Brown Sugar Glazed Apricots With Sweet Risotto Pudding Food

GLAZED APRICOTS

Steps:

• 1. Combine water, honey and sugar in heavy, large saucepan over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves. 2. Add apricots and cook until tender and syrup is reduced and thinly coats spoon, stirring frequently; about 20 minutes. 3. Cool apricots in syrup for at least 2 hours. 4. Remove apricots from the syrup (apricots will be sticky). Drain on paper towels to remove any excess syrup. Tips: This recipe can be doubled or tripled.

BAKED RICE PUDDING WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a covered heavy saucepan, bring the rice, milk, apricots, vanilla scrapings, and lemon zest to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately reduce the heat to as low as possible, cover tightly, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the rice is very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the sugar into the cooked rice mixture. Stir in the egg yolks. Pour the rice pudding into a greased baking dish and bake for 20 minutes until slightly browned on the top. Remove from the oven and let cool. Chill until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE RISOTTO PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring the milk, sugar and vanilla beans to a bare simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to infuse vanilla flavor. Remove the bean pods and keep the milk hot.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring until the rice is hot, about 2 minutes. Begin adding the hot milk 1 cup at a time, stirring often and adding more milk when the previous addition has been absorbed. Adjust heat to maintain a nice simmer. It will take about 20 minutes for the rice to become creamy and al dente. It is possible you may not need all of the milk. Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, and chopped chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts, shave white chocolate over the top and serve.

BROWN SUGAR PUDDING WITH HOT BUTTERED-RUM RAISINS

Steps:

• Bring the half-and-half and cinnamon stick to a simmer in a medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk together the egg and egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the hot half-and-half into the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking, until the mixture just reaches a boil, about 4 minutes. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl for a super silky texture. Stir in the butter and rum.
• Pour the warm pudding into 4 ramekins or glasses. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Bring the sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil to thicken slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the rum and raisins and simmer to mellow the alcohol taste slightly, 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and swirl in the butter to bring the sauce together. Keep warm.
• When ready to serve, place a dollop of sour cream on top of each pudding and spoon hot buttered-rum raisins over each one. Serve.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED APRICOTS WITH RICOTTA CLOUDS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and cook until the foam subsides. Place the apricots cut side down in the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until apricots are slightly tender and warmed through, 5 to 6 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar and the honey. When apricots are ready, and add honey-balsamic mixture to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until the apricots have cooked through and the glaze is bubbling, uniformly coating the apricots. To serve, place a scoop of ricotta on each serving plate, top with 2 apricot halves and drizzle with the honey-balsamic glaze from the skillet.

BROWN SUGAR APRICOTS WITH VANILLA YOGURT

Steps:

• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill and on lid.
• Arrange apricots, cut sides up, in disposable roasting pan and sprinkle with brown sugar, patting and pressing with fingers to help evenly adhere.
• When fire is low (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 4 to 5 seconds), cook apricots in pan, covered with grill lid, without turning, until sugar is melted and apricots are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Serve apricots with yogurt on the side.

BROWN-SUGAR PUDDING

Steps:

• Stir together half-and-half, brown sugar, and cornstarch in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan and heat over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is heated through (do not let boil).
• Whisk together yolks and salt in a medium bowl until smooth, then add hot half-and-half mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over moderate heat, whisking, until mixture just reaches a boil, then boil, whisking, 1 minute (mixture will thicken). Immediately pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and stir in butter and vanilla until butter is incorporated. Set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and chill, stirring frequently, until pudding is cool, about 10 minutes.
• Beat heavy cream with sour cream in a bowl with a whisk until mixture just holds stiff peaks.
• Divide pudding among 6 small bowls, then top each serving with a generous dollop of cream.