Brandy Caramel Sauce Food

BRANDY-CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring whipping cream to a light boil in a large saucepan over medium heat; stirring occasionally. Add sugar and cook; stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in butter, brandy, and vanilla. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator. To reheat, let stand to room temperature for 30 minutes. Place mixture in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.

BRANDIED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir sugar and 2/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice. Increase heat and boil until deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup water (mixture will bubble vigorously). Cool 5 minutes. Mix in brandy. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; refrigerate. Rewarm before serving.)

APPLE PIE WITH CORNMEAL CRUST AND CARAMEL BRANDY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F Peel and core the apples, cut into thick wedges. In a large bowl mix together the first 8 ingredients: apples, flour, apple jelly, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and sugar. Let stand for 30 minutes gently strirring every few minutes.
• Prepare the cornmeal crust. Stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut butter and shortening into the flour mixture with pastry blender or fork until it resembles small peas. Mound the mixture into side of bowl. Drizzle half of the apple cider along the edge of the mixture in bowl. With fork gently toss a small amount of flour mixture with cider until dry ingredients are moistened. Repeat procedure with remaning cider and flour mixture. Gently gather dough into flat disks. Wrap in plastic and chill for 1 to 24 hours.
• Roll out one disk of dough into 1/8 inch thickness between two floured pieces of wax papers. Remove and discard top sheet of wax paper and place dough over a 9 inch glass pie plate removing the other sheet of wax paper.
• Stir apple mixture and reserve 1 tablespoons of juice. Spoon apples into crust, packing tightly and mounding in the center. Sprinkle apples with 3 tablespoons of sugar and dot with butter.
• Roll out the other disk of dough as directed before and place over filling. Fold edges under, sealing to bottom crust and crimp into fluted edges. Brush pie with reserved juice and sprinkle with sugar. Place pie on a jelly roll pan. Cut slits on top of pie to allow steam to escape.
• Bake at 425 F on lower oven rack for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 F and move pie to the middle oven rack. Bake for 35 more minutes. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent crust from over browning and bake 30 more minutes. Pie is done when juices are thick and bubbly and crust is golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.
• Prepare the caramel-brandy sauce. Bring whipping cram to a light boil in large saucepan; stirring occasionally. Add the sugar; stirring occasinally for about 4-5 minutes until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat add butter, brandy and vanilla and allow to cool.
• Serve the apple pie with the caramel-brandy sauce.

PANETTONE BREAD PUDDING W/ BRANDY CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Soak raisins in the hot brandy for 15 minutes, drain. This makes the raisins less sweet. A nice touch.
• Meanwhile,heat a heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Butter panettone slices on both sides. In batches, brown both sides until golden. Set aside to cool on a wire cooling rack.
• Whisk together remaining ingredients (eggs, half & half, sugar, vanilla).
• Butter your baking dish or use nonstick spray.
• Tear toasted bread into bite sized pieces (not too small) and spread evenly into a 9x13 pan.
• Scatter the raisins over the top of the torn bread.
• Pour in egg mixture. Press the bread into the egg mixture using your hands.
• Let stand for 30 minutes, press the bread down into the egg mixture.
• Place the baking dish in the middle of the preheated oven.
• Bake until pudding is deep golden brown, crispy along the edges and just set. About 35-40 minutes.
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• For a more rustic look, spoon into your individual serving dishes.
• Top with Brandy sauce & a dollop of whipped cream (recipe below)
• WHIP the whipping cream! No need to sweeten it. The bread and caramel sauce is plenty sweet!
• BRANDY CARAMEL SAUCE.
• Please do not walk away from the stove while making this. This takes time but once the sugar starts to darken -- it goes fast!
• DO NOT STIR at any time!
• Pour water into a heavy bottom 2 quart saucepan w/ lid.
• Pour sugar into the center of the pan, taking care NOT to let the sugar crystals adhere to the sides (they will burn).
• Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
• Once boiling, uncover and continue to boil until the syrup is thick and STRAW- colored (syrup should register 300F on a candy thermometer if using), about 7 minutes. *I did not use a candy thermometer, I just watched the color carefully. Do not take your eyes off the syrup!
• Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until syrup is a deep AMBER color (temperature should register 350F), about 1-2 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring the cream and salt to a simmer over high heat (bubbles around the edges of the pot, warmed just enough to take to chill of the cream). If the cream boils before the sugar reaches a dark amber color, pull off the burner and cover to keep warm. *covering is important so a skin does not form over the cream. You can use plastic wrap. Just place the plastic wrap it over the cream.
• NO STIRRING necessary!
• Remove the sugar syrup from the heat; VERY CAREFULLY pour 1/4 of the hot cream into the sugar mixture. *(It will bubble vigorously & may spatter). Let the bubbling subside.
• Add remaining cream, vanilla, lemon juice and brandy/whiskey; WHISK until smooth.
• Cool to desired temperature, it will thicken as it cools.
• Drizzle over bread pudding.

STEAKS WITH CARAMEL - BRANDY SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle steaks evenly with the salt and pepper.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add steaks, and cook 3 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness. Remove steaks from skillet; keep warm while preparing the sauce.
• Add brandy to skillet, stirring to loosen residue from bottom of the skillet. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and browns.
• Remove skillet from heat; whisk in cream until blended. Return to heat, and bring to boil; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until thickened. Serve immediately over steaks. Garnish with chives, if desired.

BRANDY SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients and then stir them into a cup of boiling water.
• Boil for 5 minutes and then add butter, brandy, and vanilla.
• Serve hot over mince pie or gingerbread.