Cranberry Goodness

From November to January, and maybe a bit longer, we always have some type of cranberry sauce/chutney in the fridge.

First … this is the season when fresh berries are easy to find on your grocers’ shelves and second … they mix really well with citrus which is also coming into season.

There are tons of sauce, dressing and chutney recipes that transform tart berries into tasty accompaniments. From a simple orange and cranberry curry, to a spicy chili infused chutney that makes any poultry or pork dish better.

Perhaps the other classic hoiliday treat is pecan pie. However, it is just too cloyingly sweet and gelatinous. Then we came across a Cranberry-Pecan Tart … YUM!

It’s a bit fiddly in that you need to move the dough into and out of the fridge a number of times. But the tart shell is better than any we’ve attempted in the past.

Then there is the sugar into caramel which is a bit scary the first time … just fight that urge to give the sugar a stir. The results are well worth the effort and it freezes well so you can have treats all through the holidays … when you get tired of cookies.

Smoked Serrano Cranberry Chutney

Spicy and sweet accompaniment to any holiday meal.
Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh (or frozen) cranberries
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 smoked serrano chiles
  • 1/4 cup dried apricots
  • 2 Tbsp crystallized ginger minced
  • 1 Tbsp crushed Urfa chiles
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  • In small sauce pan, bring water and orange juice to a boil.
  • Stir in cranberries and brown sugar.
  • Reduce to a simmer and stir in remaining ingredients. Continue simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thckens and coats the back of a spoon (about 15 to 20 minutes).
  • Serve warm, room temp or chilled. This also freezes well, allow to thaw on counter and microwave or stovetop reheat to have warm sauce.

 

Cranberry-Pecan Tart

The perfect tart pastry filled with caramel, pecans and cranberries.
Course: Dessert
Keyword: berries, Pecans, Tart

Ingredients

tart dough

  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 Tbsp heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cup AP flour
  • 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter cut in 1/4" pieces and chilled

filling

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 3 Tbls unsalted butter cut into 1/2" pieces
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 6 oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 1/4 cups pecans toasted and corsely chopped

Instructions

For the tart dough

  • Whisk egg yolk, cream and vanilla together in bowl. Process flour, sugar and salt in food processor until combined (about 5 seconds). Scatter butter over top and pulse until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal., about 15 pulses. With processor running, slowly add egg yolk mixture and process until dough just comes together, about 12 seconds.
  • Turn out dough onto sheet of plastic wrap. Form dough into 6-inch disk, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Let dough sit on counter to soften slightly, about 10 minutes, before rolling. (Wrapped dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month. If frozen, let dough thaw completely on counter before rolling.)
  • Roll dough into 11-inch circle on lightly floured counter. (If dough becomes too soft and sticky to work with, transfer to baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes.) Place dough round on baking sheet, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
  • Remove dough from refrigerator but keep dough on sheet. Loosely roll dougy around rolling pin and gently unroll into 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom, letting excess dough hang over edge. Ease dough into pan by gently lifting edge of dough with your hand while pressing into corners with your other hand.
  • Press dough into fluted sides of pan, forming a distinct seam around pan's circumference. (finished edge should be 1/4 inch thick. If some sections are too thick, press dough up over edge.) Run rolling pin or knife over top of pan to remove any excess dough. Wrap dough-lined pan loosely in plastic, place on large plate, and freeze until dough is firm, about 30 minutes before using. (Dough-lined pan can be wrapped tightly in plastic and frozen for up to 1 month.)
  • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375º. Set dough-lined pan on rimmed paking sheet. Line chilled tart shell with parchment paper or double layer of aluminum foil, covering edges to prevent burning , and fill with pie weights. Bake until tart shell is golden brown and set, about 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Transfer sheet to wire rack and carefully remove foil and weights. Let tart shell cool on sheet while preparing filling.

Tart filling

  • Reduce oven temperature to 325º. Pour water into medium saucepan, then pour sugar into center fo saucepan, taking care not to let sugar granules hit side of pan. Gently stir sugar with clean spatual to wet thoroughly. Bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat and cook, without stirring utnilsugar has dissolved completely and liquid as faint golden color and registers 300º, 6 to 10 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture turns dark amber and registers 350º, 1 to 3 minutes longer. Off heat, slowly whisk in cream until combined. Add cranberries and pecans and gently stir until evenly distributed and thoroughly coated in carmel. Pour filling into tart shell. Bake tart on sheet until filling is bubbling and nearly set (it should jiggle slightly when shaken), 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking.
  • Transfer sheet to wire rack and let tart cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove outer metal ring of tart pan, slide thin metal spatula between tart and pan bottom, and carefully slide tart onto platter. Cut into wedges and serve. (Tart can be wrapped loosely in plastic and stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours.)

Trip to the City

There are times when it’s nice to make a trip into the city, walk it’s streets and enjoy it’s neighborhood eateries.

