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Perfect for celebrations, the elegant torte has a filling of strawberries and chocolate ganache, which is also used as the frosting.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
for cake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Finely grind hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor. Place 2/3 cup ground-nut mixture in medium bowl; add flour and whisk to blend. Reserve remaining nut mixture for garnish.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl until mixture is thick and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Fold in flour mixture in 3 additions.
Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until top is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run small knife between pan sides and cake to loosen. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
for ganache: Bring cream to simmer in large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour into 13×9x2-inch glass dish. Refrigerate until ganache thickens to spreadable consistency, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 30 minutes (ganache will resemble thick pudding). Transfer 3/4 cup chocolate ganache to small bowl; set aside for garnish.
Cut cake horizontally into 2 layers (layers will be thin). Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread 1/2 cup chocolate ganache over. Arrange sliced strawberries in slightly overlapping concentric circles over ganache. Spread 1/2 cup ganache over cut side of second cake layer. Place cake layer atop strawberries, ganache side down, and press slightly to adhere. Spread remaining chocolate ganache over sides and top of cake. Gently press reserved ground hazelnuts onto sides of cake.
Transfer reserved 3/4 cup ganache to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes around top edge of cake, spacing apart. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)
Starting 1/3 inch from stem end of whole strawberries, thinly slice strawberries lengthwise to tip. Press slices slightly to fan. Place fanned berries between rosettes on cake. Garnish with additional toasted hazelnuts, if desired.
Start making this at least one day ahead.
Makes 10 servings.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour 9×5x3-inch metal loaf pan. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sugar; beat until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, beating well after each addition. Fold in chocolate chips. Transfer batter to pan. Smooth top.
Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Run knife between pan sides and cake; turn cake out onto rack. Cool. Wrap in foil; let stand at room temperature at least 1 day. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store wrapped in foil at room temperature.)
Cut pound cake into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Place 1 cake slice on each of 10 plates. Spoon Sweetened Strawberries and scoop of ice cream alongside. Drizzle with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce and serve.
Fresh rhubarb is at its peak in the spring, and this dessert makes the most of it. Use the bright red portion of the rhubarb stalks for the prettiest result. The pastry for these napoleons has a crisp caramel glaze; be sure to butter the baking sheets very well to prevent sticking.
Makes 4 servings.
for pastry: Preheat oven to 400°F. Using 1/2 tablespoon butter, generously butter 1 baking sheet. Unfold pastry on work surface; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Roll out pastry to 11-inch square. Trim edges to form 10-inch square. Cut square into four 5-inch squares. Cut squares diagonally in half to form 8 triangles. Transfer triangles, sugar side up, to prepared baking sheet. Using remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, generously butter underside of second baking sheet. Place second sheet, buttered side down, atop pastry triangles.
Bake pastry triangles 15 minutes; press top baking sheet down to flatten. Bake until pastries are golden brown, about 10 minutes longer. Remove top baking sheet. Using metal spatula, transfer pastries to rack and cool completely.
for filling: Combine rhubarb, 2/3 cup sugar, orange juice, cornstarch and grated orange peel in medium saucepan; stir to blend. Let stand until juices form, about 10 minutes. Cook over medium-high heat until rhubarb is tender but still intact, stirring gently, about 7 minutes. Gently stir in red currant jelly. Cool 5 minutes. (Pastries and filling can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store pastries airtight at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate filling. Rewarm filling before using.)
Arrange 1 pastry triangle on each of 4 plates; top with rhubarb filling, then remaining 4 pastry triangles. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Scoop ice cream alongside each napoleon. Garnish with orange peel strips and mint, if desired. Serve napoleons immediately.
Tofu is the base of the dressing in this recipe. A sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds adds to the flavor of this nice dish.
Makes 6 servings.
Working in batches, cook spinach in large pot of boiling salted water until just wilted and bright green, about 1 minute. Drain. Cool spinach in bowl of ice water. Drain. Squeeze spinach to remove excess liquid. Transfer spinach to large bowl. Fluff with fork.
Place 4 layers of cheesecloth or 1 linen towel on work surface. Spoon tofu into center of cheesecloth. Bring corners of cheesecloth together over tofu. Gently squeeze cheesecloth to remove excess liquid from tofu. Transfer tofu to paper coffee filter or double layer of paper towels. Allow filter to absorb liquid from tofu. Repeat with 4 more coffee filters or double layers of paper towels to remove most of excess liquid from tofu (tofu will be slightly crumbly).
Transfer drained tofu to medium bowl. Stir in miso and next 5 ingredients (mixture will look curdled). (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover spinach and tofu dressing separately and refrigerate.) Spoon tofu dressing over spinach and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt.
Divide spinach among bowls. Sprinkle sesame seeds over; garnish with lemon.
The term tataki refers to beef or fish that is seared, then chilled, marinated and thinly sliced. This ginger beef version is served with traditional tataki accompaniments—grated daikon (white radish) and ginger, chopped green onions, and a great dipping sauce.
Makes 6 servings.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub 1 tablespoon oil over beef. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef to skillet and cook until brown, turning often, about 5 minutes.
Transfer beef to roasting pan. Roast beef in oven until thermometer inserted into center registers 130°F for medium-rare, about 35 minutes. Cool.
Combine soy sauce and next 6 ingredients in large resealable plasticbag. Add beef to marinade. Cover and refrigerate until beef is cold, turning in marinade occasionally, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
Discard marinade from beef. Cut beef into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cover and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Arrange beef on plates. Spoon small mounds of daikon, ginger and green onions onto plates. Garnish with lemon wedges and shiso. Serve with individual bowls of lemon-Soy Dipping Sauce.