Beauty Berry Lemon Cake
Photo: Ajna Jai & Carolina Ayala / Contributor
Beauty berries are blooming here in Texas in late summer, and you can see them in hedges, parks and out in the wild forested areas of Texas, where they are native. I discovered them a few years ago at a friend’s ranch in Hempstead, where, interspersed with tall yaupon and pine trees, giant beauty berry plants filled with dozens of tall stunning purple blooms were all over. It’s a sight to behold and bear witness to the reverence and incredible beauty of nature.
For a long time, beauty berries were considered inedible due to their slightly bitter flavor, but emerging wisdom is implying that they are not only edible but may be good for our heath. There is active research going on to determine the ability of beauty berries to treat memory conditions and possess anti-cancer properties. The berries itself have a slightly bitter but lemony flavor that is wonderful when cooked in jams and purees. They can be tossed raw into salads or can top off a rice or quinoa pilaf for a beautiful finish. Here is a recipe for a small lemon cake with cherries, topped off with whipped cream and beauty berries. The turmeric in the batter does not affect the taste but gives the cake a golden hue and the cherries at the bottom of the pan add another layer of flavor to the cake.