Oven Roasted Fruit. Summertime Dessert

Whenever i get to go home to Utah it's a treat. Utah honestly has the most beautiful summers. I am probably bias given i grew up there but it's dry, warm in the day, cool at night, and has that really lovely soft grass that you can't wait to just lay in- especially under the stars, it's beautiful. Anyway!! Last week i went home to my lovely family to cook, dance, and eat (we live in the kitchen). 

Every year my mom buys a MASSIVE box of peaches from a local orchard; I make it my duty to eat them all before... uh... they...uh... go bad. You see, I can find complete and utter happiness in a bowl of 5,6,7, 10 peaches. It's why i made them dessert. Dessert typically equals happiness and so do peaches... big time smiles here. 

My cute sisters. They can't wait to each peaches for dessert too. 

 Specifically, this dessert is composed of peaches, strawberries, and plums. Drizzled with citrus and paired with Frozen Honey Sweetened Yogurt, Ice Cream, or by itself. You won't feel guilty for this one. 

Oven Roasted Fruit

Peaches, Strawberries, Plums

Ingredients

• 6 peaches, pitted and cut into quarters or eighths
• 6 plums or Italian prune plums, pitted and quartered or halved
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups fresh Strawberries OR raspberries
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Place the peaches and plums snugly in a single layer, cut side up, in 2 glass or porcelain oven-proof baking dishes. Sprinkle with the sugar, and then top with the raspberries. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender.

Heat the broiler and place the fruit about 5 inches below the heat and broil for 5 to 8 minutes, until the berries release some of their juices.

Remove from the broiler and sprinkle with orange juice. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. You may also serve it with a bit of plain yogurt (with honey or not). 

The best Chocolate Cake. Strawberries. Meringue

In 23 years of living i've realized, finally, that if you are good enough, smart enough, powerful enough, or funny enough, your 'talent' will be spoken for or speak for itself. For instance, when i was home, i found myself reading my little brothers 7th grade yearbook. It seemed to me that according to a lot of girls and boys, my brother was nice, funny, and smart. Not once have i ever heard him say these things yet i completely agree. 

My feeling is that this is also true for this Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Meringue Icing. Just - look. at. it. This is a chocolate cake recipe to remember. 

Chocolate.Cake. Strawberries. 

2 sticks butter

2 cups water

pinch of salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup crème fraiche or sour cream

1 3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsps baking soda

2 eggs (3 eggs for taller, cakier cupcakes)

1) Place butter, water and salt in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 1 minute or melt in a

saucepot. Remove and stir until all the butter is melted in the water. Whisk in the cocoa powder

and set aside.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and baking soda.

3) Using a wooden spoon, add the butter mixture to the flour and stir until just incorporated.

4) Whisk in the eggs and stir until well incorporated. Add the crème fraiche and mix until no

streaks remain.

5) Pour into parchment-paper lined pans. This recipe makes about 2 dozen cupcakes.

6) Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Cocoa. Meringue. Icing.

3 egg whites

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 pack small strawberries

1) Place egg whites in a double broiler over low heat. Warm egg whites through and add sugar, whisk until melted through. 

2) Remove the egg whites from the heat and add to stand mixer when cool. 

3) Whisk until soft peaks form and add the cocoa powder

4) Once you have stiff peaks remove and add to a piping bag. 

5) Pipe onto cupcakes and top with strawberry.