Banana Cajeta Cashew Gelato Food

BANANA AND CAJETA LAYERED CREPES

Steps:

• Place the flour, sugar, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, milk, butter, eggs and salt in a blender and process until smooth, about 5 seconds. Turn off the motor. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the blender, and blend the batter for 20 seconds longer. Transfer the batter to a bowl and let it stand, covered, for 1 hour. The batter may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Meanwhile, blend the cajeta, whipping cream and cream cheese in a clean blender until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat a crepe pan or nonstick skillet measuring 6 to 7 inches across the bottom over moderate heat until it is hot. Brush the pan lightly with butter and heat until the pan is hot but not smoking. Stir the batter and pour 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan. Tilt and rotate the pan quickly to cover the bottom with a layer of batter. Loosen the edge of the crepe with a spatula, and cook the crepe until the top appears almost dry, about 1 minute. Flip the crepe, cook the other side lightly and transfer the crepe to a plate. Make crepes with all the remaining batter, brushing the pan lightly with butter as necessary.
• To assemble: On a 10-inch cake stand, or in a 9-inch glass pie dish, pour 1/4 cup cajeta cream into the center. Top with one crepe, more cajeta cream, sliced bananas and pecans. Repeat with remaining crepes, cream, bananas and pecans, finishing the last layer with bananas and pecans. Refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. Serve cold.

CAJETA GELATIN

Steps:

• Sprinkle the gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Let stand about 2 minutes to soften. Microwave on high for 45 seconds. Stir for 15 seconds, until the gelatin is dissolved.
• In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the evaporated milk until hot, making sure not to boil. Whisk in the cajeta until smooth and evenly incorporated. Stir in the gelatin mixture to the cajeta mixture and turn the heat off to cool slightly.
• In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the cream cheese and beat on medium speed while slowly adding 1/3 cup of the cajeta cream to temper the cream cheese and avoid curdling or separation. Gradually add the remaining cajeta cream and continue beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat again until fully incorporated and frothy. Strain the cream into a glass pitcher or into a 4-cup liquid measure, maintaining as much froth as possible. Pour 1 cup of the cream into each of the 4 wine glasses.
• Garnish with 3 to 5 fresh raspberries (the raspberries will remain afloat in the froth). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles form around edges of hte pan. Set aside and cover to keep hot.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the bananas, lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Set aside.
• In the blender or food processor, beat the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks until thick. WIth the machine running, gradually add the hot milk. Return the mixture to the sauce pan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon 6 to 8 minutes or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and place pan in the bowl of an ice bath. Stir for 2 minutes to cool. Then stir in banana mixture. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
• Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• Bring milk and bananas to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes, then purée in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return mixture to saucepan; set over very low heat to keep warm.
• Beat yolks and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer at high speed until thick.
• Beat half the milk mixture into yolk mixture in a thin stream, then combine with remaining milk mixture in saucepan. Set over low heat and cook until mixture coats back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla, salt and cream.
• Pour into large container, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Pour mixture into the canister of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, cook bananas and liqueur over low heat until falling apart, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and puree.
• Bring milk to a simmer. Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add half the milk to egg-yolk mixture and whisk until blended. Stir into remaining milk and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a spoon.
• Remove from heat and immediately stir in cream. Pass mixture through a strainer into a medium bowl set over an ice bath to chill.Stir in banana puree. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in a plastic container.

PLAIN BASE

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottom saucepan, combine the milk and cream. Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally so a skin doesn't form, until tiny bubbles start to form around the edges and the mixture reaches a temperature of 170°F.
• Meanwhile, in a medium heat-proof bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth. Gradually whisk in the sugar until it is well incorporated and the mixture is thick and pale yellow. Temper the egg yolks by very slowly pouring in the hot milk mixture while whisking continuously. Return the custard to the saucepan and place over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and it reaches a temperature of 185°F. Do not bring to a boil.
• Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl and let cool to room temperature, stirring every 5 minutes or so. To cool the custard quickly, make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water and placing the bowl with the custard in it; stir the custard until cooled. Once completely cooled, cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.

BANANAS FOSTER GELATO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon for 4 minutes; set aside. , In a small heavy saucepan, heat milk and cream until bubbles form around sides of pan. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into the egg mixture. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly., Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a spoon. Quickly transfer to a large bowl; place in ice water and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the rum and vanilla. Mash bananas with lemon juice; stir into the rum mixture., Press waxed paper onto surface of custard. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight., Fill the cylinder of an ice cream freezer two-thirds full; freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. When ice cream is frozen, transfer to a freezer container; freeze for 2-4 hours before serving., If desired, top with sliced bananas and caramel topping.