Baklava Ice Cream With Honey Poached Figs Food

MIXED-NUT HONEY BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Soak the diced figs in the rum in a large bowl for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the walnuts and almonds out on a baking sheet and toast until darkened and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool. Toss the nuts, chocolate, sugar, and spices with the figs and the rum.
• Bring the butter to a simmer over low heat. Skim and discard the foamy solids that rise to the top until the butter is clear, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Lightly butter a 16 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch sheet pan. Remove the phyllo from the package, unroll and lay it on the counter next to the pan and cover with a kitchen towel. Lay 1 sheet of the phyllo on the pan and brush lightly with butter. Repeat with 11 more sheets of phyllo working quickly and keeping the phyllo covered, as you assemble the baklava. Scatter 1/3 of the nut mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) evenly over the layers of phyllo. Repeat 2 more times and top with the remaining 12 sheets of dough. Carefully, cut 3/4 of the way through the phyllo and nut filling to make about 96 (1 1/2-inch) squares.
• Bake the baklava until light brown and cooked through, about 1 hour. Raise the temperature to 450 degrees F and bake until golden crisp, about 5 to 8 more minutes.
• While the baklava crisps make the syrup: Heat the sugar, honey, and water in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon juice and carefully pour the hot syrup over the just baked baklava, making sure to get into all the cuts. Let cool. Complete the pre-made cuts in the baklava and serve with some honey drizzled on top.
• Store the baklava in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

ROASTED FIGS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND HONEY

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Place figs, cut side up, on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the sugar over the figs and dot with butter. Place figs under the broiler as close to the flame as possible and cook until they begin to brown around the edges, about 2 minutes. Place 2 fig halves on each of 4 plates, along with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon honey over each scoop of ice cream and sprinkle figs with pepper, if desired. Garnish with mint sprigs.

LAVENDER-HONEY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks stiff with the sugar and salt.
• Add the milk in a slow, steady stream. Stir in the honey.
• Cook the mixture lightly.
• Cool. Chill. Freeze. Garnish.

ICE CREAM WITH FIGS POACHED IN PORT AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until figs soften, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer figs to bowl. Increase heat to high and boil poaching liquid until syrupy and reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup over figs in bowl. Cool. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 4 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Scoop ice cream into dessert goblets. Remove star anise and vanilla bean from fig mixture. Spoon figs and syrup over ice cream and serve.
• Brown star-shaped seedpods available at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.

BAKLAVA ICE-CREAM WITH HONEY POACHED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degree C.
• Spread the nuts onto a baking tray and cook for about 10 minutes, just until the nuts are golden and toasted.
• Cool.
• Grease and line two 6 1/2 cm deep loaf pans.
• Stand ice cream at room temperature to soften, just so that it's workable-not melted.
• Roughly chop the cooled nuts.
• Add the cinnamon and sugar to the nuts and stir to combine.
• Place 1 litre of the ice-cream into each loaf pan and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle each with 1 cup of nut mixture.
• Top with the remaining litre of ice-cream in each pan and top each with the remaining nuts, pressing the nuts on so that they stick in the ice-cream.
• Wrap each pan with plastic wrap and then a layer of foil.
• Freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• To make the honey figs bring the water, honey and cinnamon to the boil in a saucepan.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the figs and cook another 15 minutes.
• Cool slightly, transfer to a container and refridgerate for at least 2 hours.
• To serve, slice the ice-cream and serve topped with some figs and drizzled with the syrup.

BAKED FIGS WITH HONEY AND WHISKEY ICE-CREAM

Steps:

• 1. Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add 75 ml (2 3/4 fl oz) of the whisky and flame to burn off the alcohol. Once the flames have died down, stir in the milk and cream. While this is coming to a boil, whisk the egg yolks and honey together with a standing or handheld mixer until they have doubled in size and become fluffy.
• 2. Take the milk and cream off the heat and pour half onto the egg yolks. Whisk until combined, then put to one side.
• 3. Put the remainder of the milk and cream back onto the heat and, when it is boiling, add the egg mixture, turn down the heat and whisk constantly for approximately 1 minute.
• 4. Pour into a large bowl to lower the mixture's temperature and stir in the last 25 ml (3/4 fl oz) whiskey. Cover and chill.
• 5. Once thoroughly cool, churn in an ice-cream machine. Alternatively, pour into a freezerproof container, put in the freezer and beat every 20 minutes until set.
• 6. Place the warm figs in 6 shallow bowls or on 6 plates, pour over some syrup and put a scoop of honey and whiskey ice-cream in the centre.