Sweet Raspberry Tea - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...For many of us this weekend marks the end of summer. Calendars and alarm clocks are waiting to reclaim their rightful places in our lives, but before we cede territory to them there is still time for one last barbecue or a trip to the beach. Bob and I plan to head to the coast and enjoy the lovely sea breezes on what promises to be a gorgeous weekend. I suspect polar expeditions have made it to the top of the world with fewer provisions that we pack for our trek to the ocean. I've just filled a thermos with our favorite sweet tea and thought you might enjoy it as well. It really is easy to make and if you prefer a more adult version of this old favorite, I can heartily recommend the addition of a splash or two of orange vodka. One caution. Be sure to strain the tea before serving. Raspberry seeds can spoil the tea. Here's the recipe.

Sweet Raspberry Tea...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
Ingredients
5 bags raspberry zinger tea
6 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 pint raspberries
1 lime, cut into wedges
Mint sprigs or stemmed cherries


Directions
1) Place tea bags in a 2-quart bowl. Bring 6 cups water to a boil and pour over tea bags. Let sit until water is room temperature. Discard tea bags.
2) Meanwhile, combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add raspberries and allow syrup to come to room temperature. Strain syrup into tea. Put ice into 4 (12-ounce) glasses. Squeeze a lime wedge into each glass. Pour sugared tea over ice cubes. Garnish with mint or cherries if desired. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Watermelon Sweet Tea - The Runaway Spoon
Peach and Mint Iced Tea - The Comfort of Cooking
Blackberry Iced Tea - Jane Deere
Blue Green Iced Tea - Taylor Takes a Taste
Herbal Iced Tea - Pham Fatale
Lemongrass Iced Tea - Served with Love

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Raspberry Kuchen

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a lovely old fashioned cake that's completely without pretense. Chances are your mother or grandmother made a cake quite similar to this one. It was codified by Better Homes and Gardens and it's been around for a while, fading in and out of fashion as eating habits change. The original recipe can be found in the no longer new, Better Homes and Gardens: New Baking Book. We used to call it "Poor Man's Cheese Cake," but it's officially called a Raspberry Kuchen. A kuchen is a cake-like dessert that has a soft dough crust and a topping of custard or cheese that contains berries or other fruits. I love this recipe for many reasons. There are no stray egg whites or yolks left to deal with when the cake is finished. What's not used in the crust is used in the custard and that appeals to my "green" instincts. The cake, which can be made without a mixer, is very easy to do and has the added advantage of being low in fat and only moderately sweet. Best of all, it can be made with fresh or frozen berries of any type. Frozen berries will produce a creamier cake because of the liquid they exude as the cake bakes. Cane berries of all sorts have come to market here in Oregon, but to tell the truth, they're not up to speed this year. Hopefully, they'll improve this week and we'll have something worth putting by. Until then, I'm relying on the stash in my freezer. I used frozen berries to make the cake today, so it's wonderfully creamy in taste and appearance. I hope those of you who are not familiar with this cake will give it a try. Here's the recipe.

Raspberry Kuchen...from the kitchen of One Perfect bite inspired by Better Homes and Gardens: New Baking Book

Ingredients:
Base
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups fresh or frozen cane berries

Filling
1-1/2 cups plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 slightly beaten egg yolks
1 slightly beaten whole egg
1-1/2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. If using frozen raspberries, thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes; drain.
2) In food processor bowl or medium mixing bowl, stir together 1 cup flour, the first 1/2 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Add melted butter, 2 egg whites and first teaspoon vanilla. Cover; process or stir by hand until mixed.
3) Spread onto the bottom of springform pan; sprinkle with berries. Set aside.
4) For filling, place yogurt in a large mixing bowl; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons flour. Add remaining sugar, yolks, whole egg, zest and remaining vanilla. Mix until smooth; pour over berries.
5) Bake for about 55 minutes or until center appears set when shaken gently. Cool for 15 minutes; remove sides of pan. Cover; chill until serving time, up to 24 hours. If you are feeling brave, you can remove pan bottom. Transfer to a serving plate. Yield: 10 - 12 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Orange Yogurt Cake - One Perfect Bite
Yogurt Cheese Cake - One Perfect Bite
Greek-Style Yogurt Pie with Fruit Preserves - One Perfect Bite
German Rahm Kuchen - A Feast for the Eyes
Cheese Kuchen - Madame Chow's Kitchen
Grandma's Pear Kuchen - Jules Food

Self-Frosting Chocolate Cake - Blue Monday

Two ways to have fun.



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you're looking for a dessert to serve on Valentine's Day, you might want to try this self-frosting chocolate cake. It's really easy to do and can be made as one large, or eight smaller, portion controlled, cakes. I always opt for the latter. It helps prevent me from overeating, which I have, on occasion, been known to do. The cake can be made a day before serving as long as you follow the directions for reheating that are in the recipe. If you decide to make this, be sure to use the finest bittersweet chocolate and raspberry jam available to you. This is one of those recipes where quality really pays off. If you like ease of preparation, the taste of bittersweet chocolate and raspberries, you'll love this treat. Just remember this is a dessert that should be served warm, and that means the cakes, large or small, can't be unmolded until you are ready to serve them. If you carefully follow the recipe instructions and say a prayer or two or three, you'll have no problems. I make these for family and good friends. I have, over the years, become a very relaxed hostess. If you do a great deal of formal entertaining, I have a caution for you. While these are luscious, they are probably too homely for a more formal dinner party. Here's the recipe.

