Burnt Honey And Star Anise Creams Food

BURNT HONEY ICE CREAM WITH WARM STRAWBERRY SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, boil the honey to caramelize it a bit and to get a slightly burnt flavor. Take off the heat and add the cream, half-and-half, and vanilla bean, then bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't scorch on the bottom. When it reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the still-hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees F, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees F it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you don't have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
• Meanwhile, half-fill a large bowl with ice water. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Strain the mixture into the smaller bowl to smooth it and remove the vanilla bean. Whisk in the creme fraiche. Let cool, stirring often, then continue according to the directions of your ice cream maker.
• Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the paper milk quart container then cut off the top. Cram the ice cream into the container, packing it well to get rid of all the air pockets. Place in freezer for at least 6 hours.
• Warm Strawberry Salad: Puree the raspberries and sugar in a blender. Strain out the seeds and taste the puree for sweetness, adding more sugar if necessary. Divide the puree on 4 ovenproof plates and spread to evenly coat the bottom of each plate. Thinly slice the strawberries and carefully fan them out on top of the raspberry puree, starting at the edge of the plate and spiraling in to the center. Use 4 berries per plate. (The dessert can be made up to this point up to 8 hours in advance. Tightly cover each plate with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove the plastic wrap before baking.)
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Bake the strawberries 2 minutes, just until warmed. Or place in the microwave for 1 minute. Remove from the oven.
• Take the ice cream out of the freezer and lay it on its side. With a serrated knife, leaving the ice cream in its container, cut a 1 1/2-inch slice off the end. Remove the container band around the slice and cut it into triangles along the diagonal. Place a wedge of ice cream in the center of each plate (it will start to melt immediately). Cut the honeycomb into 4 pieces and place on top of the ice cream. Serve immediately.

GAND'S STAR ANISE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, put half and half, cream, star anise, ground cinnamon, vanilla and cinnamon stick. Heat, whisking occasionally to avoid burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan. DO NOT LET BOIL. When the mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let the flavors infuse for 10 minutes.
• Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl. Still whisking, slowly pour half of the cream mixture in a thin stream to the egg mixture. Then add the egg-cream mixture to the saucepan containing the other half of the cream mixture.
• Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When it reaches 180 degrees, it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you don't have a candy thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet.
• When the mixture is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
• Meanwhile, put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in a large bowl, and add enough cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve into the smaller bowl, removing the vanilla bean pieces and cinnamon stick.
• Chill 3 hours. Then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer's directions. (Don't have an ice cream freezer? After 3 hours, gently stir ice cream and transfer to desired freezer storage containers. Freeze 2-3 hours, or until desired hardness. High fat ice cream will not get rock hard.).

BOURBON-GLAZED PORK BELLY CHUNKS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Pour 100ml of the bourbon into a small, shallow roasting tin and add the star anise. Season the pork belly, put in the tin and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 3 hrs. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for at least 1 hr. You can chill the pork for up to 2 days at this stage.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the pork from the tin. Using a small, sharp knife, pare away the rind from the meat, leaving a small layer of fat. Cut the meat into 2cm chunks and return to the tin. Roast for 20 mins until crisp and sizzling, turning regularly.
• Meanwhile, tip the ketchup, soy sauce, honey and remaining bourbon into a small pan. Set over a high heat and bubble for 5 mins until thick and syrupy. Pour over the chunks of pork and toss to coat. Roast for 10 mins more until sticky.
• Snip the chives into the sour cream, if you like, and serve alongside the pork chunks with cocktail sticks.

STAR ANISE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan combine the milk, the cream, the sugar, and the star anise, bring the mixture just to a boil, and remove the pan from the heat.
• In a bowl whisk together the egg yolks, add the cream mixture in a stream, whisking, and pour the mixture back into the pan.
• Cook the custard over moderately low heat, stirring, until it registers 170ºF on a candy thermometer, strain it through a fine sieve set over another bowl, and let it cool completely.
• Stir in the Pernod and freeze the custard in an ice-cream freezer according to the manufacturer's instructions.

STAR ANISE-POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, 2 tablespoons water, star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean in heavy large saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1 1/4 cups water (mixture will bubble vigorously). Bring to simmer, stirring until pieces of caramel dissolve. Add pears, cover and simmer until tender, turning pears once, about 5 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to bowl. Boil liquid in saucepan until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Pour syrup over pears; toss gently to coat. Chill until cold, at least 3 hours or overnight. Divide pears and syrup among 4 shallow bowls and serve.