Almond Venetian Dessert Food

ALMOND VENETIAN DESSERT

Steps:

• Grease the bottoms of three 8-in. square baking dishes. Line with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside., Place almond paste in a large bowl; break up with a fork. Add the butter, sugar, egg yolks and extract; beat until smooth and fluffy. Stir in flour and salt. In another bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Stir a fourth of the whites into the dough, then fold in the remaining whites (dough will be stiff). , Divide dough evenly into three portions, about 2/3 cup each. Tint one portion green and one portion pink; leave the remaining portion white. Spread each portion into a prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Immediately invert onto wire racks; remove waxed paper. Place another wire rack on top and turn over. Cool completely. , Place green layer on a large piece of plastic wrap. Spread evenly with 1/3 cup apricot preserves. Top with white layer and spread with remaining preserves. Top with pink layer. Bring plastic over layers. Slide onto a baking sheet and set a cutting board on top to compress layers. Refrigerate overnight., In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate. Remove cutting board and unwrap dessert. Spread melted chocolate over top; let stand until set. With a sharp knife, trim edges. Cut into 2-in. x 5/8-in. bars. Store in an airtight container.

ALMOND VENETIAN DESSERT

Steps:

• Grease the bottoms of three 8-in. square baking dishes.
• Line with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside.
• Place almond paste in a large mixing bowl; break up with a fork.
• Add the butter, sugar, egg yolks and extract; beat until smooth and fluffy.
• Stir in flour and salt.
• In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Stir a fourth of the whites into the dough, then fold in the remaining whites (dough will be stiff).
• Divide dough evenly into three portions, about 2/3 cup each.
• Tint one portion green and one portion red; leave the remaining portion white.
• Spread each portion into a prepared pan.
• Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
• Immediately invert onto wire racks; remove waxed paper.
• Place another wire rack on top and turn over.
• Cool completely.
• Place green layer on a large piece of plastic wrap.
• Spread evenly with 1/3 cup apricot preserves.
• Top with white layer and spread with remaining preserves.
• Top with red layer.
• Bring plastic over layers.
• Slide onto a baking sheet and set a cutting board on top to compress layers.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate.
• Remove cutting board and unwrap dessert.
• Spread melted chocolate over top; let stand until set.
• With a sharp knife, trim edges.
• Cut into 2-in. x 5/8-in. bars.
• Store in an airtight container.

ALMOND, PINE NUT, APRICOT CRUMB CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
• Combine the whole almonds and 1/4 cup pine nuts in a food processor. Pulse the machine until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer the nuts to a medium bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer beat the eggs and the sugar until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow. Add the butter, and milk. Stir in the almond extract and apricots. Gently stir in the dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the top of the cake with sliced almonds and remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts. Bake until the cake is cooked and a toothpick comes out clean, about 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool on a wire rack. Use a knife to loosen the edges. Turn the cake out, slice, and serve.

VENETIANS

Steps:

• Grease 3 - 13 x 9 inch pans. Line with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Combine almond paste, sugar, butter, egg yolks and almond extract. Beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in flour and salt.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. With a wooden spoon, fold into the almond mixture.
• Divide dough into 3 -1 1/2 cup portions. Add red coloring to one of the portions, and green to the another. Spread the batter in the 3 separate prepared pans (keeping the colors separate).
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. (Each layer will be 1/4 inch thick). Remove cakes from pan immediately. Cool thoroughly.
• Stack layers in a 9 x 13 inch pan, spreading apricot jam between layers (no jam on top layer). Place second 9 x 13 inch pan on top and weigh down with two 5 pound bags of sugar or flour. Refrigerate overnight.
• Melt chocolate over hot water and spread over cake. Allow to set. Trim edges and cup into 1 inch squares.

CHOCOLATE RUM DESSERT

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over gently boiling water.
• Beat the egg yolks until thick and lemon colored; gradually stir in about one quarter of the melted chocolate.
• Add the yolks and chocolate to the remaining chocolate in the double boiler, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and add the rum, almond extract and nutmeg.
• Beat the egg white until stiff peaks form.
• Gently fold into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon into stemmed glasses or demitasse cups and chill.
• When ready to serve, top with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate curls.

ALMOND GELATIN

Steps:

• Combine gelatin with boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Stir in sugar, milk, and almond extract. Pour into a 9 inch square pan and refrigerate overnight. Cut into cubes and serve with fruit cocktail.