Jeffersons Vegetable Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter 2 (9-inch) cake pans with 1 tablespoon of butter. Line with parchment paper and butter the paper with 1 tablespoon of butter. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, with a mixer, cream the remaining 1 1/2 sticks of butter with the sugar. Add the yolks 1 at a time, beating well after the addition of each.
• Into a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Alternating with the milk, add to the egg mixture, beating.
• In a bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold with the vanilla into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pans and bake until golden and a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Turn out the cakes, remove the paper, and let cool completely.
• To ice the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or stand. Spread the icing on top of the layer, spreading out to the edge of the cake. Top with the second cake layer. Ice the top and sides of the cake with the icing. Decorate with toasted, sliced almonds.
• Cream the shortening and butter together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the lemon juice and salt. Gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time. Add the meringue powder - the mixture will appear dry. Add the milk and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 to 8 minutes. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
• Recipe courtesy Toba Garrett

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
• Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
• Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the peppers, zucchini, squash, and eggplant, on rimmed baking sheets in a single layer. Drizzle with half of the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven, and bake for 10 minutes. Turn vegetables over, drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender and cooked through, 10 to 20 minutes more.
• Layer the vegetables in a 9-inch springform pan, in the following order: eggplant, red pepper, yellow squash, red tomatoes, 10 basil leaves, zucchini, mango, and yellow tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange remaining 10 basil leaves decoratively on top of the cake.
• Soak the gelatin sheets in enough cold water to cover. In a small saucepan, place the tomato water over medium heat until hot to the touch. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatin sheets, and add to the tomato water. Stir until dissolved. Let cool slightly. Measure 1 cup; set remaining tomato water aside for another use. Pour evenly over the cake.
• Wrap with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.
• Slice cake, and serve garnished with a leaf of basil, and a tablespoon-sized scoop of goat cheese. Drizzle plate with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment as well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Add milk and vanilla and beat until just combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt, milk, and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. If not using immediately, cover surface of frosting with plastic wrap. Frosting can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat on low speed until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Place remaining cake layer on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. (If frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate to firm up.) Cake can be covered with a cake dome and refrigerated overnight. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth, and set it over a bowl or a large liquid measure. Add tomato pulp, seeds, and juice and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. (Tip: For clear liquid, don't stir the pulp.) Tomato water will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, or it can be frozen and used throughout the year.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans; cover bottoms with parchment. Prepare cake batter from 1 pkg. cake mix as directed on package. Pour half into separate bowl. Add dry raspberry gelatin mix to batter in one bowl; mix well. Stir dry orange gelatin mix into remaining batter. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 15 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Repeat with remaining cake mix and dry gelatin mixes, washing cake pans between uses.
• Mix sour cream and sugar in large bowl until blended; gently stir in COOL WHIP. Stack cake layers on plate, spreading 1/3 cup COOL WHIP mixture onto each cake before covering with next layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining COOL WHIP mixture. Refrigerate 2 hours.