TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 DECADENT Continued from Page 1B Nothing goes better with chocolate than raspberries, and nothing goes better with raspberries than chocolate. This tart has an abun- dance of fresh raspberries packed into a chocolate tart crust, which is then fi lled with a smooth and creamy chocolate ganache. The fi lling melts in your mouth as you eat it, and you get pleasing pops of bright fl avor from each raspberry as you eat it. The genius of the dish is the crust, which is fl avored with cocoa powder and less powdered sugar than you’d think. In this way, the crust is a little bittersweet, which serves as a counterpoint to the rich fi lling. It’s the sort of tart con- sumed nightly by the gods on Mount Olympus, who threw down their chalices of nectar in dismay after they fi rst tasted it. Even so, my favorite of the desserts is the cheesecake. It is our go-to cheesecake, the cheesecake we make whenev- er we make cheesecake. The recipe originally came from a restaurant in Bar Harbor, Maine, called the Blue Hill Buffet. Our cookbook with the recipe in it dates back to 1964, which proves that great food never goes out of style. It is a simple but pure recipe, and so it particularly benefi ts from using the best ingredients. The crust should be made with name-brand vanilla wafers, the cream cheese should be of a good quality and you should whip the cream yourself. Most important, the lemon extract should be fresh and prefer- ably just purchased; the freshness makes a remark- ably large difference. It is the ideal cheesecake, rich and thick and creamy. All other cheesecakes are but imperfect refl ections of it. The fourth dessert that is absolutely worth the calories is an old-fashioned pearl tapi- oca pudding. I know. A lot of people are a little repulsed by the thought of tapioca. They are afraid of the texture. But that’s just because they haven’t had this tapioca. This tapioca is made with a thin custard called a creme anglaise. If you froze it, you would get ice cream. If you sprinkled sugar on the top of it and torched it, you would get a creme brulee. Basically, this is creme brulee with soft, chewy tapi- oca pearls — which are the same thing you use to make bubble tea. It’s fun to eat and, when you sprinkle just a touch of cinnamon on top, it is insanely delicious. Of the four desserts that are worth the calories, it is my favorite. LEMON MASCARPONE LAYER CAKE Yield: 10 to 12 servings For the sponge cakes 6 large eggs, separated 7 tablespoons (1/2 cup minus 1 tablespoon) granulated sugar plus 7 tablespoons (1/2 cup minus 1 tablespoon) granulated sugar 1 3/4 cups sifted cake fl our For the lemon syrup 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice HOME & LIVING 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed, plus more for greasing, divided 3 egg yolks 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1 cup light cream or half-and-half 4 cups raspberries (about 1 pound) from oven and raise oven temperature to 375 degrees. 3. Place cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer or large bowl. In a bowl, mix together the sugar and cornstarch, and add to the cream cheese. Add the eggs and the lemon extract. Mix with stand mixer or hand-held mixer until thor- oughly combined. 4. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it reaches stiff peaks. Gently fold into the 1. Sift together the fl our, cocoa powder and powdered cream cheese mixture just until combined. Pour into the sugar into a large bowl. Add prepared pan. Sprinkle a few 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) cookie crumbs on top and of the butter and rub in us- bake until fi rm in the middle ing your fi ngertips until the mixture resembles fi ne bread and a sharp knife inserted in crumbs. Add the egg yolks and the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS gently mix together, then add Raspberry and chocolate tart. 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and combine to form a smooth Per serving: 551 calories; 46 g dough. Cover with plastic fat; 27 g saturated fat; 157 mg recipe) or 2 1/2 cups fi lling to a medium bowl to wrap and let rest in the refrig- cholesterol; 398 g protein; 29 purchased lemon curd use for piping decorations. erator for at least 30 minutes. g carbohydrate; 17 g sugar; no Yield: 2 1/2 cups For the mascarpone fi lling Transfer half of the remain- 2. Preheat the oven to 375 fi ber; 398 mg sodium; 90 mg 2 1/2 cups heavy ing fi lling to another medium degrees. Lightly grease a 9 1/2- calcium whipping cream bowl. Refrigerate all 3 bowls of 3 large eggs inch diameter tart pan. 7 tablespoons (1/2 cup mascarpone mixture. You may 3 large egg yolks 3. Roll out the dough on — Adapted from “Picasso & minus 1 tablespoon) want to label the 3 bowls: one 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon a lightly fl oured surface and Pie” by Lynne Thompson granulated sugar for piping, one for fi lling layers granulated sugar carefully use to line the pan. 1 pound mascarpone and one for frosting. 