Bubbly Lemon Gelee Food

BUBBLY LEMON GELEE

Steps:

• Combine gelatin and 1/4 cup club soda in a small bowl; let stand. In a saucepan, heat lemon juice and sugar over medium, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved.
• Transfer to a bowl; stir in remaining club soda. Refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. Serve with whipped cream and zest.

PASSION-FRUIT GELéE WITH BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• Make gelée:
• Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon passion-fruit nectar at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining nectar.
• Transfer to a metal bowl and set bowl into a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until gelée is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes.
• Put egg carton in a shallow baking pan and arrange glasses in carton, then tilt glasses to a 45-degree angle. Divide gelée among glasses. Carefully transfer pan with glasses to refrigerator and chill until gelée is set, at least 1 hour.
• Make cream when gelée has set:
• Pulse basil, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and add cream, stirring just until sugar is dissolved.
• Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon basil cream at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining cream. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them.
• Set bowl in a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water and let stand, stirring occasionally, until cream is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes.
• Holding 1 glass of gelée at a 45-degree angle, slowly fill glass with basil cream, gradually righting glass as filled. Fill remaining glasses in same manner. Chill, covered, until set, at least 1 hour.

LEMON AND BLOOD ORANGE GELéE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Get out six 6- or 8-ounce glasses (I use 6-ounce tumblers that taper out from the bottom).
• Make the lemon layer. Place the gelatin in a medium bowl and pour in 1/4 cup of the water. Allow the gelatin to sit and "bloom" for 10 minutes. Combine the remaining water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a bare simmer. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and remove from the heat. Pour over the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour about an inch into each of the glasses. Place in the refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.
• Make the blood orange gelée. Juice all but one of the oranges and strain. Juice the remaining orange, strain out the seeds but not the pulp, and add to the strained juice. Place the gelatin in a medium bowl and pour in 1/4 cup of the water. Allow the gelatin to sit and "bloom" for 10 minutes. Combine the remaining water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a bare simmer. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and remove from the heat. Pour over the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir in the orange juice. Make sure that the lemon layers are set and fill the tumblers with the orange juice mixture. If you want, you can make different patterns, alternating stripes of orange and yellow, but you will have to allow each layer to set before you add the next one. Refrigerate for several hours, until set.

CRANBERRY AND TART APPLE GELEES

Steps:

• For cranberry gelées:
• Wipe 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish with damp cloth. Line dish with plastic wrap, pressing to adhere. Place small plate in freezer.
• Mix first 7 ingredients in heavy large saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered until fruit is very tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Working in batches, puree mixture in blender until smooth.
• Transfer puree to heavy medium saucepan. Stir in pectin and cloves. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered until puree isvery thick (like applesauce), stirring frequently, about 50 minutes. (Gelée is done when 1/2 teaspoon puree placed on plate in freezer gels after 1 minute.)
• Transfer puree to prepared dish; smooth top. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature. Cover; chill gelée until firm, about 3 hours longer.
• For tart apple gelées:
• Wipe 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish with damp cloth. Line dish with plastic wrap, pressing to adhere. Place small plate in freezer.
• Combine first 6 ingredients in large saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until fruit is very tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Working in batches, puree mixture in blender until smooth.
• Transfer puree to heavy medium saucepan. Stir in pectin. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered until puree is very thick (like applesauce), stirring frequently, about 50 minutes. (Gelée is done when 1/2 teaspoon puree placed on plate in freezer gels after 1 minute.) Stir in enough food coloring to obtain appealing green color (about 20 drops of green and 5 drops of yellow).
• Transfer puree to prepared dish; smooth top. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature. Cover; chill gelée until firm, about 3 hours longer.
• Invert both gelées onto work surface. Peel off plastic. Cut into 1-inch squares. Roll squares in sparkling sugar to coat. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

GRAPE GELEE WITH LEMON, BASIL AND CRYSTALLIZED GINGER WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• To make the gelee: Put the grapes, lemon juice, sugar and water in a medium-sized pot and set over medium heat. Simmer for 20 minutes until grapes are tender and skins have completely discolored. Using a potato masher squash the grapes to release all of the juices. Do not puree in a blender otherwise your gelee will be cloudy and pick up parts of the skin. Pour the mixture through a sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl with a spout and use the back of a ladle to firmly press the pulp - this will extract as much juice and flavor as possible. This should yield about 3 cups (24 ounces) of liquid. If it is more or less add water or pour out some of the liquid, otherwise the gelatine ratio will be off. Slowly whisk in the gelatin powder, making sure you continue to whisk until it is all fully incorporated. Divide the grape jelly mixture into 4 to 6 glasses depending on the size of your glasses. Gently agitate to remove any surface bubbles then refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, or overnight, until set.
• To make the salad: In a small pot, over medium heat, add the sugar, cold water, sliced lemon and ginger. Bring to a simmer, then add in the basil and shut off the heat to allow the mixture to steep, 20 minutes. Cut the grapes in half through the middle and add to a large mixing bowl. Dress the grapes with a little of the syrup and toss to combine. Discard the basil and reserve the extra syrup.
• To make the whipped cream: Using a balloon whisk, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold the ginger into the whipped cream but reserve a few pieces for garnish.
• To assemble the dish: When the gelee is set, remove it from the refrigerator and top each glass with a spoonful of the grape salad and a quenelle of the ginger whipped cream. Garnish with basil buds and some slivers of ginger. Drizzle each glass with some of the reserved lemon-ginger syrup and serve.

LIMONCELLO GELEE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Heat Prosecco, limoncello, sparkling water, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and softened gelatin, and whisk until gelatin dissolves.
• Pour mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Refrigerate until set, at least 45 minutes (or overnight). Cut into 4 portions, and garnish with lemon slices and mint.