Barefoot Contessas Raspberry Champagne Food

RASPBERRY BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch oval baking dish with the butter and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and salt.
• Spread half of the diced bread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on the raspberries in one layer. Top with the rest of the bread and pour on the egg mixture, pressing down lightly to moisten the bread. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake it for 60 to 70 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is puffed and browned. Check after 45 minutes; if the top is getting too browned, cover it lightly with aluminum foil. Cool for 10 minutes, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, dust with extra orange zest, and serve warm with maple syrup.

RASPBERRIES & CREAM SGROPPINO

Steps:

• Place the raspberry sorbet and vodka in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on low speed for 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Spoon the sorbet mixture into 3 low cocktail glasses and, while beating with a fork, add enough Prosecco to each glass so the sorbet is still creamy but not thick. Add one small scoop of ice cream to each glass and top with another splash of Prosecco. (The sgroppino should be the texture of a light slushy. The ice cream will melt into the raspberry slush.) Serve immediately with a small spoon.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

Steps:

• Pour Champagne into glasses and allow your guests to create their own cocktails by adding creme de cassis or framboise with a slice of fresh strawberry or raspberry, or with brandy and a sugar cube.

FRESH RASPBERRY GRATINS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler for at least 15 minutes, with the rack about 5 inches away from the heat.
• To make the sabayon, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water until thick and creamy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk almost constantly, scraping the egg mixture from the bottom of the bowl. Slowly whisk in the Marsala wine and continue whisking over the simmering water for about 5 more minutes, until the mixture is thick and smooth, like a soft whipped cream. It should register about 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Whisk in the vanilla, remove from the heat, and set aside.
• Place one snug layer of raspberries in 6 (6 to 7-inch) shallow gratin dishes. (Each of my dishes holds about one half-pint of raspberries.) Spoon enough sabayon over the raspberries to cover them. Sprinkle each one lightly with granulated sugar. Arrange the dishes on 2 sheet pans and place themone pan at a timeunder the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the tops of the gratins are lightly browned. Watch them carefully; they burn really quickly! Serve warm.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a small dish.
• Place the 1 tbsp chambord in a small dish.
• Dip rim of a flute glass (or other tall thin glass) into chambord then into sugar.
• Let dry completely.
• Place a few raspberries in bottom of glass.
• Fill with 2 tbsps of chambord.
• Fill rest of glass to top with champagne.

RASPBERRY ROYALE

Steps:

• Coating the rims of the glasses: In a flat dish or saucer, pour a small amount of framboise. Place 1/4 cup vanilla sugar in another saucer. Briefly dip the rim 6 champagne glasses, 1 at a time, in the framboise, and then in the sugar. Set aside to dry.
• Pour 2 tablespoons framboise into each glass. Add a few raspberries and then fill with champagne.

THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA

Steps:

• Place the lime juice, agave nectar and mango puree in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the rosemary leaves and using a wooden spoon or stick, muddle the rosemary to release the oils. Add the sherry, tequila and a pinch of chili powder. Shake the drink and strain to remove the rosemary leaves. Add ice and shake again vigorously.
• On a small plate, mix together a pinch of chipotle chili powder with the cane sugar. Run the slice of lime around one-quarter of the edge of each cocktail glass and dip it in the sugar mixture.
• Strain the drink into the cocktail glasses and garnish with the rosemary stem.

PANNA COTTA WITH FRESH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin on 3 tablespoons cold water. Stir and set aside for 10 minutes to allow the gelatin to dissolve.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the cream, the yogurt, vanilla extract, and vanilla seeds. Heat the remaining 1 1/2 cups of cream and the sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat just until the sugar dissolves. Off the heat, stir the softened gelatin into the hot cream and stir until dissolved. Pour the hot cream and gelatin mixture into the cream and yogurt mixture and stir in the Grand Marnier. Pour into 7 or 8 serving glasses and refrigerate uncovered until cold. When the panna cottas are thoroughly chilled, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Before serving, spoon 2 tablespoons of the Fresh Raspberry Sauce on each panna cotta and top with fresh raspberries. Serve cold.
• Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PLUM RASPBERRY CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, combine the sliced plums, 1/3 cup of the granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of the flour, and the orange juice and toss well.
• Add the raspberries and toss lightly.
• Pour into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch baking dish.
• For the topping, place the remaining 1 cup of flour, the remaining 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, and the salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to combine.
• Add the butter and pulse until the butter is the size of peas.
• Pour the mixture into a bowl, add the oats, and work it with your hands until it's in large crumbles.
• Add 1/2 cup of the almonds and mix well.
• Spread the topping evenly over the plums, making sure the fruit is covered.
• Sprinkle with some extra almonds.
• Bake for 40 minutes, or until the fruit is tender and bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.