Provolone cheese

1 In medium bowl, combine bread and milk and let stand a few minutes before mashing to a paste with a fork. Add remaining meatball ingredients, except ground beef and olive oil, in the order given. Using hands, mix in the ground beef until everything is well combined. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour, or in freezer for 5 minutes or so, to make mixture easier to handle.

2 Roll #40 scoops of meatball mixture with both hands to form meatballs. (First I scoop all of the meatball mixture and then roll all the meatballs.) 

3 In 12-inch skillet*, heat olive oil. Brown the meatballs in two batches, rolling them around, browning on all sides. Remove to a plate or bowl.

4 In same skillet, cook onion for a few minutes, add in shredded carrot, and then stir in crushed tomatoes, scraping up brown bits in the pan. Add remaining sauce ingredients. Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat. Add meatballs to sauce. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Sauce should be quite thick; you don't want a soggy sandwich.

5 Split rolls and line each with thin slices of Provolone. That's another thing that will prevent sogginess. Much better than putting the cheese on top. Heat the sandwiches in preheated oven, toaster oven or broiler just enough to melt the cheese. 

* I love my All-Clad 5112 Stainless 12-Inch Fry Pan! AND my Pyrex 3-Cup Rectangle Storage Containers.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites.

Jean

Fudge Ripple Ice Cream - A Simple No-Cook Ice Cream for Summer

I need some Fudge Ripple Ice Cream, don’t you? All across the US, summer is setting temperature records. So it’s time for ice cream. And I don’t mean ice cream with a cooked base because, I don’t know about you, but the less time I spend at the stove right now the better. 

So this is a “simple” (meaning uncooked) vanilla ice cream with swirls of a super easy fudge sauce that takes just a minute or two on the stove. I made it up several years ago with ingredients I always have on hand and without the corn syrup that, as you may know, I so hate.

I used to have the Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream-Sorbet Maker, which is wonderful and inexpensive. But then I got the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker. You can also use the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment, if you have one.

Some of you might even have the old-fashioned kind of ice cream maker that uses ice and rock salt. Even better if it’s one made of wood! Whichever you prefer is fine, but I can't imagine summer without an ice cream maker! 

Simple Fudge Ripple Ice Cream

(Makes about 5 cups)

The Ice Cream

1 cup (8 fluid ounces/237 ml) milk (I used 2%)
2/3 cup (4.67 ounces/132 grams) sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt

2 cups (16 fluid ounces/473 ml) heavy whipping cream

The Fudge Sauce

1/2 cup (3.5 ounces/99 grams) sugar

1/4 packed cup (0.75 ounces/21 grams) unsweetened natural cocoa* powder
Pinch salt
1/3 cup (2.67 fluid ounces/79 ml) water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons (1 ounce/28 grams) unsalted butter

* I always buy organic and Fair Trade Certified coffee, cocoa and chocolate products as well as organic dairy products.

1 In medium bowl (I use a 2-quart glass measure to make pouring into the machine easier), whisk together milk, sugar, vanilla and salt until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

2 Meanwhile, at least 2 hours before making the ice cream, make the sauce. In medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cocoa, salt and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; continue cooking for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract and butter until the butter is melted. Let cool at room temperature, then chill for about 30 minutes before using. If you chill it too long, you'll need to wait for it to warm up a bit because it needs to be thin enough to drizzle into "ripples." 

3 Follow directions for the Cuisinart ICE-21, Cuisinart ICE-100, KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment or other ice cream maker.

Tip: If you're using the frozen canister type ice cream maker, be sure to freeze the canister for at least 24 hours. 

4 Transfer a third of the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe airtight container, drizzle on some of the sauce. Repeat twice (you'll have enough sauce left over to decorate the serving dishes). Place in freezer for at least 4 hours. If it is super hard when you're ready to use it, remove it from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. 

Jean

Sunflower Seed Romesco Sauce

Romesco is a nut and red bell pepper-based sauce that originated in Catalonia, Spain, and was served with the local catch. Served with seafood, escargot, poultry, lamb, vegetables, it’s good on just about anything!

