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AN ITALIAN EXPERIENCE - FOOD - Dolci
PANNA COTTA al CAFFÉ (Coffee Flavored Cooked Cream)
Ingredients: Pour half the cream into a saucepan, add the sugar and espresso, and heat almost to boil. Remove from the heat and sprinkle gelatin on top. Stir until the gelatin dissolves and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Using a hand blender, whip the remaining cream into soft peaks. Remove 6 TBSP of the whipped cream and place in a pastry bag fitted with a fluted tip and refrigerate. Using a spatula, gently fold the remaining soft whipped cream into the gelatin mixture. Pour the cream mixture into 2 individual ring or round molds and refrigerate for about 3 hours. To serve, immerse the base of each mold into boiling water for 5 seconds and invert onto serving plates. Using the pastry bag, pipe cream rosettes onto the molds, then decorate with coffee beans." This simple desert can be flavored many ways, with chocolate, cinnamon, lemon or orange zest, or strained fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Once unmolded, it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours undecorated or for up to 6 hours decorated. You can even make a large quantity, pour into molds, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Let the cream come to room temperature before unmolding and serving.
RICOTTA and COFFEE DESSERT Makes 6-8 servings
Pour the mixture into 6 individual dessert ramekins and place in the refrigerator over night. It's also possible to freeze it, although the consistency is very different.
CAKE, CHOCOLATE POLENTA Makes 12 servings.
Grease 9" springform pan. Set aside. Combine water and cornmeal in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil (3 to 4 minutes). Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook until mixture is thickened (5 to 7 minutes). Remove from heat; let stand 2 minutes. Add butter, chocolate and vanilla; stir until melted. Cool completely. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks in small mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until mixture is thick and lemon-colored (3 to 4 minutes). Stir in chocolate mixture. Beat egg whites in large mixer bowl at high speed until soft peaks form (3 to 4 minutes). Continue beating, gradually adding 2 tablespoons sugar, until glossy and stiff peaks form (2 to 3 minutes). (DO NOT OVER BEAT). Gently stir in chocolate mixture. Pour mixture into prepared springform pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until cake is set in center. Cool completely. Serve with whipped cream or chocolate shavings.
FICHI CON FORMAGGIO MARSCAPONE - FIGS WITH MARSCAPONE CHEESE Serves 4
Arrange the figs on 4 plates, and continue the cuts almost all the way down to the base, so the figs open like so many flowers. Beat the mascarpone cheese with about 1/2 cup (50 g) powdered sugar and 8 tablespoons vinsanto . Divide the cheese among the figs, and enjoy!
GRANITA, WATERMELON In a blender or food processor, puree the watermelon. In a bowl combine the puree, the syrup and the lemon juice and chill the mixture, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, or until it is cold. The mixture may be made up to this point 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Stir the mixture , transfer it to 2 metal ice cube trays without the dividers or a shallow metal bowl, and freeze it, stirring it with a fork every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the temperature of the freezer and crushing the large frozen clumps, for 2 to 3 hours, or until it is firm but not frozen hard. Scrape the granita with a fork to lighten the texture and serve it in chilled bowls.
GRAPES, BRANDIED The origin of this concept dates back to at least the mid-eighteenth century when fruits were brandied in order to preserve them. This dessert is easy to make and can be served alone, with ice cream or your favorite cake. Serves 8
PERSIMMON PUDDING, STEAMED The mold must have a lid or be snugly covered with foil while steaming (a two-quart coffee can with a plastic lid also works). Be sure there is a rack under the mold in the pot or a Mason jar ring, to keep the mold off the bottom of the kettle. This allows the water to circulate freely while the pudding is steaming. Grease the mold. Put the persimmon puree in a bowl and stir in the baking soda. Set aside while mixing the other ingredients. (The persimmon mixture will become quite stiff.) Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, lemon juice, and rum; beat well. Add the flour, cinnamon, and salt; stir until blended Add the persimmon mixture and beat until well-mixed. Stir in the nuts and raisins. Spoon the batter into the mold, cover, and steam for 2 hours. Remove from the pot, and let rest for 5 minutes. While you're waiting, loosen the pudding from the sides of the mold. Turn onto a rack to cool, or cool just a little if serving soon. The pudding is best when served slightly warm. Garnish with unsweetened whipped cream or your favorite hard sauce, or cherries marinated in brandy. Note: This pudding freezes well and will keep in the freezer for several months. Always wrap and warm thoroughly before serving.
POUNDCAKE , LAVENDER-LEMON Melt the butter with 1 tablespoon of the lavender in a heavy, small saucepan. Steep the mixture for ten minutes then strain. Discard the lavender. Set aside to cool. Beat the eggs and one cup of the sugar in the bowl of a mixer until thick and pale yellow in color. This should take about five minutes. Sift flour and salt together into a bowl. Using a whisk, fold the lemon zest and 1/3 of the flour mixture into the eggs until completely combined. Fold in the rest of the flour in two batches. In a separate bowl, whisk one cup of the batter with the melted butter and the vanilla. Add this to the remaining batter. Fold to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for about 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. If the top of the cake seems to be browning too rapidly before the center is set, cover with foil and continue baking. Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, the lemon juice, 1/2 cup of water and the remaining three tablespoons of lavender in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook only until the sugar dissolves, stirring the entire time. Remove from heat and let cool until the cake is done. Strain and discard the lavender. Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool. Using a cake tester or skewer, poke holes over the entire cake. Brush the loaf with half of the syrup over the top of the cake. Invert the cake onto the rack, remove the pan and brush the syrup over the bottom and sides of the cake. Turn the cake back over and brush with the remaining syrup. Let cool completely.
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