Spring sprung, grass riz, remember where lemons is

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Classic lemon cranberry scones with lemon glaze (CP)

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Mini lemon chiffon cakes with lemon crystal glaze (CP)

Mini lemon chiffon cakes with lemon crystal glaze

The texture and flavour of lemon and chiffon are a natural fit -- both light and refreshing. A silver dragee is a silver-coated candy bead used to decorate cakes.

Cake

4 large egg whites, room temperature

1 ml (1/4 tsp) cream of tartar

250 ml (1 cup) sugar, divided

250 ml (1 cup) cake and pastry flour

7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) baking powder

1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt

75 ml (1/3 cup) vegetable oil

3 large egg yolks

10 ml (2 tsp) finely grated lemon zest

90 ml (6 tbsp) fresh lemon juice

Glaze

325 ml (11/3 cups) sugar, divided

75 ml (1/3 cup) fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

Candied flowers or silver dragees, for garnish (optional)

Heat oven to 160 C (325 F).

Whip egg whites with the cream of tartar until foamy, then gradually pour in 125 ml (1/2 cup) of the sugar, whipping until whites hold a medium peak when the beaters are lifted. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, remaining 125 ml (1/2 cup) of sugar, baking powder and salt. Add oil, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice and then, using electric beaters or a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip mixture on high speed until it is thick, pale and almost double in volume, about 3 minutes.

Using a whisk, fold one-third of the whites into the flour mixture until almost blended, then fold in remaining two-thirds until evenly incorporated. Fill a piping bag (with no tip) or use 2 spoons to fill 48 ungreased mini-muffin cups with the batter, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

Bake mini-cakes for 16 to 18 minutes, until cakes spring back when gently pressed. While cooling cakes, invert tins so they are upside down (you can rest them on ramekins, so that air can circulate underneath them).

To remove cakes from tins, run a small palette knife around cake and gently pop each out. Place these upright on a cooling rack that is resting over a parchment-lined baking tray.

Glaze: Stir 250 ml (1 cup) of the sugar and lemon juice over medium heat until sugar has dissolved and mixture just comes to a simmer. Remove pot from heat and set aside to cool 15 minutes.

Stir in remaining 75 ml (1/3 cup) sugar (this will help create the crystal effect when the glaze sets). Spoon or brush each mini chiffon cake generously with lemon glaze, ensuring that the tops and sides are covered. If desired, top each mini-cake with a candied flower or silver dragee. Let cakes set for at least 2 hours before serving or storing in an airtight container.

The mini-chiffons will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container (do not refrigerate or freeze).

Makes 48 mini (bite-size) chiffon cakes.

Source: Anna Olson and Food Network Canada.

Lemon meringue pie

Lemon meringue pie is a perennial favourite.

Dough

250 ml plus 30 ml (1 cup plus 2 tbsp) cake and pastry flour

15 ml (1 tbsp) sugar

2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt

125 ml (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

45 ml (3 tbsp) cold water

7 ml (11/2 tsp) lemon juice or white vinegar

1 egg white, lightly whisked

Lemon Curd Filling

250 ml (1 cup) sugar

50 ml (1/4 cup) cornstarch

250 ml (1 cup) water

6 large egg yolks

125 ml (1/2 cup) fresh lemon juice

30 ml (2 tbsp) unsalted butter

Meringue

4 large egg whites, room temperature

2 ml (1/2 tsp) cream of tartar

75 ml (1/3 cup) sugar

45 ml (3 tbsp) icing sugar, sifted

Sift flour, sugar and salt to combine in a bowl or using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cut in butter by hand with a pastry cutter or on low speed until just small pieces of butter are visible and the mixture as a whole just begins to take on a pale yellow colour (indicating that the butter has been worked in sufficiently).

