Persian Rice
Persian Rice
Serves 4 to 6
Coarse salt
2 cups white basmati rice
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
3 black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds (from about 3 pods)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup thinly sliced onions
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
2 tablespoons diced dried apricots
2 tablespoons dried sweet or sour cherries or golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Fill a large saucepan with 4 quarts water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt, return to a boil, and stir in rice, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and cardamom seeds. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and let stand in a sieve.
3. Place a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add butter and cook until melted. Remove 3 tablespoons melted butter and set aside. Add onions and saffron to skillet and cook, stirring until onions are golden, about 8 minutes. Spread onion in an even layer in skillet.
4. Season rice with salt. Spoon half of rice over onion, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with apricots and cherries. Evenly spread remaining rice over fruit, pressing down firmly to compact.
5. Drizzle reserved butter evenly over the top. Cover skillet with a double layer of parchment-lined aluminum foil, pressing down on the top and crimping the edges. Transfer to oven and bake 1 hour.
6. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, and invert a large round platter over the skillet. Carefully, turn the skillet and platter over. Remove skillet, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
Cherry-Nut Granola
Cherry-Nut Granola
Makes about 5 cups
1/4 cup apple juice
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup dried currants
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together apple juice, honey, brown sugar, canola oil, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until combined. Add oats, almonds, and pecan; toss until mixture is well combined and evenly moistened. Divide mixture between 2 baking sheets and transfer to oven. Bake, shaking pans occasionally, until light golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
3. Transfer warm granola to a large bowl and stir in cherries and currants. Let cool completely; store in an airtight container up to 1 week.
Chewy Cherry-Oatmeal Cookies
Chewy Cherry-Oatmeal Cookies
Makes about 4 dozen
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, or 1 cup apple butter
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups Quaker Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 cup dried cherries
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt; set aside. Place butter, sugar, and honey in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat to combine. With the mixer on low, gradually add reserved flour mixture and beat until incorporated. Stir in oats and cherries.
3. Drop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Makes one 10 1/2-inch cake
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1 whole pineapple (about 3 1/2 pounds), outer skin removed and uncored
1 cup cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 cup heavy cream, well chilled
2 tablespoons dark rum
1. Heat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Place cherries in a small heat-proof bowl. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour over dried cherries, and soak for 10 minutes. Drain well, and coarsely chop. Using a wide Japanese mandoline, slice whole pineapple as thinly as possible. Set aside. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
2. Heat 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a 10 1/2-inch cast-iron skillet. Cook until deep amber, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. Spread caramel evenly to coat the bottom of the skillet, and sprinkle with dark-brown sugar.
3. Center one piece of pineapple in the skillet. Place pineapple slices in a tightly overlapping circle. Make a second ring, completely covering the bottom and continuing at least halfway up the sides. Place one remaining slice in the center of the skillet on top of the circles. (Be certain that there are no gaps as the bottom will be the top upon inversion).
4. In a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream remaining butter, remaining 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, and vanilla-bean scrapings. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in milk and almond extract. Slowly add sifted flour, scraping sides as needed. Using a rubber spatula, fold in chopped cherries. Pour batter into pineapple-lined skillet. Spread batter evenly with an offset spatula.
5. Place skillet on a prepared baking sheet, and transfer baking sheet to oven. Bake until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, pour cream into the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Add rum. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form, 45 to 60 seconds. Remove cake from oven, and pour excess liquid from skillet into a measuring cup. Carefully invert onto large cake plate, and pour reserved liquid over cake. Serve with rum-spiked whipped cream.
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