Blueberry And Lemon Verbena Sorbet Food

LEMON SORBET IN LEMON CUPS

Steps:

• Combine the water and 2 cups of the sugar in a small saucepot. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the sugar is just dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
• Set a strainer over a 2-cup liquid measure.
• Cut off the top quarter of 8 lemons, then cut a very thin slice from the bottom to make a flat base. Squeeze the juice from the lemon tops into the liquid measure; discard the tops and bottoms.
• Stand up a cut lemon and, using a paring knife, cut around the inner edge of the peel, so you cut the flesh away from the peel. Switch to a spoon and use the incision as a guide to scoop out all the flesh from the inside of the lemon, leaving behind a lemon "cup." Place the flesh in the strainer over the liquid measure and squeeze out all the juice. Repeat with the other 7 lemons. Freeze the lemon cups until ready to serve.
• Zest and juice the remaining 4 lemons; reserve 1 tablespoon zest for the topping. You'll need 2 cups of fresh lemon juice in all; if you have any excess, store it in the fridge or freezer for future use.
• Mix together the cooled simple syrup and the 2 cups lemon juice. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze following the manufacturer's instructions. Remove the sorbet to an airtight container and hold in the freezer for at least 2 hours before serving.
• On a small plate, mix together the reserved lemon zest and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Spread the mixture in an even layer and set aside for at least 30 minutes to dry out slightly.
• When ready to serve, scoop the sorbet into the frozen lemon cups and top with sugared lemon zest. Serve immediately.

BLUEBERRY AND LEMON VERBENA SORBET

Steps:

• Process the blueberries and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in lemon juice and syrup.
• Pour mixture through a fine sieve into another large bowl; discard solids. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer sorbet to an airtight container; freeze at least 4 hours or up to 1 week before serving.

LEMON VERBENA-BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line pan with paper muffin liners. Whisk together the egg, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth; set aside.
• Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon verbena into a food processor. Pulse until the lemon verbena has been finely chopped. Add the butter, and pulse quickly until finely chopped. Pour the flour mixture into a mixing bowl, and stir in the blueberries. Pour in the milk mixture, and stir until just moistened. Fill the prepared muffin cups 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

FRUIT IN LEMON-VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• Put fruit in a large bowl and gently toss with 1/2 cup sugar, then let stand 20 minutes.
• Rub verbena sprigs in your hands to bruise leaves and stems, then combine with water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat and let steep, covered, 5 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice into warm syrup and pour through a medium-mesh sieve over fruit. Discard verbena sprigs and gently stir fruit. Let macerate at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Divide among 8 soup plates.

INSTANT FRUIT SORBET

Steps:

• Cover cookie sheets with plastic wrap and lay all chopped fruit on top in a single layer.
• Freeze until firm and icy, about 2 hours.
• Place one type of fruit in a food processor and process until grainy.
• Add orange juice and sugar to taste and process until smooth.
• Return to freezer until ready to serve, repeat with remaining fruit pieces.
• Arrange in chilled bowls and serve immediately.

LEMON VERBENA BLUEBERRY SCONES

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
• Stir the egg and cream together in a small bowl.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl add the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon verbena leaves. Rub everything together with your fingers to bring out the lemon flavor.
• Stir lemon mixture into the flour mixture. Add the butter to the flour/lemon sugar mixture. Using your fingers, toss to coat the pieces of butter with flour. Quickly, working with your fingertips or a pastry blender, cut and rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is pebbly. You will have some little butter clumps and some larger clumps-the size of peas.
• Pour the egg and cream over the dry ingredients and stir with a fork just until the dough comes together. It will be sticky. Don't over mix. Still in the bowl, gently knead the dough by hand, 8 to 10 times.
• Gently fold in the blueberries.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour and turn out the dough. Divide it in half. Working with one piece at a time, pat the dough into a rough circle that's about 5 inches in diameter, cut it into wedges or use a round cookie cutter and cut out the scones.
• Brush the scones with cream and sprinkle Turbinado sugar on top.
• Bake the scones for 20 to 22 minutes, or until their tops are golden brown. Transfer them to a rack and cool.
• Glaze with my lemon glaze recipe #411928, if desired.
• These are best eaten warm and on the day they are made.