Monday, April 26, 2010

cornmeal + blueberries = heaven


I usually make yummy treats like this only on special occasions, or when we have guests at the manor, but this recipe jumped right out of Bon Appetite and grabbed me. It's from the Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe in Santa Monica. I'm crazy for anything with cornmeal, and loved the notion of it being paired with fresh blueberries. This little cake is perfect for a lazy weekend brunch, or with a cup of tea on a rainy Monday afternoon. It's crunchy on the outside and super moist inside.

Blueberry Cornmeal Cake

1 1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
6 Tbsp oil
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 tsp honey
10 Tbsp butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup plain yogurt
3 cups fresh blueberries

Spray 10 inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour and next 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Whisk oil, eggs, vanilla and honey in another medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt in large bowl until creamy. With mixer on medium, gradually add egg mixture; beat to blend. Mix in flour mixture carefully, just to blend. Add ricotta and yogurt, mix on low, just to blend, do not beat. Pour half the mixture into pan, scatter half the blueberries over, spoon remaining batter over in dollops, then spread to cover berries. Scatter remaining berries on top. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of sugar. Bake 325 for about 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until pick comes clean. Cool completely in pan.

64 comments:

  1. What a fabulous recipe, Willow. And since we still have blueberries in the freezer from last summer --oh my, this is one I'm gonna try real soon. The ricotta and yogurt no doubt make it super-moist. The blueberries don't hurt, either.
    Thanks!!!!

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  2. Oh My Star's,
    Willow,
    How you temp me. That sounds delish.. I can't make it, till
    I go to the store for eggs.

    Loved the last post too.
    yvonne

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  3. One of my daughters showed up with cookies yesterday. Made with molasses and raisins and I don't know what all but they were delicious.

    My favorite berry is the blue berry and next to raspberries I have a hard time choosing but I would gobble up your blue berry delight in a minute.

    That reminds me to ask my wife about her Blueberry Delight. Oh it is so good the entire batch disappears at the family reunion before anything else.

    I don't know much about a recipe by looking at it. But the results are worth a second look.

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  4. Oh, I had to come see "in person"! The thumbnail looked so enticing ! That looks so delicious! Can I come for tea?
    I love blueberries and was so surprised to see the difference of the blueberries that grow on bushes here in Texas and the B.B's that grow close to the ground in Maine.
    I have funny little wild strawberries that are growing in my lawn right now. My husband thinks they are weeds but they look like something from a story book. I will try to take a photo and show you. They are almost micro strawberries.

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  5. I keep supplies of dried blueberries, add to oatmeal and cereal and salad. I will try this recipe. The ricotta cheese was a surprise ingredient. The picture looks inviting.

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  6. Oh yum! I'll be trying this one.

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  7. You have an eye for a good thing. I read the same magazine, but I passed this bye. This looks so doable and delicious.

    I will have fresh blueberries by the end of summer, enough to freeze and make this goodie all winter long.

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  8. Oh, how I wish I had some RIGHT NOW!

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  9. haha. =Heaven. Thank you for the post.
    www.meatlessusa.com

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  10. Lakeviewer, there's no photo in the magazine, so maybe that's why you missed it. It's near the front on page 20, of the May issue.

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  11. Willow - oh yum.... just bought some blueberries - so have to try this. (Of course, I will accompany mine with a lovely cup of strong coffee!)

    Thanks for the receipe!

    Hugs,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  12. Oh I love this combination...wonder if I can make it with some frozen blueberries I still have in the fridge?

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  13. This looks divine. I'm making it tomorrow.
    Came here via Kathleen's "Easy for me to say"- glad I did!

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  14. Oliag, I don't see why not. I might leave it in the oven just a pinch longer with the frozen berries.

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  15. I'll agree with that equation!

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  16. blueberries and cornmeal...mmm...i love blueberries...passing this one to T tonight...

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  17. Yes, they are a good combination. They always taste great together--looks delicious!

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  18. I AM BEGGING MY HUSBAND TO MAKE THIS!

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  19. .............if only the blues weren't so darned expensive right now! I should have frozen some, now I'll have to wait until they're in season and almost given away, lol!! Looks luscious though and I'll try it later.

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  20. Oh that does sound very good! & blueberries are good for you, so no guilt!

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  21. As a southern girl who loves her cornbread (and not the sweetened kind), I'm going to trust you on this one. It photographs well!

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  22. This smells so good!

    I came to visit for SS and got a triple hit! -J

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  23. every year I freeze 40 pounds of Michigan blueberries at the end of the season (after we've eaten another 20 or so pounds). This year my blueberries ran out mid February. I've been in mourning ever since. But I will go to the store to buy some just to make this.

