Candied Almond Chocolate Strawberries Food

STRAWBERRY SALAD WITH CANDIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• For the almonds: In a small skillet, cook almonds and sugar over low heat, stirring constantly until sugar is melted and almonds are coated. Sprinkle almonds onto a sheet of waxed paper; let cool. Break almonds apart and set aside.
• In a large salad bowl, toss the salad ingredients together until combined.
• For the dressing: In a small container with a tight lid, combine the ingredients and shake to combine.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Divide among 2 plates and sprinkle candied almonds over salads.

CANDIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Spread out the almonds in an even layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt together the butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, allspice and salt. Bring to a boil and cook, still boiling, for 1 minute, or until the mixture reaches 190 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Pour over the almonds and let cool completely while the sugar mixture sets. Serve immediately.

CANDIED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Add the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water to a small heavy-bottom saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring once to make sure the sugar dissolves. Attach a candy thermometer or use and instant read thermometer and bring to 300 to 310 degrees F. Remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 1 minute.
• Stir the sugar mixture to even out the temperature from top to bottom. Dip the strawberries, using the stem as a handle and swirling to coat. Remove and allow excess syrup to drip off, shaking as needed. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to cool and harden, about 10 minutes.
• Trim the ends of 12 extra-long lollipop sticks to the desired length to fit your vase. Carefully skewer each strawberry through the stem end and arrange into a bouquet in the vase. Serve within 2 hours (see Cook's Note).

STRAWBERRY MUFFINS WITH CANDIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with 12 paper liners.
• In a cup, stir together the milk, lemon zest and juice; set aside to curdle.
• In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk to evenly distribute; set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg white (save the other for another use) with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until slightly frothy. Fold in the almonds; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar and butter until combined. Add egg yolks and continue whisking vigorously until the batter is slightly aerated, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, alternate adding 1/3 of the flour mixture and 1/3 of the milk mixture, folding gently, until you've added three batches of each beginning with the flour and ending with the milk. The batter will be thick. Gently fold in the fresh berries.
• Divide the batter among the liners in the muffin tin. (The liners will be very full, but the muffins will not rise much while baking.)
• Pinch the almond mixture between your fingers and let the excess egg whites drain away before dividing evenly all over the tops of the muffins. Bake for 12 minutes, then lower the temperature to 325 degrees and continue baking until a toothpick inserted into the muffins comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Let cool for 5 minutes, then gently remove the muffins from the pan to cool completely before serving.
• In a mortar and pestle, food processor or resealable bag, combine the freeze-dried strawberries and confectioners' sugar, if using, and crush until fine. Dust generously over the cooled muffins using a fine-mesh strainer.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the granulated sugar and water in a large copper pot or 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the almonds and stir to coat them evenly in the sugar syrup. Your goal is to cook the almonds until the sugar crystallizes and caramelizes.
• When water is added to the sugar, the sugar crystals are dissolved. As it boils, the syrup becomes thicker as the water evaporates and big soap-like bubbles begin to form. Soon, all the moisture evaporates and the mixture becomes sandy. The sandiness is the sugar recrystallizing. It only takes the reformation of one sugar crystal to recrystallize the others. Keep stirring! Next, you see the sugar closest to the heat change from sandy to a clear liquid. The melted sugar clings to the almonds. When the sugar changes from clear to golden brown, the nuts are caramelized. Once this happens, pay close attention; the time it takes to pass from caramelized to burned is only a matter of seconds, especially when making smaller batches. You know the nuts are finished when most of the sandy sugar is gone.
• The first few times you make these, I suggest you try the following: When the sugar closest to the heat changes from sandy to liquid, remove the pan from the burner and continue to stir. The residual heat in the sugar and nuts will continue to cook the mixture while you stir it. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to stir the nuts while moving the saucepan on and off the heat at 10-second intervals. This will give you more control as it cooks. When the nuts begin to caramelize, remove them from the heat and finish stirring.
• Use a wooden spoon to spread the caramelized nuts onto a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Do not touch the nuts as they are extremely hot. Let the nuts cool completely. If your freezer will accommodate the baking sheet, you can place the nuts in the freezer for about 30 minutes to speed up the cooling process. When completely cooled, break apart any nut clusters that may have formed. At this stage, you can choose to serve the nuts as they are.
• Place the caramelized nuts in the coating pan attached to the stand mixer. Spin at low speed. Use a ladle to add the chocolate to the spinning nuts. Add 1 ladle at a time until the nuts are coated to the desired thickness. If a thicker coat is desired, use more chocolate. If a thinner coat is desired, decrease the amount of chocolate. Finish by adding cocoa powder to the coating pan. Remove and serve.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)
• Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
• Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• Copyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
• Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
• Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semisweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon shortening at 50% power; stir until smooth. Dip each strawberry and place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze strawberries for 5 minutes., Meanwhile, microwave white chocolate and remaining shortening at 30% power until melted; stir until smooth. Stir in food coloring if desired. Drizzle over strawberries. Refrigerate until serving.

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a food processor; cover and process until chopped. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; cover and process until smooth. Stir in spreadable fruit and vanilla until combined. Transfer to a small bowl; cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours., Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in almonds.

CANDIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil; add the almonds. Cook and stir the mixture until the liquid evaporates and leaves a syrup-like coating on the almonds. Pour the almonds onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Separate almonds using forks. Allow to cool about 15 minutes.

STRAWBERRY & CANDIED ALMOND SALAD

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter, stir in sugar and almonds and cook until golden brown; remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Combine lettuce, strawberries, onion and the sugared almonds.
• Mix dressing ingredients together and toss with salad.
• Chill for a short time and then serve.