We understand the allure of living in Portland, Oregon. There is a vibrancy in that urban expanse.

Recently we visited the City of Roses, taking time to visit family and old friends. It was a typical PNW (Pacific Northwest) fall day, overcast with spots of rain and cold enough to require a jacket.

First morning found us at a favorite spot, the Pearl Bakery. After pastries with coffee we explored a few spots in the neighborhood. ending up at Powell’s Bookstore.

We enjoyed an Eastside Pub, Ancestry Brewing, which if you get a chance has great burgers and fine pints.

The city is still filled with hipsters and homeless amid the tall buildings that give a very different city feeling than Bend. The trip was just a few days, but more than enough to get our city fix.

We finished up with a stop at Edelweiss Deli to restock German delicacies and after a late breakfast with friends, we popped back over the mountain happy to be back home.

Hard Cider

 

In this country when we talk about cider, often it’s in reference to the unfiltered juice of apples.

The rest of the world is talking about a drink Americans call “hard cider.”  This may be changing as more and more craft brewers turn to apples as a fermentation source.

Last week while scanning the beer and wine selection at a local market, we noticed they had Legend Cider on tap.

Legend NW Cider Company is Oregon family owned and operated. Their cider is hand-crafted, has no added sweetners and is made from natural juices and Northwest-grown apples.

Luckily for us they began construction on a facility in La Pine this summer, but as is often the case, progress was slow. Finally, early this fall they opened their brewery for public tasting.

We decided it was past time to try their ciders, so stopped by the local tap room.

Our initial flight featured Apple, Columbia Gorge Grape, Paulina Pomegranate,  and Coastal Cranberry.

Subsequent samplings included Broken Top Blood Orange. Rockaway Beach Raspberry, and a limited offering Tank Blend.

Coastal Cranberry was a favorite of JQ and I particularly liked the Blood Orange. That said, we did reach an accord. We left with a growler of the tank blend, featuring cranberry and pomegranate.

We’ll definitely be back to refill the growler.

When ordering a flight at Legend NW Cider Company, you have the option to select four cider flavors of your choice. We really liked what we were tasting, so ordered nachos from the food truck adjacent to the brewery, then settled in to sample all seven ciders on tap.

 

A Slice of Breakfast

We’ve upped the protein on our morning toast and it’s a really great way to start the day. It is also perfect for camping/eurovan.

Onto a slice of toast spread about a tablespoon of your favorite peanut butter. Then peel and slice a banana, about ¼ inch pieces work great, and spread these out on top of the peanut butter. Finally we sprinkle it with cinnamon.

Its a pretty good way to start the day.

German Plum Cake

During our most recent trip to Hood River’s Fruit Loop we came upon an unexpected discovery.

Italian Plums.

I know the perfect recipe for these babies … German Plum Cake (Pflaumenkuchen).

Italian Prune plums are ideal for cooking. Their flavor becomes more complex through baking and they have a lovely texture.

 

This yeasted cake is typically made on a baking sheet and is a perfect vehicle for Italian plums. The cake itself is not overly sweet. Now add a layer of tart, juicy plums and a touch of cinnamon sweetness via streusel and this is one of my personal favorites.

German Plum Cake 'Pflaumenkuchen'

German Plum Cake is a yeast dough with fresh fruit topped with butter streusel
Servings: 48 2 inch squares

Equipment

  • 17x12x1 inch jelly roll pan

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Italian plums pitted and cut into quarters
  • 3/4 cup warm milk have extra to add to dough as needed
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dry active yeast
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter melted but not hot
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

streusel topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter at room temperature

Instructions

  • In small bowl dissolve the yeast in warm milk and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • Place flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add yeast mixture, butter, eggs and vanilla, give a stir to combine. Attach the dough hook and knead at a medium low setting for 4-5 minutes. Dough will be sticky but should hold together and be more of a thick batter. If necessary, add up to an additional 1/4 cup milk. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set in a warm draft free place to proof for one hour or until about double in size.
  • Lightly oil the bottom of an 17 x 12 jellyroll pan and then line bottom with parchment. Generously butter the sides and parchment of the pan.
  • Scrape the dough from the bowl into the center of the jellyroll and using your hands spread it out to fill the pan even from side to side. Try to keep the dough an even thickness. Starting at the very edge of the pan lay the plum quarters next to each other in rows the length of the pan. Rows should touch each other. Cover the entire surface of dough.
  • Set the baking sheet in a warm place and allow to rise for an hour. Preheat oven to 350º.
  • Prepare the streusel by placing all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Use your fingers to mix and bring it all together. Work the mixture until it is a fine crumb. Squeeze crumb together to make sizeable clumps. Sprinkly this over the top of the cake.
  • Bake in the middle rack of a 350º oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
  • Let the cake sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the liquid to set. Slice into squares and serve.