3/4 cup strained freshly Cover with parchment paper, 8. Unmold the cakes: Run a squeezed lemon juice fi ll the pastry shell with pie thin, fl exible knife or spatula 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) Note: All the parts of this weights or dried beans, and cold unsalted butter, cut cake can be made in advance. around the edge of a pan to bake for 15 minutes. Remove loosen a cake. Turn the pan up- into 1/2-inch pieces the paper and weights and Yield: 6 servings side down and give it a sharp 1. Preheat the oven to 375 return crust to the oven for 5 rap on the table if necessary 1. Fill a large bowl halfway degrees and position oven more minutes. Let cool. to release (don’t worry, these with ice and water and set racks in the lower and upper 4. Melt the chocolate in a 4 ounces tapioca pearls, cakes are very sturdy). Turn the aside. Fill the bottom of a thirds. Fit 2 cake pans with heatproof bowl set over a preferably large cake right-side up, leaving the double boiler with 2 inches of saucepan of barely simmering 1 fresh vanilla bean, see note parchment rounds. Do not parchment paper attached. Re- water and bring to a roiling grease the pans. water, making sure the surface 2 cups milk, plus more if needed 2. Make the cakes: Whip the peat with the remaining cake. boil. Check to see the water is of the water does not touch Level the cakes, if necessary, at least 2 inches below the top the bowl. Meanwhile, put the 2 cups heavy (whipping) egg yolks and 7 tablespoons by cutting a thin slice off the portion of the double boiler. cream, plus more if needed of the sugar in the bowl of a cream into a small saucepan top if it is mounded and not 2. Place the eggs, egg yolks and heat until steaming hot, 1/2 cup granulated sugar stand mixer on high speed even. Use a serrated knife to and sugar into the top of the Pinch salt until thick and very light in but do not let it boil. Remove cut each cake horizontally into double boiler (off the heat) 2 egg yolks color, 4 to 5 minutes. You can the melted chocolate from two layers. Set aside one of and whisk until blended. Add Cinnamon for serving also use a hand mixer and a the heat and slowly pour in the bottom layers to use last, the lemon juice and mix well. the cream, gently stirring the medium bowl, although you Reduce the heat until the may need to beat the mixture and remove the parchment mixture. Add the remaining 2 Note: A fresh vanilla bean from the other layer. water is at a gentle boil. Place teaspoons of vanilla, then the is preferred for this recipe. If a little longer to achieve the 9. Assemble the cake. Place the egg mixture over the water remaining 6 tablespoons (3/4 same results. Transfer to a using vanilla extract, use 1 a cake layer, cut side up, on and cook, whisking constantly stick) butter, and stir together. tablespoon and add during large bowl and set aside while the serving plate. Brush the but leisurely, and scraping the you whip the egg whites. 5. Pack the cooled pastry step 2. cake with 1/4 of the lemon edges frequently so the eggs 3. Thoroughly clean the shell with raspberries, saving syrup. Spread 1/3 of the mas- don’t scramble there, until mixer bowl and whisk at- a few for decoration. Pour the 1. Soak the tapioca pearls carpone fi lling on top. Place the curd is very thick, about tachment or beaters. Whip hot chocolate ganache over in water overnight, covered 3 level tablespoons of the 7 minutes. A fi nished curd the egg whites on medium the raspberries to fi ll to the well with water. The next day, remaining lemon curd on top should hold its shape; when speed to soft peaks. With the top of the pastry. Let set in the drain off the water. Slice the mixer running, gradually add of the fi lling and spread evenly the whisk is lifted and a bit of refrigerator at least 30 min- vanilla bean in half lengthwise, curd falls back into the bowl, it utes. Serve decorated with the scrape out the tiny seeds and 7 more tablespoons of sugar; to the edge. Place a second continue beating until the egg cake layer on top, cut side up, should remain distinct on the reserved raspberries dusted add them and the bean pods and repeat with lemon syrup, surface rather than blending whites hold fi rm peaks. Fold with a little powdered sugar. to a heavy-bottomed pot with mascarpone fi lling and lemon back into the mixture. Do not 1/3 of the egg whites into the the milk, cream and tapioca. curd. Place third layer on top, let the curd boil. If you get bits Per serving: 714 calories; 46 g Bring to a very slow simmer, beaten yolks with a spatula, cut side up, and repeat. of scrambled egg, immedi- then sift half of the fl our over fat; 28 g saturated fat; 176 mg stirring often to avoid scorch- 10. Top with the last cake ately remove the bowl from the top and gently fold it in. cholesterol; 11 g protein; 74 g ing. If the mixture becomes layer, placing it bottom side up the heat and proceed to the Repeat. Fold in the last of the carbohydrate; 34 g sugar; 12 too thick and, um, like mucus, next step. egg whites until no streaks of (cut side down). Remove the g fi ber; 51 mg sodium; 93 mg add more milk and cream as parchment paper; the surface 3. Immediately strain the white remain. calcium needed. will be crumb-free for frosting. curd through a fi ne-mesh 4. Divide the batter evenly 2. Stir in the sugar, salt and Moisten it with the remain- strainer into a medium bowl. between the prepared pans. — Recipe from “Chocolat” by vanilla extract if using. Put the ing lemon syrup. Spread the Push the curd though the Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, Eric Lanlard