Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Apricot Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Black-Pepper Sauce

From Martha Stewart

Ingredients
Serves 4
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 pork tenderloin (1 to 1 1/4 pounds)
* 16 shallots, peeled and halved lengthwise keeping root intact, plus 1/3 cup coarsely chopped shallots, for sauce (about 2)
* 1 jar (10 ounces) all-fruit apricot jam
* 1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken broth
* 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
* 1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
* 1 1/2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, plus sprigs (optional), for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add pork and halved shallots to skillet. Brown pork on all sides, turning occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
2. Brush pork in skillet with half the jam; drizzle 2 tablespoons broth over shallots. Transfer skillet to oven. Roast, turning shallots occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 155 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes.
3. Remove skillet from oven. Using tongs, transfer pork and shallots to a plate. Let pork rest (it will continue to cook; temperature should reach 160 degrees).
4. Place skillet over medium-high heat; add remaining chopped shallots. Sprinkle with salt; add remaining jam and 6 tablespoons broth. Deglaze skillet, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon; add cranberries, vinegar, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until berries are juicy, about 5 minutes. Stir in chopped thyme.
5. Slice pork; divide among plates. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired. Serve with cranberry pan sauce and shallots.

First published: December 2003

Fresh Apricot Tart

From Martha Stewart

Ingredients
Serves 12

* FOR THE CRUST
* 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
* 3 ounces whole blanched almonds (about 3/4 cup)
* 2 tablespoons plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* Pinch of salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
* FOR THE FILLING
* 3 tablespoons blanched sliced almonds
* 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
* Pinch of salt
* 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 6 tablespoons almond flour or very finely ground blanched almonds
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
* 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
* 6 tablespoons half-and-half
* 10 to 12 fresh apricots, halved and stones removed
* Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.with rack in center. Brush and 8-by-11-inch tart pan with removable bottom with butter.
2. Place the almonds and 1 tablespoon sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until the almonds are finely ground. Add the butter, and process until combined. Pulse in the flour, the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon sugar, and the almond extract until combined.
3. Transfer the crumbly dough to the prepared pan. Using your fingers, pat out dough evenly to make a thin crust along the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Chill the crust 30 minutes.
4. Bake crust until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
5. To make the filling and assemble the tart: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the almond slices in a single layer in a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden, about 10 minutes. Shake the pan halfway through baking to make sure the nuts toast evenly. Set aside.
6. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, salt, all-purpose flour, almond flour, and baking powder; whisk together. Whisk in the eggs, melted butter, and half-and-half until well combined. Pour the filling into the baked crust.
7. Arrange the apricot halves, cut-sides up, on top of the filling, packing the fruit closely together. Sprinkle the tops of the apricots with the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Sprinkle the toasted almonds over the entire tart.
8. Bake the tart until the filling is puffed and golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes, rotating the pan after 30 minutes for even browning. Transfer tart to a wire rack to cool. Unmold, and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

First published: April 1999

Apricot Pecan Waffles

1 pound fresh apricots
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon canola oil
¼ cup finely chopped pecans
3 large egg whites

1. Heat waffle iron. Dice apricots. Combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and 1 tablespoon sugar; set aside.

2. Whisk together buttermilk, egg yolk, vanilla, and oil. Stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in apricots and pecans.

3. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating until firm peaks form and egg whites are shiny. Stir ¼ of egg whites into waffle batter. Fold in remaining egg whites.

4. Measure 2/3 cup batter for each waffle.

Source: California Apricot Council

Apricot Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup milk powder
2/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups pitted and diced fresh apricots
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste
1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).
2. Place the flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar, egg, and butter until smooth. Mix the milk, water, and vanilla into the batter, stirring until well blended. Pour the batter into the flour and beat until smooth.
3. Spread the batter into a greased 8 inch square pan, and sprinkle the diced apricots evenly over the top. Dust with cinnamon and sugar.
4. Bake in the preheated oven approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.