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  24. I think your version looks even better than theirs! Yum.

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  25. I'm still planning on making the rhubarb confection and, like you, love cornmeal anything. I recently found an organic connection at Whole Foods in the bins. Yahoo! Okay. Adding this now, too.

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  26. Yes, yes I've been baking long enough to tell a winner...this is a winner for sure...thank you!

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  27. willow - dreamy food!!! steven

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  28. mmmmm! Looking forward to blueberry picking and making this!

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  29. Mmm...looks wonderful! The blueberries are so nice right now!

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  30. Thanks for the recipe! We're expecting rain tomorrow, so it will be a perfect day to bake one!

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  31. I am gonna make this one too! I thin Willow Manor must be the bestest place on earth!

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  32. You are a bad bad girl....this cake is my idea of heaven, xv.

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  33. Wills, I have always wanted to try a dessert with cornmeal in it and I think this will be the one.

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  34. Yummy! :-)

    Some days I am grateful that I don't have to count calories when eating virtually (today's slice was big and delicious - thanks!).

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  35. Heaven, yes! I've been dreaming of banana bread all week long, but this recipe of yours may just take the cake!

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  36. You and Betsy seem to be involved in a conspiracy to get me to abandon my diet. Could you not just post about lettuce leaves and watercress for a few weeks.

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  37. That looks amazamazamazing. I'd like to plop a dollop of fresh, barely-sweetened whipped cream on top of it!

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  38. Served up on a Manor dish
    This recipe looks so delish!
    Ingredients to melt resolve
    Cornmeal and blueberries evolve
    Into a tempting tasty sight.
    It makes you sigh with every bite.
    Mmmmmm.

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  39. This looks delicious! Never thought of cornmeal and blueberries together but the recipe here looks divine

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  40. I'm not a fan of blueberries - the local ones have no flavour, I assume overseas they must taste like something or people would rave over them - however the cake LOOKS fabulous!

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  41. Oh, thank you--I can't wait to try it!

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  42. We had blueberries and pancakes yesterday. This recipe looks delightful with the cheese and yogurt in the recipe.

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  43. Your have surpassed yourself with this recipe Willow - now on the menu for next weekend!

    I loved The Last Station - love anything with Mirren in it anyway - but this was excellent.

    Jeanne
    x

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  44. Oh my! THat cake looks delicious and I have blueberries in the freezer. Unfortunately I'm on a diet but drooling.

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  45. Pam, you clever girl, you. I love that.

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  46. I've made your raspberry buttermilk cake twice & love it. Can't wait to try this one, too!

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  47. Hilary, I'm glad to hear you love the raspberry buttermilk cake! It's been a while since I've made it. I'm putting raspberries on my list right now...

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  48. The blueberries we get here in the UK are no doubt flown in and, sad to say, they are quite tasteless. As for cornmeal - I don't really know what that is. I do wish I could pop in for a slice with you willow - it looks delicious.

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  49. I just took a bite out of my monitor before I realized what I was doing.

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  50. Hello Willow,

    This is very similar to a blueberry and polenta cake I used to make in the guest house for dessert. Definitely delicious!

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  51. Oh this sounds lovely. One thing I really loved in the USA was cornbread which you just don't find in Europe.

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  52. Weaver, I guess cornmeal must be as American as apple pie. It's like polenta, only more finely ground.

    Speaking of polenta, Derrick I would love to have your recipe!

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  53. Oh this cake spoke to me! I've been thinking about making something with cornmeal, but wasn't sure what to make. I just printed this recipe and need to get some blueberries. Thanks for posting this!

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  54. YUMM! I'm printing it off right now!

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  55. Hey, hey hey! This one looks like a sure fire winner. Looks like it will be super moist and tender. Can't wait to make it!

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  56. Peglud, oh, of course, please help yourself! :)

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  57. This looks delicious! Do you think the 10 tblspoons of butter will effect my cholesterol level?

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  58. This sounds awesome. I love blueberries and cornmeal, but together wow.

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  59. Absolute heavenly. Use to make all the time. I could only get cormeal at Glenn's market in SSM MI. Canada never had it those Quaker cornmeal for some reason.I love the Quaker Oats kind that comes in the roundish tins white and yellow cornmeal. I think the yellow has more flavour than the white. Served warm with melted butter, to die for. Only can get cornbread at Montana's Restaurant in Canada with the "Yankee potroast meal deal. The kids love it. I cant find it anymore. With blueberries, yah! I will have to go on another search and rescue mission!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)