Wonton Plum Shortcakes Recipes

PEAR AND HAZELNUT WONTONS

Steps:

• In a saute pan over medium heat, toast nuts for approximately 4 minutes, or until they begin to brown. Reserve.
• In a saute pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add pears and nuts and saute for approximately 5 minutes, or until pear begins to brown. Add Poire William, let it heat for 5 seconds, then ignite with a flame. Stand back! If flame does not burn out after 10 seconds, smother with a lid. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Place a small bowl of warm water beside wonton wrappers. Put a single won ton wrapper in the palm of your hand and spoon 1 teaspoon of pear mixture onto the center. Dip your finger in water and trace a circle around the pear mixture with your wet finger (water is the glue of wonton wrappers). Pinch and seal wrapper around pear mixture like a small beggar's purse. If you are not going to fry the wontons immediately, cover with a damp dishtowel and refrigerate.
• Pour peanut oil into a pot or heavy skillet until it is 1-inch deep. Turn heat to medium-
• high and heat oil. When you think oil is ready, drop in a tiny piece of a wonton skin. If oil sizzles immediately, you are ready to rock. If oil begins to smoke at any time, remove pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Fry as many wontons at 1 time as your skillet will accommodate-without letting them touch. Fry or 30 seconds, or until the bottom side is golden brown. Then turn over for 15 more seconds, or until top side is the same color. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large brown paper grocery bag, or paper towels, to drain excess oil. Proceed to next batch.
• Place powdered sugar in a small strainer and hold strainer over wontons. Tap strainer gently to dust won tons with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. Serve immediately
• Recommended beverage: Poire William

ROASTED PLUM SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For the shortcake biscuits: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar and salt. Whisk to combine and evenly distribute the leavening. Add the shortening and butter and toss to coat the fat just a bit with the flour. Using your fingertips, gently work the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal with some pea-size chunks of fat.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg, and add this to the flour mixture. Stir together with a wooden spoon. Then, gently work through the mixture with your hands to separate any wet patches and bring the dough together.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, fold it over a few times and knead gently until it just holds together. Pat the dough into a rough 1/2-inch-tall rectangle. Cut out biscuits with a 3-inch biscuit cutter. Pat the scraps together and cut an additional biscuit. You should have 6 to 8 biscuits. Evenly space the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Set aside.
• For the roasted plums: Pour the butter into a shallow baking dish and tip from side to side to coat the bottom. Add the maple syrup and orange juice, swirling to "stir" the mixture. Line the baking dish with the plums, flesh-side down.
• Bake both the biscuits and plums for about 20 minutes. Remove the biscuits when golden brown. Continue to cook the plums until the juices have thickened, about another 15 minutes. Cool completely before assembling.
• For the whipped cream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until medium peaks form.
• To assemble: Split four of the biscuits horizontally in half; reserve the remaining biscuits for another use (see Cook's Note). Place the bottom of each biscuit on a serving plate. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream, followed by a few plum slices and their juices. Top with the biscuit tops.