February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 6
Ingredients
3 cups fresh blackberries
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup crème fraiche
¼ cup honey
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
Maldon salt
Mint leaves, for garnish
Directions
Arrange berries in 6 single serving bowls. In a medium bowl, whisk together heavy cream, crème fraiche, honey, and mint until thick and creamy. Spoon over berries and sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and garnish with mint leaves.
February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
1½ cups sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
12 ounces high-quality bittersweet chocolate
3 cups milk (infused with fresh mint, recipe follows)
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
Salt
Directions
In a heavy bottom saucepan, whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add chocolate, and melt down, whisking well. In another bowl, beat eggs with milk, and add vanilla. Gradually whisk into chocolate mixture. Bring to a boil, whisking until mixture is thick. Remove from heat, and add a pinch of salt.
Milk Infused with Mint
Makes 3 cups
Ingredients
3 cups milk
1 cup fresh mint, crumbled between fingers
Directions
In a medium saucepan, add milk and fresh mint. Heat on simmer, about 5 to 8 minutes. Strain out mint, and discard.
February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup quinoa, toasted
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
¼ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup almonds, chopped
3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons flax seeds
1 egg, beaten
3 cups fresh rhubarb, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a small mixing bowl, combine flours, thyme leaves, oats, quinoa, and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add nuts, seeds, and beaten egg and mix. Set aside. In a glass baking dish, mix together rhubarb, sugar, ginger, and orange zest. In a separate bowl, mix orange juice and vanilla together, and whisk in cornstarch. Add to the rhubarb mixture and combine. Sprinkle the oat-nut topping over the rhubarb, and bake 35 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 6-8 (Makes 3 cups of granita)
Ingredients
For pavlovas
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon thyme leaves, chopped
3 egg whites
3 tablespoons cold water
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
For granita
2 cups water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup honey
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh raspberries
Directions
For pavlovas
Preheat oven to 300°F.
In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and thyme leaves. Set aside.
In a mixer (or with a whisk), beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the water, and beat continue beating soft peaks. Increase speed, and add sugar and corn starch mixture a little at a time. Next, add vinegar, and beat on high speed until glossy and stiff. Place a spoonful on a lined baking sheet, making 6 to 8 little bowls. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes, until starch hardens, before eating.
For granita
In a blender, combine all ingredients until mixed well. Add more honey to desired sweetness. Pour in a shallow, metal pan, and freeze, scraping frozen granules every 10 to 20 minutes for about a total of 2 hours.
February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
Makes 1 large galette
Ingredients
For the pastry
2½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cups (1¾ sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into chunks
1 large egg yolk
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
For the filling:
6 cups strawberries, stems removed and cut in half
½ cup sugar
¼ cup Cointreau
Juice and zest of 1 orange
1 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced thin
Directions
Mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl until combined well. Using your hands (or a food processor), add butter, and crumble into the flour until the crust mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the egg yolk and the tequila, and mix together gently until dough is moist. Form dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
Meanwhile mix together strawberries, sugar, Cointreau, orange juice and zest, and the basil leaves. Let soak for at least an hour. Strain and set aside, reserving liquid.
Preheat oven 375°F.
Roll out dough on a floured surface until it forms a large circle about 16-inches in diameter. Place rolled dough on a large, thick, greased cookie sheet with sides or, better yet, a large, greased cast iron pan. Place strained berries in a big pile in the center of the dough. Fold dough up all around the pile of berries leaving a big hole at the top like a shallow volcano. Pour a little of the reserved berry liquid in the hole and reserve a little for the end. Bake for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown and crispy. Drizzle finished tart with the remainder of the juice from the berries.
February 24th, 2011 § § permalink
For serving with Rhubarb-Thyme Crisp
Makes approximately 1 cup
Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon orange zest
¾ cup heavy cream
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together until thick and creamy.