Caribbean Spice Cake

RECIPE

Yield
Makes 8 to 12 servings

Ingredients
2 large butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup tamarind nectar
Mango Compote with Cilantro-Mint Syrup
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°. Scoop out squash seeds; discard or reserve for another use. Place squash, cut-side down, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake 40 minutes or until squash is tender. When cool enough to handle, scoop out pulp. Process squash pulp in a food processor until smooth. Turn oven down to 375°. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray, and line with parchment paper.

Combine flour and next 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat 1 minute. Add tamarind nectar and 1 1/3 cups butternut squash puree; beat until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

While cake is baking, prepare Mango Compote. Beat yogurt and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until creamy.

Cut cake into squares. Cut each square into two triangles, and top with yogurt sauce. Serve with Mango Compote with Cilantro-Mint Syrup.

Caribbean cooking@home
by cooking mania

Caribbean Crab Cakes Benedict

RECIPE

Yield
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
3 saltine crackers
3 (1-ounce) slices French bread, torn
1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 egg white
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon seafood seasoning
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 avocados, peeled and sliced
6 large eggs, poached
Caribbean Hollandaise Sauce
Cracked black pepper
Garnish: diced red bell pepper

Preparation
Place crackers in a blender or food processor; process until finely ground. Place bread in blender or food processor; process until finely ground.

Combine crabmeat, mayonnaise, cracker crumbs, breadcrumbs, egg white, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Shape crab mixture into 6 (4-inch) patties. Cook crab cakes, in batches, in hot oil and melted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes on each side or until golden.

Place avocado slices and poached eggs on crab cakes, and top with Caribbean Hollandaise Sauce and pepper. Garnish, if desired.

Caribbean cooking@home
by cooking mania