Plum Torte-Smitten Kitchen

Marian Burros’s plum torte is a cult classic in which a mass of plums are coated with cinnamon sugar and baked into a pancake-like batter, where they melt into pie-like pockets and you definitely don’t want to miss it. It’s the perfect September baked good. This is ideal with blueish/purple Italian prune plums, but if you can’t find them, other plums will do. The internet is full of riffs on the cake, like cutting the sugar back to 3/4 cup (feel free to, although I didn’t find the 1 cup too sweet at all), with or without lemon juice, ranges of cinnamon (1 teaspoon is the original amount; 1 tablespoon was a typo that’s not bad at all, but I usually use the smaller amount). I’m not immune, either: I sometimes start by browning the butter and letting it cool to room temp before whisking the batter together by hand. In 2023, I’ve made a few minor updates: Sharing how I one-bowl the cake,and bumping up the salt (previously: a large pinch).

2024 Plum Torte Updates

  • 1 cup (200 grams) plus 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (use less for sweeter plums)
  • 1/2 cup (115 grams or 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder (ideally aluminum-free)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 12 smallish purple Italian purple plums, halved and pitted
  • 2 teaspoons (10 grams) fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch springform [I have this one] with butter or nonstick spray. For even easier removal, line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 cup (200 grams) of the sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy and lighter in color. Add the eggs, one at a time and scraping down the bowl. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt over batter and mix it until just combined. 

Spoon batter into prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Arrange the plum tightly in the pan, skin side up, all over the batter, covering it. Sprinkle the top with lemon juice, then cinnamon, then remaining sugar.

Bake until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into a center part of the cake comes out free of batter (but of course not plum juice), about 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on rack.

Once cool, if you can stand it, and I highly recommend trying, leave it at room temperature overnight as this cake is even better on the second day, when those plum juices further release into the cake around it, becoming not just “cake with plum,” but cakeplumughyum (official terminology, there). If planning more than 2 to 3 days out, I’ll store the cake in the fridge for longevity.

Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping from simple recipes

Any white, lean fish will work with this recipe. In New England, cod, haddock, pollock and hake are traditional, but walleye, catfish, bass, snapper, Pacific rock cod, striped bass or Gulf Coast redfish will all work.

  • 2 pounds skinless cod fillets
  • Salt
  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (about 34 crackers)
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Lemon and parsley for garnish, optional
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F:Grease a small baking pan or casserole pan with butter or a little oil.
  2. Prepare the fish:Rinse off the fish fillets with cold water, pat dry. Use long nose pliers to remove any pin bones from the fillets.
  3. Place the fillets in bottom of dish:If you want, cut the fillets into large serving pieces. Place the fillets at the bottom of the pan, sprinkle with salt.Elise BauerElise Bauer
  4. Top the fish with cracker and butter mixture:Melt the butter. Crush the Ritz crackers and place in a bowl; they should look like coarse breadcrumbs. Mix the melted butter with the breadcrumbs. Pack the crumb mixture over the top and sides of the fish fillets.
  5. Bake:Place in the 350°F oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily. (Thin fillets may take less time, very thick fillets may take longer.)

Blueberry Crumble Bars

  • 1 ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if necessary)
  • 1 cup flour, such as all-purpose or oat (see note)
  • ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ½ cup butter, melted*
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, optional
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds (see note)
  1. Make crumble. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare crumble mixture by adding rolled oats, oat flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and ginger to a mixing bowl. Melt butter and stir into dry ingredients until well combined.
  2. 1st Bake: Spread ⅔ of the crumble mixture into a parchment lined 8×8″ baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a measuring cup to firmly press the crumble into the dish. Bake the bottom layer of crumble in the oven at 350F for 12 minutes.
  3. Make blueberry filling. Add blueberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup to a small saucepan. While stirring often, bring the blueberry filling to a low boil over medium heat. The blueberries will become juicy.
  4. Stir in cornstarch and chia seeds to the juicy blueberries. Let filling simmer for about 10 more minutes. This helps thicken the blueberry sauce to create a spreadable blueberry jam to layer in our crumble bars. If the filling is too thin, add another teaspoon of cornstarch or chia seeds.
  5. Assemble! Once the bottom layer of crumble is baked and your filling is ready, spread all the homemade blueberry jam and then sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the crumble mixture on top!
  6. 2nd Bake: Bake the blueberry bars at 350F for 20-22 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing for neat and even bars. Store in the fridge for 5-7 days or on the countertop for 2-3 days.

