Meal out of the blue - blue corn meal - Recipe

Sunset, June, 2001 by Jerry Anne Di Vecchio

3. Rinse plums, cut in half, and pit; cut fruit into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Overlap all the slices on batter; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.

4. Bake on the middle rack of a 375[degrees] regular or convection oven until batter that pops up around fruit is lightly browned and tart begins to pull away from pan sides, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar (on the cut fruit, the sugar melts quickly).

5. Remove pan rim (if tart sticks, use a small knife to release it from the rim) and set on a plate. Serve hot, warm, or cool.

Per serving: 231 cal., 43% (99 cal.) from fat; 378 protein; 11 g fat (6.5 g sat.); 298 carbo (1.2 g fiber); 174 mg sodium; 90 mg chol.

Here's the rub

* With all due respect to Shakespeare, "the rub" represents more than irony In culinary terms, it's a seasoning mix like the one used at Tony's Meats & Specialty Foods in Littleton, Colorado. Mick Rosacci, who oversees the flavorful preparations at his family's two premium stores, recommends rubbing it onto a beef roast or steaks, the en barbecuing or ovenroasting them.

Chipotle-Pepper Rub

PREP AND COOK TIME: About 5 minutes

NOTES: If making up to 1 week ahead, store airtight at room temperature.

MAKES: About 1/3 cup, enough for a 4-to 5-pound beef roast

3 dried chipotle chilies (each about 2 in. long)

2 tablespoons black peppercorns

1 tablespoon pink peppercorns

1 tablespoon coarse salt, such as sea salt or kosher salt

1 tablespoon cumin seed

Heat chipotles in a microwave oven at full power (100%) until they puff and smell slightly toasted, 15 to 30 seconds. Trim and discard stems. Slit chilies open; discard seeds and veins. Coarsely chop chilies. In a food processor or spice grinder, combine chilies, black peppercorns, pink peppercorns, salt, and cumin seed. Whirl until finely ground.

Per teaspoon: 5.5 cal., 33% (1.8 cal.) from fat; 0.2 protein; 0.28 fat (08 sat.); 1.1 g carbo (0.48 fiber); 277mg sodium; 0mg chol.