yolks into a bowl and stir in until the tops are golden, fi rm mascarpone reserved for frost- strainer with a spatula or some of the tapioca mixture to the touch and a toothpick in- ing over the cake, spreading it spoon, leaving behind any a very little bit at a time to serted into the centers comes quite thinly on top with more bits of scrambled egg. Add the equalize the temperature while on the side. cold butter pieces to the curd, out clean. Halfway through not scrambling the eggs. (If 11. Finish and serve the burying them so they melt the baking time, switch the the eggs do scramble, discard quickly. Wait 1 minute, then pans on the racks so they bake cake: Spoon the piping and begin again with new Yield: 8 to 10 servings evenly. Transfer the cakes to a mascarpone into a pastry bag whisk until the butter is com- yolks). Add the warmed yolk fi tted with a 1/2-inch star tip (or pletely melted and blended rack to cool completely. mixture to the tapioca mixture a gallon-size plastic bag with a with the curd. Press a piece 5. Make the lemon syrup: 8 ounces vanilla wafers while stirring. Pour into a bowl small hole in one corner, fi tted of plastic wrap directly on the Heat 1/2 cup of sugar and (about 56), fi nely ground to cool before placing a piece with a 1/2-inch star tip). Pipe surface of the curd, then set water in a small saucepan, 1/4 pound (1 stick) salted of plastic wrap directly on the bowl in the large bowl of stirring occasionally, until the rosettes over the entire top butter, melted the surface and placing in the of the cake, starting around ice and water. Once the curd sugar has completely dis- 1 1/2 pounds good refrigerator. the outside edge and work- has completely cooled, use or solved and the liquid is clear. cream cheese 3. Serve with a little dash of ing your way to the center. store for up to 3 days in the Remove from the heat and 1 cup granulated sugar ground cinnamon Put a few tablespoons of the refrigerator. cool completely. Stir in the 2 tablespoons cornstarch remaining curd into a plastic lemon juice. 2 eggs Per serving: 316 calories; 16 g sandwich bag and squeeze Per (1 tablespoon) serving: 44 3/4 teaspoons lemon 6. Make the mascarpone fat; 10 g saturated fat; 108 mg it into one of the corners. calories; 3 g fat; 1 g saturated fi lling: Thoroughly clean the extract, see note cholesterol; 5 g protein; 39 g Snip off the corner and pipe a fat; 32 mg cholesterol; 1 g mixer bowl and whisk or 1 cup whipping cream carbohydrate; 23 g sugar; no center of lemon curd into each protein; 5 g carbohydrate; 5 g beaters. Place the cream and fi ber; 74 mg sodium; 137 mg of the rosettes. Refrigerate for sugar; no fi ber; 6 mg sodium; the remaining 7 tablespoons Note: The lemon extract calcium of sugar in the bowl and whip at least 4 hours before serving, 5 mg calcium must be recently purchased. so the fl avors and textures until soft peaks form. Place It loses its fl avor within a few — Adapted from a recipe from have a chance to meld. To the mascarpone and 1 cup — Recipe from “The Art & months of opening. “The Frog and the Redneck” serve, slice with a thin, sharp of the lemon curd in a large Soul of Baking” by Cindy by Jimmy Sneed bowl and stir until blended — knife. The cake will keep, re- Mushet 1. Preheat oven to 350 frigerated, for 3 to 4 days. it should be the consistency degrees. of pudding. Gently fold in 2. Stir together vanilla the whipped cream until the Per serving (based on 12): 590 wafers and melted butter and mixture is homogeneous and calories; 32 g fat; 19 g saturat- press into springform pan or Yield: 6 servings thick. If the mixture becomes ed fat; 267 mg cholesterol; 10 large pie plate. Bake 10 min- For All your overworked it will look grainy g protein; 66 g carbohydrate; utes; do not brown. Remove or separated. If this happens, 49 g sugar; 1 g fi ber; 182 mg 1 1/3 cups all-purpose fl our, Meat processing stir in several tablespoons of sodium; 5 mg calcium plus more for dusting needs cream and stir just until the 2/3 cup unsweetened We will be OPENING Schedule Early! mixture has smoothed out — Recipe from “The Art & cocoa powder on October 2nd! Bring in your Grindings. Where: Corner of Booth Lane and again. Soul of Baking” by Cindy 1/3 cup powdered sugar, Lower Cove Road We will make it into 7. Transfer 2 1/4 cups of Mushet plus more for dusting When: Friday and Saturday: Sausage, Jerky & Burger! 9am-6pm Sunday: 10am-4pm Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners Please call soon. Monday-Thursday: By appointment LEMON CURD OLD-FASHIONED PEARL TAPIOCA PUDDING BLUE HILL BUFFET’S CHEESECAKE RASPBERRY AND CHOCOLATE TART PICK’N PATCH For the lemon curd 1 recipe lemon curd (see 2036 Main Street, Baker City 541-523-6284 • ccb#219615 Superior Quality Care You Can Count On Even during a pandemic. GoHOSPICE.com THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD — 3B BAKER CITY LA GRANDE (541) 524-7688 (541) 624-5800 :KDW\RXZLOO¿QG Small corn maze, several varieties of pumpkins and gourds, straw bales, corn stalks. If you would like to schedule a VFKRRO¿HOGWULSRURWKHUHYHQW please call the number listed below. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ PickNPatchFarm farmkidsatoregonwireless.net Please call 541-786-2421 Baker County CUSTOM MEATS 2390 11th Street Baker City OR. Owners Del & Jana Woodcock