Candied Tangerine Chocolate Ice Cream Food

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH CANDIED TANGERINES

Steps:

• Bloom the gelatin in cold water. Halve the vanilla bean pod lengthwise, scrape the seeds into a pot, and the vanilla bean pod and the milk and slowly bring to a boil. Set aside and remove the vanilla bean. Whisk the egg yolks, chocolate liqueur and sugar over a hot water bath until thick and creamy.
• Whisk the milk into the egg yolk mixture in a thin stream, add the cocoa powder and cinnamon and whisk until ribbony. Squeeze any excess water from the gelatin and dissolve in the warm cream. Transfer the bowl to an ice bath and whisk until cold. Whip the heavy cream and the egg whites until stiff, separately, then fold into the cooled cream. Distribute the cream between serving glasses and garnish with candied tangerine peel.

FLAMBEED TANGERINES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet and melt the butter. When it begins to brown ever so slightly around the edges, remove from the heat and add all of the tangerines slices. Stir to coat with the butter. Return to the heat and sprinkle with the sugar. Stir to blend.
• Remove the skillet form the heat and add the orange liqueur. Remove from the heat and ignite with a long kitchen match. When the flames die down, transfer to a large serving dish or individual bowls. Serve with the vanilla ice cream.

CHOCOLATE MANDARIN ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine milk and orange or tangerine zest in a medium heavy pot. Heat to just below a simmer and turn off heat. Let infuse for 30 minutes. Bring back to just below the simmer, then mix in cocoa powder and chocolate, combining well.
• In a medium bowl, beat together yolks and sugar until well combined. Pour one cup of the hot milk mixture over egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour egg mixture into saucepan. Heat mixture very slowly, stirring constantly with wooden spoon in figure eight pattern. Cook gently over very low heat for about 10 minutes, until custard has become quite thick. Add cold cream to stop the cooking and stir in vanilla extract. Pour through fine strainer into clean bowl and refrigerate until completely cold. Freeze mixture in ice cream freezer then scrape into container, cover, and freeze completely.

CANDIED TANGERINE PEEL

Steps:

• Place the tangerine halves in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the tangerine rinds are tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. (Begin checking the rinds for tenderness about 20 minutes into the process, you don't want them to become mushy.) You'll know they're done when you can scrape away the pith (the white part) easily. Drain the peels and when cool enough to handle, cut into 1/4-inch strips. In the same sauce pan (now empty), combine 1 1/4 cups water with the sugar. Bring to a boil, add the peels, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the peel is translucent, stirring occasionally. Spread the candied peel onto an oiled cooling rack over a cookie sheet and allow to cool and drain. Spread the remaining sugar in a large shallow bowl, or on a cookie sheet. Add the drained peel to the sugar and toss to coat with the sugar, separating the pieces as you do so. Spread the candied peel on a cookie sheet to dry overnight. Store in an airtight container in the freezer or refrigerator.;

CANDIED GINGER-MASCARPONE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn?t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let sit 10 minutes to infuse the flavor. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, 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 do not 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. Whisk in the mascarpone.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, put in 2 handfuls of ice cubes and add cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve or chinois (to remove the vanilla bean pieces) and into the smaller bowl. Chill until cool, about 1 hour, then stir in the crystallized ginger and continue according to the directions of your ice cream maker to freeze.

TANGERINE SORBET WITH VANILLA CREAM AND CANDIED PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• For the sorbet: Combine the tangerine juice, sugar and Campari if using in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes then process the sorbet in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
• For the pistachios: Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Stir the sugar, 1 tablespoon water and the salt together in a medium bowl. Add the pistachios and stir to coat. Spread the pistachios on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the nuts are golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Allow the nuts to cool, then coarsely chop and set aside.
• For the vanilla cream: Place the cream in a small bowl. Use a paring knife to scrape the beans from the pod into the cream. Add the empty pod and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To serve, pour 2 tablespoons of the vanilla cream into a martini glass. Add a scoop of sorbet and garnish with pistachios.

TANGERINE CURD ICE CREAM WITH MARSHMALLOW MERINGUES

Steps:

• To make the tangerine curd: place the tangerine zest and juice in a saucepan and bring to the boil, reduce by half before mixing in the caster sugar and chopped butter. Once the butter has melted, let it cool for a few minutes then gradually mix in the egg yolks. Stir over a low heat for 3-4 minutes until thickened. This stage can also be achieved in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring continuously for 20-25 minutes until thickened. Once thickened transfer to a clean bowl and leave to cool slightly before covering with cling film or greaseproof paper. Alternatively, store in a sterilised jar.
• To make the ice cream: whisk the crème fraîche and yogurt into the curd and flavour with Grand Marnier. The mix can now be churned in an ice cream maker for 20 minutes before freezing. An alternative method is to freeze the mix for several hours without churning, but you do need to stir it every 20 minutes to break up the crystals until it sets properly. If this second method is followed, remove the ice cream from the freezer about 20-30 minutes before serving to loosen its consistency.
• To make the syrup: boil together the tangerine zest and juice with the caster sugar and allow to reduce by a third before adding the Grand Marnier. Mix the arrowroot or cornflour with the orange juice or water and whisk into the simmering syrup. Once returned to a gentle simmer, cook for just 2 minutes before removing from the heat. The candied orange peel, if using, can be added while the syrup is warm. Allow to cool. An alternative method is to reheat the syrup just before serving, adding the peel while the syrup is warming.
• To make the meringues: preheat the oven to 120C/Gas ½/fan oven 100C. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, then gradually whisk in two-thirds of the caster sugar. Continue to whisk to reach stiff peaks. The remaining sugar can now be added. Continue to whisk until the meringue has a good thick creamy consistency. The cornflour and lemon juice can now be whisked in, whisking for another minute.
• The meringues can be kept naturally shaped by spooning individual portions on to lightly oiled parchment paper on a baking tray. Or spoon the meringue into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm/½in plain tube and piping large domes onto the paper. Whichever choice is made, it is important to leave ample space between the meringues to allow them to swell and rise. These can now be baked for 45-50 minutes, about 1 hour maximum. During this time they will take on a light colour, forming a crisp shell that coats the marshmallow centre. The meringues can be cooked at a higher temperature - 150C/Gas 2/fan oven 130C - to give slightly more colour. If so, cooking time will be slightly less, around 40-45 minutes.
• When assembling the dish there are two options: if dome-shaped meringues have been made, it is best to crack the tops, placing five or six tangerine segments on top of each if using. The ice cream can now be scooped or scrolled using a warm tablespoon, before sitting on top of the meringue. The syrup with candied fruit can now be drizzled over to finish. The alternative is to simply sit the ice cream and meringue side by side, decorating with segments, if using, and drizzling over the syrup. Whichever you choose, either can be finished with a light dusting of icing sugar, if desired, and perhaps a leaf or sprig of holly.

CANDIED TANGERINE PEEL

Steps:

• Remove peel, including a little of pith, from tangerines in (2- by 1-inch) strips with a sharp vegetable peeler (preferably Y-shaped). Cut into thin (1/8-inch) julienne strips.
• Cover strips with cold water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Drain in a sieve, then repeat procedure with more cold water 2 times.
• Bring granulated sugar, water, and zest strips to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer until zest is translucent and syrup has thickened, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large rack and set over a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Transfer candied peel to rack with a fork, separating strips. (Discard syrup or reserve for another use.) When peel is cool (but not completely dry), toss with superfine sugar in a bowl to coat. Return to rack until dry to the touch, about 30 minutes.