Self-Frosting Chocolate Cake...from the kitchen of One perfect Bite, inspired by Epicurious.com

Ingredients:
Frosting
3 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (about 5 ounce)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Cake Batter
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
powder (not Dutch process)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam (about 3 1/2 ounce)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pint raspberries (for garnish)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan or 8 (8-oz.) custard cups. Set aside.
2) To make frosting: Break chocolate into small pieces. Place in a small saucepan with raspberry jam and cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until smooth. If making one large cake, pour mixture into prepared pan. If making individual cakes, pour an equal portion of mixture into each custard cup. Set aside.
3) To make cake batter: Whisk boiling water and cocoa powder together until smooth. Whisk in milk, vanilla extract and jam. Place butter and both sugars in a large bowl Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking soda and salt into another bowl. Add to egg mixture in batches alternately with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat well after each addition. Pour an equal portion of batter over frosting. If making one large cake, bake in center of oven for 30 to 35 minutes. If making individual cakes, bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a cake tester to check for doneness. Remember frosting will still be liquid. Transfer pan or custard cups to a wire rack. Let cool for 10 to 20 minutes. Cake may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely in pan and left in pan, covered, at room temperature. Reheat cake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes.
4) To unmold: Run a thin knife around edge of pan and twist pan gently back and forth on a flat surface to loosen cake. Invert a cake plate with a slight lip over cake pan and holding pan and plate together with both hands, invert cake onto plate. Serve cake garnished with raspberries if desired. Yield: 8 servings

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

Raspberry Streusel Muffins - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I was rummaging through the freezer today. Actually, it was a search with purpose. I came across a recipe I want to try for Valentine's Day and had to make sure I had enough raspberries for both a test and final run. As it happened, I had more than enough for both. I pulled out an extra pint of berries and decided to use them to make muffins for a coffee I had to attend later in the day. This recipe has never disappointed me. Unfortunately, I don't know who originally develop it. I can't claim ownership and there are variations of it all over the internet. So, I'm working on the assumption that the recipe is now in the public domain and we can use it without attribution. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll put your name in lights. These are biscuit-type muffins and despite a 3 step procedure they are easy to make. While they're more expensive than most breakfast muffins they are worth every penny they cost. If you are not a fan of raspberries and pecans, name your poison. I often use blackberries and hazelnuts as substitutes. As with any biscuit-type batter, mix only until ingredients are moistened and combined and be sure to use only colored portions of the zest. The white pith will make the muffins so bitter that no amount of sugar can sweeten them. I like to serve these warm, but they will keep for 24 hours and can be reheated. Here's the recipe for this special morning treat.

Raspberry Streusel Muffins...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Muffins:
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup fresh or frozen, un-thawed raspberries
Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup golden or light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablesspoons melted butter
Glaze:
1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Set aside.
2) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Make a well in center of flour mixture. Set aside.
3) Place milk, butter, egg, vanilla extract and orange zest in another bowl. Mix well.
4) Pour milk mixture into flour mixture and stir just until blended.
5) Place 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup. Divide raspberries into two equal piles. Use half the berries to top batter in muffin cups. Top with remaining batter, then with remaining berries.
6) Combine pecans, sugar, flour, cinnamon, butter and orange zest in a small bowl, Mix ingredients until mixture resembles moist crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over top of muffins.
8) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Remove from pan.
9) Mix sugar and orange juice in a small bowl. Drizzle over warm muffins with a spoon. Serve warm. Yield: 12 servings.

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I've wanted to try this recipe for years. I've seen it in many places but the version I used today came from Allrecipes. The cake intrigued me because it uses jam rather than berries. I tend to horde my stash of berries and use them only for special desserts. The cake is easy to make and can be on the table in a little over an hour. It consists of a layer of pastry that's covered with a cheese filling and spread with raspberry jam before being sprinkled with a struessel topping. It's a nice cake and I will keep the recipe. I have other coffee cakes that I prefer, but I like to have something new in reserve for the folks who eat regularly at my table. I substituted mascarpone for the cream cheese and used my own freezer jam rather than a commercial product. I'll use cream cheese the next time I make this and I plan to increase the amount of jam from 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup. I think I'll also try blackberry or peach jam in place of the raspberry. This is not a particularly sweet cake, nor will it win any beauty contests. It's makes a nice light dessert and would work well as part of a brunch buffet. If I had to sum up the cake in a single word the word I'd select would be "nice." Not great, just nice. Here's the recipe for a nice cake.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Allrecipes

Ingredients:
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup cold butter
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
1 egg, beaten
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
FILLING:
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Confectioners' sugar (optional)

Directions:
1) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Remove 1 cup and set aside. To remaining crumbs, add baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add sour cream, egg and almond extract; mix well. Spread in the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan.
2) To make filling, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg in a small bowl until blended. Pour over batter; spoon raspberry jam on top. Sprinkle with almonds and reserved crumbs.
3) Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-60 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; remove sides from pan. Dust top with confectioners' sugar if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

This post is being linked to Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.