Blackberry Parfaits Food

LEMON BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE PARFAIT

Steps:

• For the lemon curd: Combine the granulated sugar, butter, lemon zest and juice and egg in a large microwave-safe bowl (the mixture will bubble and triple in volume during cooking). Microwave on high in 1-minute intervals, stopping to remove the bowl and stir well after each interval. Continue until the curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 6 minutes. Strain into a clean bowl, cover the surface with plastic wrap and cool in the refrigerator (the curd will continue to thicken as it cools).
• For the lemon cheesecake layer: Combine the cream cheese, cream, confectioner's sugar, lemon zest and juice and extract in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until it holds stiff peaks. If the cream cheese isn't very soft, you may have to whip for up to 5 minutes to get the lumps out. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the parfait: Divide half of the cake among six 2-cup mason jars or glasses (1/2 cup of cake per jar). Top with about half of the cream cheese mixture (about 1/4 cup) followed by all of the lemon curd. Divide the remaining cake, followed by the cream cheese mixture, among the jars. Top with the blackberries. Eat immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours.

CHILLED BLACKBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Puree 6 cups blackberries in processor. Pour puree into fine strainer set over 4-cup measuring cup. Press on solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard solids in strainer. Measure 3 cups puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Stir 1 cup grape juice, 1 cup sugar and lemon peel into blackberry puree.
• Pour remaining 7 tablespoons grape juice into small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir gelatin mixture over medium-low heat until gelatin dissolves, about 1 minute (do not boil). Gradually whisk warm gelatin mixture into puree mixture. Transfer to 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Mix remaining 3 cups blackberries and 4 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours, tossing occasionally.
• Spoon generous 1/4 cup blackberry gelatin into each of 8 parfait glasses or wine glasses. Top with a few sweetened blackberries. Spoon about 1/3 cup Vanilla Whipped Cream over. Repeat layering. Top with a few more berries. Garnish with mint and serve.

BLACKBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Whisk blackberry spread, 1 tablespoon amaretto and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl until smooth.
• Whisk sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in milk. Whisk in egg. Add butter. Whisk over medium heat until mixture comes to boil and thickens, about 6 minutes. Boil 1 minute longer, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Whisk in almond extract, 1 tablespoon amaretto and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon blackberry spread mixture into bottom of each four 1-cup stemmed glasses. Top each with 4 blackberries, then with about 3 tablespoons hot pudding. Repeat layering twice more. Divide any remaining blackberries among glasses. Refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours. (Blackberry parfaits can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

BLUEBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine sour cream, brown sugar, lemon juice and zest. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, place half of the berries in dessert dishes or parfait glasses; top with half of the sour cream mixture. Repeat layers. Top with whipped cream.

VERY BERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cold water. Pour into eight parfait glasses; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. , Top with half of the blueberries and half of the strawberries. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Pour over berries. Top with remaining berries. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour longer.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-BLACKBERRY PARFAIT

Steps:

• Make blackberry sauce:
• Combine 1 cup blackberries, sugar and water in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil until mixture is reduced by half, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Puree mixture in blender until smooth. Strain sauce into small bowl. Cool.
• Make mousse:
• Combine white chocolate and 1/4 cup water in top of double boiler set over simmering water. Stir until white chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove top of double boiler from over water; cool 10 minutes.
• Stir sour cream and lemon juice in large bowl to blend. Stir in melted chocolate mixture. Beat cream in another large bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Cover and chill until mousse is set, about 2 hours.
• Spoon white chocolate mousse into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe half of mousse into 4 wineglasses, dividing equally. Spoon half of blackberry sauce over. Pipe remaining mousse over sauce, dividing equally. Drizzle remaining sauce over.
• Garnish parfaits with additional blackberries and serve.

HOMEMADE BLACKBERRY GELATIN & CHILLED BLACKBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Puree blackberries in processor. Pour puree into fine strainer set over 4-cup measuring cup. Press on solids to extract as much as possible. Discard solids remaining in strainer. Measure 3 cups puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use).
• Stir 1 cup grape juice, sugar and lemon zest into blackberry puree.
• Pour remaining 7 tablespoons grape juice into small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir gelatin mixture over medium-low heatuntil gelatin dissolves, about 1 minute (do not boil).
• Gradually whisk warm gelatin mixture into puree mixture. Transfer to 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Variation: Blackberry Parfaits.
• Mix 3 cup blackberries and 4 T sugar in medium bowl. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours, tossing occasionally.
• Spoon generous 1/4 cup blackberry gelatin into each of 8 parfait glasses or wine glasses. Top with a few sweetened blackberries. Spoon about 1/3 cup sweetened vanilla whipped cream over. Repeat layering. Top with a few more berries. Serve.