Sunflower Seed Romesco Sauce is one of less than a handful of recipes on my blog that is not my own recipe. It was sent to me by my friend Jo who just made it for a dinner party where it was a huge hit. She can’t remember where she got it, but I think it may have been Sunset magazine.

Of course, I made a couple of changes. Was out of sherry vinegar, so I used red wine vinegar. Was out of flat-leaf parsley and had some cilantro I wanted to use up, so I used cilantro. I recommend it! And I changed some amounts. Oh and I left out the garlic; trust me, you won't even miss it.

I used just 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, not wanting the sauce to be too tomato-y, and it wasn’t. Four tablespoons would probably be fine, too. This stuff is seriously good! 

Today I put it on an organic grass-fed burger. Tomorrow? Chicken, roasted potatoes, vegetables, salad, sandwiches, pasta, a dip for crudites—I might just eat it by the spoonful right out of the jar! 

Takes no time at all to make. I made it in my blender (Blendtec 725), but it can also be made in a food processor. Poured it into a pint jar. Now I'm wondering how well it would freeze. I'll freeze a small jar and let you know.

Update 07/22/18: I thawed the frozen jar overnight in the refrigerator and tried it this morning. It was wonderful! So I'm going to make another batch today to freeze in two half-pint jars. 

Update 08/30/18: Just posted quick and easy Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner with Romesco Sauce.

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Sunflower Seed Romesco Sauce

(Makes about 2 cups)

1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds, toasted in small dry skillet 

1/2 packed cup jarred roasted red bell peppers

1/2 packed cup cilantro or flat-leaf parsley

3 or 4 tablespoons tomato paste

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 

1/3 cup water 

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar 

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1 Put all the ingredients in food processor or blender; process or blend until as smooth as you like it. 

2 Taste and adjust seasoning.

3 Cover and chill for up to 5 days. Haven't tried it yet but am told it can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites.

Jean 

Tomatillo Salsa Verde - For Streamlined Cooking

My Tomatillo Salsa Verde might be a little different from those meant to be used as a salsa. I developed this formulation to be used in my recipes. It’s such a timesaver having jars of this in the freezer for days when I’m craving Chili Verde, for example, but don’t have the time or energy to make it the regular way.

As you might recall, I was crestfallen when Muir Glen discontinued their jarred crushed organic tomatillos that were such a timesaver. So my initial idea was to make my own and freeze it in jars. Then I thought how convenient it would be to have all the ingredients except the pork and the cilantro garnish made ahead.

So, working off my Chili Verde recipe, I came up with this recipe that makes just the right amount for two batches of Chili Verde. I divide it between two wide-mouth quart jars and pop them in the freezer, or use one now and freeze one.

Some of my favorite recipes can be quite time consuming, and I'm actually in the process of streamlining some of them so that we can enjoy them more often. So if that sounds good to you, be sure to follow me and stay tuned!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

(Makes a little more than 6 cups)

2 pounds tomatillos, husked and quartered
1 medium (about 12 ounces/340 grams) yellow onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 27-ounce can whole mild green chiles
1 4-inch jalapeno pepper, halved lengthwise, seeds and ribs removed, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 cup (8 fluid ounces/237 ml) water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 In 3- to 3.5-quart saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until tomatillos are tender and starting to fall apart. Let cool for 15 minutes.

2 Using an immersion blender, blend mixture until it reaches desired texture. If you don’t have an immersion blender, let it cool more and then transfer to a blender or food processor.

3 Refrigerate, if using within a few days. To freeze, put in wide-mouth quart jars or other glass freezer containers. When ready to use frozen salsa, transfer from freezer to refrigerator about 24 hours before.

Canning Jar Info: Sometimes I use four pint jars rather than two quart jars. A wide-mouth pint jar is freezer safe, but a pint jar does not hold a pint of food. The pint (2 cups or 16 fluid ounces) is the to-the-brim measure. The fill line for freezing is just a bit above the 12-ounce line, so you can put just a bit over 1.5 cups of food to be frozen.

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Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites

Jean

Homemade Blueberry Syrup or Sauce

Homemade blueberry syrup on pancakes or waffles is one of my favorite "breakfast for dinner" meals (since I rarely eat anything but fruit, nuts and oatmeal for breakfast).

