'Arty Parties: An Entertaining Cookbook' with Julia Sherman

Cook, writer, and artist Julia Sherman returns with a follow-up to her popular Salad for President cookbook, this time tackling home gatherings, from dinner parties to breakfast for two, all with an artist's touch. Arty Parties: An Entertaining Cookbook combines recipes and hosting tips, along with insight into the gatherings of internationally acclaimed artists, making for an informative and thoroughly entertaining read. We also take calls from listeners to hear how they've gotten back into the swing of hosting gatherings, and maybe even learn what their go-to party dish is. Gluten-Free Orange Blossom Citrus Cake Time: 1 hour 45 minutesYield: One 8-inch (20 cm) cake; serves 8 to 12 There’s nothing more satisfying than a recipe that uses a piece of produce in its entirety. A purée of boiled whole citrus is the base of this moist, flourless cake just lightly sweet and the perfect match for tea or a daytime snack. It is inspired by an ancient Sicilian recipe, a version of which I first encountered via cookbook author Claudia Roden. Make this recipe even easier (and less caloric) and skip the fruit topping. Cut a piece of parchment to line the bottom of your cake pan. Grease the pan, lay the parchment down into the base, and grease the parchment before adding the batter. Bake as instructed below. Serve the cake with powdered sugar and orange zest on top. 2 medium Valencia oranges1 large Meyer lemon2 teaspoons orange blossom water1 teaspoon vanilla extract5 large organic eggs¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugarNonstick cooking spray2⅓ cups (268 g) finely ground almond meal1 teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon kosher salt For the caramelized citrus upside-down topping: ¾ cup (165 g) firmly packed light brownsugar3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted2 small pink or Meyer lemons, halvedlengthwise and sliced into half-moonsas thinly as possible 1. Scrub 2 Valencia oranges and 1 Meyer lemon and remove the stem ends of each. Boil in a medium pot of water for 30 to 45 minutes until easy to pierce with a fork. Add more water as the levels get low (the citrus will be bobbing in the water, not completely submerged). Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pan. 2. Transfer the whole citrus to a blender with the vanilla and the orange blossom water. Purée until smooth (you should end up with about 1½ cups/375 g fruit purée). Allow to cool slightly, then add the eggs and granulated sugar and quickly blend on low speed until just combined. 3. In a separate bowl, combine the almond meal, bakingpowder, and salt. Whisk to incorporate. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients one-quarter at a time, folding to incorporate. Continue folding until the batter is smooth. Make the topping: 4. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and the melted butter until fully incorporated into a paste. Scatter the mixture into the bottom of the prepared cake pan and press together using your fingers or a rubber spatula to form an even layer. Lay the sliced citrus in an overlapping fish-scale pattern on top of the sugar. 5. Pour the fruit batter over the top of the sugar and sliced citrus and settle it by tapping the side of the pan several times to eliminate air pockets. 6. Bake for 10 minutes on the center rack. Drop the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue to bake for an additional 45 minutes. The cake should be dark brown in color. While still warm, run a knife along the perimeter of the pan and place a serving plate on top of the cake. Invert the pan so the cake falls to the plate. Remove the pan. Allow the cake to cool for another 15 minutes before serving. If you have a baker’s torch, you can use that to give the fruit topping some extra color in the center. Reprinted from 'Arty Parties: An Entertaining Cookbook' by Julia Sherman. Photos by Julia Sherman. Published by Abrams.