Ciambella
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- Red grapes in syrup, recipe follows
- Caramelized chestnuts, recipe follows
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 bunch large seedless red grapes, removed from the vine
- 1 pound whole fresh chestnuts in the shell
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a cookie sheet.
- Combine the flour, sugar and baking powder in a food processor and pulse quickly to blend.
- Add the cold butter and pulse quickly until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg, almond extract and milk until smooth.
- With the food processor running, add the liquid all at once and blend 10 to 15 seconds, until the dough just forms a ball.
- Transfer the dough to a well-floured cutting board and shape into a log about 14 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick.
- Form the log into a ring in the center of the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until light golden brown.
- Remove, transfer to a rack and cool to room temperature.
- Cut the cake into slices about 1 inch thick, top with a tablespoon each of the red grapes in syrup and the caramelized chestnuts.
- Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.
- Combine sugar, water and wine in a saucepot.
- Bring up to a boil dissolving all the sugar in the liquid.
- Add the grapes and cook until they just barely burst.
- Keep warm until ready to serve.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. With a paring knife, score the bottom of each chestnut with an "x".
- Roast the cut chestnuts on a baking sheet for 20 minutes.
- Remove chestnuts from oven and wrap in a dishtowel until cool enough to handle.
- Peel off chestnut shells.
- In a large saute pan, melt the butter and add the chestnuts.
- Cook over a low flame for about 5 minutes.
- Once evenly browned, add the sugar and toss.
- Allow to caramelize for another 5 to 6 minutes.
flour, sugar, baking powder, cold unsalted butter, egg, almond, milk, red grapes, chestnuts, sugar, sugar, water, white wine, red grapes, fresh chestnuts, butter, granulated sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/ciambella-recipe2.html (may not work)