But it can't be phony, store-bought blueberry syrup, in which blueberries are a distant third on the ingredient list, after high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. I can't remember the last time I ingested either of those things. Not being a food snob, just trying to take care of my health.

Which is why I also do not use artificial sweeteners and limit my intake of sugar and other natural sweeteners, such as honey and maple syrup. I use just 2 tablespoons of real maple syrup to make 1 cup of blueberry syrup. A cup of the blueberry syrup is enough for 12 5-inch pancakes.

So, to do the math (which I always do, in order to stay within my daily sugar allowance): 1/4 cup of my homemade blueberry syrup, perfect for 3 5-inch pancakes, contains just 1 1/2 teaspoons of real maple syrup (sugar).

To read how I, a comfort food blogger and frequent baker, handle sugar in a way that is realistic for me and doable for the long term, read Sugar - Toxin or Treat? And here are my recipes for Pancakes, Gluten-Free Pancakes, and Waffles. You can also use this as a sauce on desserts.

What do you like to put on pancakes and waffles?

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Blueberry Syrup or Sauce

(Makes 1 cup, enough for 12 5-inch pancakes)

6 ounces (170 grams/about 1 1/4 cups) fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce/30 ml) real maple syrup
4 tablespoons (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) water, divided
Tiny pinch of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons non-GMO cornstarch
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Put washed blueberries in 1-quart saucepan. Add maple syrup, 3 tablespoons of water and tiny pinch of salt (don't overdo it!). Bring to boil over medium heat; lower heat and simmer for 8 minutes.

2 Stir cornstarch into remaining 1 tablespoon water, and stir into blueberries. Simmer for a minute or two. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.

Homemade Mayonnaise - Immersion Blender Method - No Raw Egg

I do love the flavor of a certain brand of mayonnaise I grew up with, but it is not organic; so I prefer homemade. And I make mine with gently cooked egg so no one will have issues with it because of concerns about salmonella. 

Be sure to use the freshest eggs and oils for mayonnaise. Eggs lose some of their emulsifying ability as they age, and oils can turn rancid and take on "off" flavors. Taste the oils you plan to use; if they don't taste good, your mayonnaise won't taste good. 

Olive oil alone is too strongly flavored for general-purpose mayonnaise, so I use one part organic extra virgin olive oil and three parts organic canola oil. I always buy non-GMO organic expeller pressed (pressed without chemicals and high-speed presses that generate heat) oil.

If you don't have an immersion blender but you do have a food processor, try my Food Processor Mayonnaise. If you want to do it by hand with a whisk, you're on your own; I haven't done that in years! Not that it's difficult, but my beating arm is having issues these days.

Homemade Mayonnaise - Immersion Blender Method

(Makes 1 1/4 cups) 

1 very fresh large egg
1 very fresh large egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon white or red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon tapioca flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
3/4 cups very fresh organic canola oil
1/4 cup very fresh extra virgin olive oil 

1 In 1-quart bowl, whisk together the egg, yolk, water, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, flour, salt and dry mustard. Whisk vigorously for 1 minute, until mixture is smooth and frothy.

2 Transfer the mixture to a small nonstick skillet and heat over very low heat, stirring with a spatula, until the mixture starts to thicken. It should register 160F/71C on an instant-read thermometer; do not allow mixture to reach 170F/76C. Remove from heat, set pan in another pan of ice and water, and stir until the mixture has cooled to room temperature. Pour into 16-ounce mixing beaker. Measure the oils into the beaker. 

3 Stand the immersion blender in the beaker. With the blender blade in one spot touching the bottom, blend on low speed until the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 to 10 seconds. With the blender on low, slowly pull the blade up to the top of the beaker. Continue, moving the blender slowly up and down until thick, about 25 to 30 seconds longer. Taste and adjust seasoning. 

4 Scrape mayonnaise into a glass jar or container, cover and refrigerate. Can be refrigerated up to 4 days (some people say longer). I rarely use that much mayonnaise in such a short time, so I divide it between two jars and give one to a friend.