Today we have 2 of this area's best chefs on belly, first up, Nadine Abensur, who was a legend of vegetarian cooking in the UK, but now spends much more time surrounded by art in her Mullum gallery. In the next hour, the wonderful Katrina Kanetani from Town restaurant in Bangalow, who is renowned for making art on the plate, especially with desserts that use lots of local ingredients.
NADINE'S ARIOSA UPSIDE DOWN MANGO CAKE
I made this cake on Saturday for the rehearsal and private concert by Ensemble Ariosa who played to a packed house at The Byron Community Centre yesterday to a packed house.
Upside Down Mango Cake
Topping
3 mangos, peeled and sliced
60 grams butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
220 grams soft brown sugar
Cake:
170 grams plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
PInch salt
125 grams butter, unsalted at room temperature
250 grams caster sugar
2 large, organic eggs
1/2 cup whole milk at room temperature
Method
Preheat oven to 180C, butter a 23cm round cake pan. Line with baking paper
To make Topping:
In a saucepan over a medium heat, combine butter, maple syrup and brown sugar Heat, stirring till all have melted and the mix is smooth – about 5 -6 minutes. Pour mixture in the prepared tin. Tilt the pan so that caramel covers the entire surface. Arrange Mango slices over the edge and closely placed all over the bottom of the tin, like the petals of a flower. Set aside.
To make the cake:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Each should be beaten for 1minute so that each is well incorporated.
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Add one third to butter mixture and beat. Add one third of the milk and beat on low speed. Continue alternately adding the ingredients in the same manner ending with the last third of the flour mixture. Pour the batter over the mango slices and spread it evenly leveling the top.
Bake for about 50 minutes or till springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes. Flip it on a serving dish. Served warm or cold, ice cream on the side, a summer must.
Arioso (feminine ariosa) is a type of solo vocal piece, usually occurring in an opera or oratorio, falling somewhere between recitative and aria in style. Literally, arioso means airy.