Buddy Valastros Italian Cream Custard Food

ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the dough: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar together. Scrape down the sides and add the lemon and orange zests. Turn the mixer back on to low speed. Add the milk and egg. Turn the speed to medium and mix until well combined (scrape the sides of the bowl if necessary). Turn the mixer off and add the flour. Carefully turn the mixer on a slow speed and mix just until a dough forms, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface dusted with flour. Knead until it forms a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Combine the ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, custard/pudding, lemon zest, orange zest and semolina flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until combined. Add the vanilla orange and blossom water. Add in the whole eggs and egg yolks in 3 batches. Mix on slow speed in between each addition.
• Grease the inside of a 9-inch nonstick springform pan with pan spray. Roll the dough into a circle approximately 14 inches wide. Roll the dough into the pan and press it out into an even layer across the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
• Pour the filling into the pan and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until cheesecake is golden brown, 80 to 90 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing from the pan.
• Remove from the pan and put onto a decorative plate or platter. Dust the top with powdered sugar using a small mesh strainer. Decorate the center with fresh cranberries and sprigs of rosemary.

YES, YOU CAN MAKE HOMEMADE CREAM PUFFS, WE PROMISE

Steps:

• For the Italian custard cream: Put the milk and the vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat
• In a bowl, whip together the sugar, flour, and egg yolks with a hand mixer
• Ladle a cup of the milk-vanilla mixture into the bowl and beat to temper the yolks
• Add the yolk mixture to the pot and beat over medium heat with the hand mixer until thick and creamy, about 1 minute
• As you are beating, move the pot on and off the flame so that you don't scramble the eggs
• (Buddy's Tip: The longer you cook this cream, the thicker it will become, so you can -- and should -- adjust the texture to suit your taste
• ) Remove the pot from the heat, add the butter, and whip for 2 minutes to thicken the cream
• Transfer to a bowl
• Let cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 6 hours or up to 1 week
• (To make chocolate custard cream, add 1½ ounces melted, cooled unsweetened chocolate along with the butter
• For a richer chocolate flavor, add a little more
• ) For the choux pastry: Put the water, butter, and salt in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat
• Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the ingredients come together in a smooth, uniform dough, about 2 minutes
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
• (You may also use a hand mixer
• ) Start paddling on low speed, then add the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly absorbed, mixing for 1 minute between eggs, and stopping the motor periodically to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula
• Finish with the final egg and mix for an additional two minutes
• (Buddy's Tip: Use the dough immediately
• It does not refrigerate well
• ) For the cream puffs: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450F
• Transfer the dough into a pastry bag fitted with the #6 plain tip
• Pipe rounds onto two non-stick baking trays, about 2 inches in diameter by about ½ inch high, leaving 2 inches between puffs
• (You should be able to make 24 puffs
• ) Bake the cream puff shells in the oven, in batches if necessary, until they are golden brown and they have set enough that you can pick them up (test by gently pinching one with your thumb and forefinger to see if it can be lifted), 15 to 20 minutes
• Remove the tray from the oven and let the shells cool on the tray for 20 minutes
• (The cream puff shells can be frozen in a plastic freezer bag for up to 1 month; let come to room temperature before cutting and filling
• ) Fill the puffs by either cutting them in half horizontally with a serrated knife and piping them full of Italian Custard Cream, or by using your pinkie to hollow out the puffs from the bottom and piping the cream into them through the hole