Thursday, February 24, 2011

Butternut Squash Cake with Butter Rum Frosting & Skirt Steak with Radishes

Hubby got to pick last night's meal...this is what he chose.  


This cake is delicious.  Moist and flavorful, full of hazelnuts and dried cranberries.



We both thought the rum flavoring in the frosting was a bit much.  Next time would probably just add a little vanilla.  BTW, I ended up overbaking it just a bit, so if you make it, better check it 5-10 minutes before the end of cooking time according to the recipe. The recipe is from Pillsbury.  

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 cups shredded peeled butternut squash
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts
Frosting
1/2
cup butter or margarine, softened
4
oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
2
tablespoons rum or 2 teaspoons rum extract plus 4 teaspoons milk
4
cups powdered sugar
1/4
cup chopped toasted hazelnuts (filberts)
DIRECTIONS
  • 1Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour.
  • 2In large bowl, beat brown sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt until mixed. Add buttermilk; beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed 1 minute longer. Stir in squash, cranberries and hazelnuts. Pour into pan.
  • 3Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
  • 4In medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until creamy. Add rum and powdered sugar; beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Frost cake. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup hazelnuts. Store covered in refrigerator.



                                                    



This dish was a bit different....skirt steak over braised radishes with a mustard sauce. 



 I don't normally think of radishes as something to cook; more of a salad veggie.  They're kind of interesting, they get a lot more mellow when cooked.  Kinda like a potato with a bit of a kick. Is it something I want to eat again...well, maybe.  It was definitely fun to try.  Here's the recipe from Epicurious.  

  • 1/2 pound radishes with leaves (about 7 or 8), leaves reserved and radishes halved if large
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, divided
  • 6 ounces skirt steak
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced


  • Preheat broiler.
    Bring radishes, water, butter, and 1/8 teaspoon each of salt and pepper to a boil in a 10-inch skillet. Cover, then reduce heat and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until radishes are tender and most of liquid has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Whisk in mustard. Add radish leaves and cook, tossing, just until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in half of tarragon.
    Meanwhile, coat steak with oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Broil on a broiler pan 4 to 5 inches from heat, turning once, 5 to 6 minutes for medium-rare. Let rest on a cutting board 2 to 3 minutes, then slice across the grain.
    Serve steak over radishes and greens and sprinkle with remaining tarragon.


26 comments:

La Bella Cooks said...

The cake looks fabulous but a good tip on the rum frosting and bake time. I have never tried braised radishes. I am interested in giving them a try now!

Unknown said...

Love it all and the radishes are intriguing me.

Brownieville Girl said...

Love that cake, but think I maight leave the rum in!!

I'd really love to try the radishes - a totally new way to use them.

Amy said...

I made cooked radishes once, too. They were interesting and different.

Monet said...

When I saw the title of this post, I got so excited. I love recipes with winter squashes...and your cake looks spectacular. Your meat looks yummy too, but you know I'm a cake girl!

pam said...

I did a recipe for roasted radishes that I thought was pretty good. Not something I would make all the time, but if I find myself with a bunch of radishes, it works.

The Blonde Duck said...

Ben's on a diet, so there's nothing like cake around here!

Lara said...

Your husband is an adventurous eater. If I give my husband the choice of what I should make, he will inevitably say spaghetti and chocolate chip cookies.
It looks like he has good taste though. The dinner and dessert look divine!

sanjeeta kk said...

Love that butternut squash cake! Just baked some Zucchini treats on my blog.

Lite Bite

teresa said...

the steak and radish dish looks so wonderful and filling, and i LOVE that cake!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Both these recipes look delicious. The cake especially caught my eye. I imagine it is delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Velva said...

I can definitely "dig" the squash cake. No doubt the squash adds a tremendous amount of moisture. I really like this recipe.

I have roasted radishes before and I was surprised too, at how mellow the radishes became. I have even grilled radishes, with a surprising grilled flavor.

Have a great weekend.

Velva

Karen said...

I love cooked radishes. We grow them in our garden, so always have lots of them and I get tired of eating them raw. I know I'll be cooking most of them this summer.

Kim said...

I'd be all over both of those recipes. The cake looks delicious, kinda reminds me of carrot cake which I love. Plus, I love radishes any which way and I think you know my affinity for mustard. It all sounds great!

Reeni said...

What a heavenly delicious cake! I never had cooked radishes before - looks interesting!

Kerstin said...

I love the idea of a butternut squash cake - yum! And my hubby enjoys radishes raw all the time, so I'll have to braise some for him sometime.

Anonymous said...

The cake sounds very good with hazelnuts and dried cranberries! And I love the idea of braised radishes!

The JR said...

The cake looks good. I luv squash.

Don't like radishes though, but would eat the steak.

The Blonde Duck said...

Have a happy Wednesday!

Pam said...

What a creative and tasty looking cake - the frosting sounds fantastic!

The skirt steak with radishes also looks very delicious.

grace said...

i can focus on nothing in this post but that amazing butter rum frosting--delicious concoction!

theUngourmet said...

I've seen recipes with cooked radishes but never tried it. I grew up eating them in salad. Looks like a nice meal and your cake looks great too. :)

Elsa said...

Oh my goodness, everything looks amazing. Especially the cake, I have a big sweet tooth!

Joanne said...

Your husband and I apparently have very similar taste in cake. The whole meal sounds fantastically delicious!

Leslie said...

Hmmm.braised radishes? Never heard of them. Sounds very interesting!

Monica H said...

Not a fan of radishes but the rest of the meal looks great. Your husband has great tastes!