Stir water and lemon juice together and add this to dough all at once, mixing until the dough just comes together. Shape dough into a disc, wrap and chill for at least 2 hours before rolling. Alternatively, dough can be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed in the fridge before rolling.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface until it is in a circle that is just under 5 mm (1/4 inch) thick. Lightly dust a 23-cm (9-inch) pie plate with flour. Press dough into pie plate and trim away any excess dough; pinch edges to create a fluted pattern and chill for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 200 C (400 F). Line chilled pie shell with tin foil and fill foil with dried beans, raw rice or pie weights. Bake pie shell for 20 minutes, then carefully remove foil and weights and bake crust for 8 to 10 minutes more, until the centre of the pie shell is dry-looking and just starts to brown a little. Immediately after removing the pie shell from the oven, brush hot crust with a little of the whisked egg white. This will create a barrier to keep the crust crispy once filled. Reduce oven temperature to 160 C (325 F).

Filling: In a medium saucepot, whisk sugar and cornstarch together, then whisk in cold water. Have the other ingredients measured and nearby. Bring sugar mixture up to a full simmer over medium-high heat, whisking as it cooks, until mixture is thick and glossy.

Pour about 250 ml (1 cup) of this thickened filling into egg yolks while whisking, then return this to pot and whisk just 1 minute more. Whisk in lemon juice and cook until filling just returns to a simmer. Remove pot from heat and whisk in butter, then immediately pour hot filling into cooled pie shell (the filling will seem very fluid, but it will set up once chilled). Cover surface of the filling with plastic wrap to keep it hot. Immediately prepare meringue topping.

Whip egg whites with cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy, then increase speed to high and gradually pour in granulated sugar and icing sugar and continue whipping just until whites hold a medium peak when the beaters are lifted.

Remove plastic wrap from hot lemon filling, then dollop half of the meringue directly onto filling (the filling will still be very soft, so work gently). Be sure to spread the meringue so that it completely covers the lemon filling and connects with the outside crust, then use a bamboo skewer or paring knife to swirl the meringue just a touch (this will secure it to the lemon curd). Dollop the remaining meringue onto the pie and use the back of your spatula to lift up the meringue and create spikes.

Bake pie for about 20 minutes in a 160 C (325 F) oven, until the meringue is nicely browned. Let meringue cool completely to room temperature before chilling for at least 4 hours.

Makes one 23-cm (9-inch) pie, 8 to 10 servings.

Source: Anna Olson and Food Network Canada.

Classic lemon cranberry scones with lemon glaze

These delicious scones are best enjoyed the day they are baked.

Scones

500 ml (2 cups) all-purpose flour

50 ml (1/4 cup) sugar

15 ml (1 tbsp) baking powder

1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt

15 ml (1 tbsp) finely grated lemon zest

125 ml (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

125 ml (1/2 cup) whipping cream

50 ml (1/4 cup) 2 per cent milk, plus extra for brushing

1 large egg

5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract

250 ml (1 cup) fresh or frozen cranberries

Glaze

250 ml (1 cup) icing sugar, sifted

22 ml (1 1/2 tbsp) lemon juice

Heat oven to 190 C (375 F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Into a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in lemon zest. Cut in butter until mixture is rough and crumbly but still small pieces of butter are visible.

In a separate bowl, whisk cream, milk, egg and vanilla together. Add this to the flour mixture and stir to just bring the dough together, turning out onto a work surface to complete bringing it together with your hands. Flatten out dough and press cranberries into dough, folding it over and flattening it out a few times to incorporate cranberries.

Shape dough into a disc about 25 cm (10 inches) across. Cut disc into 8 wedges and place them on prepared baking tray, leaving a few centimetres (inches) between them. Brush scones with a little milk and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until scones are lightly browned on top. Let cool completely before glazing.

Glaze: Whisk icing sugar and lemon juice together and drizzle over scones using the whisk or a fork. Let glaze set for an hour before serving.

Makes 8 large scones.

Source: Anna Olson and Food Network Canada.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 25, 2012 D4