Glace Mixed Fruit Bundt Cake from lordbyronskitchen.com

  • 250 grams cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup chopped nuts, walnuts or pecans
  • 2 cups glace mix
  • In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer to cream together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar.
  • Add the eggs one at a time and blend into the mixture.
  • Add the vanilla and incorporate well.
  • Add 2 cups of the flour and baking powder, and continuing to use the mixer, blend well into the butter and cream cheese mixture.
  • In a small bowl, toss the glace mix and the nuts with 1/4 cup of flour. Be sure to toss well to coat every piece in the bowl.
  • Add the flour-covered nuts and fruit to the batter and fold in with a spatula.
  • Grease and flour a bundt cake pan and pour in the batter.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes.
  • Allow cake to cool for at least 15 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
  • Cool completely; dust with confectioner’s sugar and enjoy!

Italian Zucchini Crescent Pie

  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • red pepper flakes, to taste 
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/4 tsp oregano leaves, chopped
  • 2 eggs, well beaten
  • 8 oz (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 oz can crescent dinner rolls (refrigerated)
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • In a skillet, cook zucchini and onion in butter until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley and seasonings. Remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl, blend eggs and cheese. Add zucchini mixture to the eggs and cheese and stir.
  • Separate crescent dough into 8 triangles, roll them thinner and place in an ungreased quiche pan or 12×8″ baking dish. Press over the bottoms and up the sides.
  • Spread crust with mustard. Pour zucchini mixture evenly into the crust. 
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6-8 servings!

Raspberry muffins from smitten kitchen

  • 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon plus one pinch kosher salt
  • Slightly heaped 1/2 cup (105 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 2/3 cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
  • Half a medium lemon
  • 1 large egg
  • 2/3 cup (150 grams) plain unsweetened yogurt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) fresh or (ideally) frozen raspberries (1 2/3 to 1 3/4 cups; see Note)
  • Heat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Prepare pan: Very lightly coat the top surface of your muffin tin with nonstick spray or swipe it with butter. This ensures muffin spillover releases easily. Line 6 cups with muffin liners. If you’re using a 12-cup pan, space them out and pour about 1 tablespoon of water in each empty cup, which will keep the empty pockets from burning.
  • Make streusel: In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, pinch of salt, and 1 cup (130 grams) of the flour until it forms a clumpy mixture. Scoop out 1/4 cup (about 45 grams) and set it aside in a small bowl; this will be your streusel topping.
  • Make muffin batter: Finely grate the zest of your lemon half into the large bowl with the remaining streusel in it, then juice the lemon half over it too. Add yogurt and egg and whisk to combine as smoothly as you can, but it’s okay if the batter doesn’t fully even out. Sprinkle the surface of the batter with baking powder, baking soda, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and whisk to thoroughly combine, going several times more around the bowl than seems necessary. Add remaining 2/3 cup (90 grams) of flour and all of the berries and stir gently; just until the flour disappears.
  • Divide batter between six prepared muffin cups; go ahead and heap it as much as is needed. Divide reserved streusel between muffin tops and use your fingers to push any that lands on the muffin tin back to a nearby muffin.
  • Bake muffins: For 25 to 30 minutes, and until a toothpick inserted from the top to the center of the muffin comes out batter-free. Let cool completely in the pan.
  • Do ahead: These muffins keep phenomenally. I keep them either in their baking pan or on a plate uncovered (so they don’t get mushy on top) and they’ve been excellent even on day 3 and not bad at all on day 4.
  • Notes:Raspberries by cup: Just a heads up that while technically every ingredient is more accurate when measured by weight, raspberries are particularly so. They’re hollow. When frozen, they take up more space in a cup per ounce. When defrosted or very ripe and fresh, they collapse and take up less space per ounce in a cup. For frozen raspberries, use the higher cup suggestion (1 3/4 cups); for very ripe fresh, use the lower amount (1 1/2 cups).Double this: Yes, you can absolutely double this recipe to make 12 muffins; no changes needed. When you double the sugar, simply measure 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon.

Blueberry Bakewell Muffins, Chetna Makan

Muffins
 ½ cup/1 stick unsalted butter, softened

 ½ cup granulated sugar

 ¼ packed cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream, at room temperature

2 tablespoons whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour

scant ⅓ cup almond flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking sode

1 pinch table salt

¾ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon blueberry or raspberry jam

Almond Topping
¼ packed cup light brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons almond flour

1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

3 tablespoons sliced almonds

Heat the oven to 355°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tin with 14 paper liners (the bottoms of the baked muffins are quite moist, so paper liners are preferable to butter or baking spray).

Make the topping. In a medium bowl mix together the 50 grams (¼ packed cup) brown sugar, 15 grams (2 tablespoons) all-purpose flour, and 12 grams (2 tablespoons) almond flour. Use your fingers to rub in the cold butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add the sliced almonds and toss to combine, then place the crumb topping in the refrigerator while you prepare the muffin batter.

Make the muffin batter
. In a large bowl, with a whisk or an electric hand mixer on low, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and 50 grams (¼ packed cup) brown sugar until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the sour cream, milk, and vanilla and beat until smooth and combined.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the 200 grams (1 ⅔ cups) all-purpose flour, the 32 grams (scant ⅓ cup) almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the large bowl and beat just until combined and no flour streaks remain. Gently fold in the blueberries with a rubber spatula. 

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins. Spoon ½ teaspoon of jam on top of each muffin and use an offset spatula or a butter knife to smooth the batter. Sprinkle the chilled topping over each muffin. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until the muffins are golden, set, and spring back when lightly poked. Let the muffins cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing and letting them cool completely on a wire rack.

Lohikeitto Finnish Salmon Soup-food 52

  •  3 tbsp butter
  • 1 pc leek, thinly sliced (only white/lighter part) or onion
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 3 medium potatoes, diced
  •  5 cups fish or veggie stock
  •  1 lb salmon fillet cut into cubes
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, half n half or milk
  • 3/4 to 1 cup dill, roughly chopped
  •  salt and pepper, to season

  • Start preparing your lohikeitto by placing a medium-sized (or large pan) over medium heat.  Add butter.
  • Once the butter has completely melted, add thinly sliced leek. Cook until slightly soft.
  • Add carrot and potatoes. Mix.
  • Add fish stock.  Cover pot with a lid, adjust heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
  • Adjust heat back to medium-low and simmer your salmon soup until vegetables are almost cooked.
  • Add salmon fillet and heavy cream. Mix to combine.
  • Turn the heat back to medium.  Cover with a lid and continue cooking lohikeitto for 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Season by adding salt and pepper. Mix.
  • Add dill to finish your lohikeitto. Turn heat off.
  • Cover with a lid and keep covered for 2 minutes.

Serving lohikeitto:

  • Transfer to individual bowls.
  • Garnish lohikeitto with more freshly chopped dills, if desired.
  • Serve.

oven-baked cod with bread crumbs from allrecipes.com

  • ½ cup warm water 
  • ½ fish bouillon cube 
  • ¾ cup dry bread crumbs 
  • ¼ cup butter, cut into small chunks 
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped 
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill 
  • 2 teaspoons dried tarragon

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lay cod fillets in a baking dish and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Combine water and fish bouillon cube in a bowl. Stir to combine and pour over cod.
  • Mix bread crumbs, butter, parsley, dill, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a bowl with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over cod.
    Bake in the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork and the crust is golden and crunchy, about 20 minutes.

Peach Tart from Amanda Hesser

  • 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2-3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar-depnding on sweetness of fruit
  • 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil or coconut
  • 1/4 cup mild olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (opt)
  • 2 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter
  • 3 small ripe peaches (up to 5), pitted and thickly sliced (about 1/2-inch wide)
  • Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stirring enables the salt and sugar to sift the flour, so you don’t need to sift it in advance. In a small bowl, whisk together the oils, milk and almond extract. Pour this mixture into the flour mixture and mix gently with a fork, just enough to dampen; do not over work it. Then, transfer the dough to an 11-inch tart pan (you can use a smaller one if needed), and use your hands to pat out the dough so it covers the bottom of the pan, pushing it up the sides to meet the edge. This will work if you pat firmly and confidently, but not if you curl your fingertips into the dough. It should be about 1/ 8-inch thick all around; trim and discard excess dough.
  • In a bowl, combine 1/2 -3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the butter. (If your peaches are especially juicy, add 1 tablespoon additional flour.) Using your fingers, pinch the butter into the dry ingredients until crumbly, with a mixture of fine granules and tiny pebbles. 
  • Starting on the outside, arrange the peaches overlapping in a concentric circle over the pastry; fill in the center in whatever pattern makes sense. The peaches should fit snugly. Sprinkle the pebbly butter mixture over top (it will seem like a lot). Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until shiny, thick bubbles begin enveloping the fruit and the crust is slightly brown. Cool on a rack. Serve warm or room temperature, preferably with generous dollops of whipped cream.

notes: first time I made it with too many peaches as in too much juice and used spring form pan. It’s better made in 10” pie pan. Based on sweetness of fruit adjusted sugar.