Caramel Pecan Napoleons Food

PECAN DUSTED PUFF PASTRY CARAMELIZED PEAR NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat 400 degrees F.
• Chop the pecans to the consistency of rough crumbs. Toss with the butter, sugars and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread the mixture out onto a baking sheet and cook in the oven 7 to 10 minutes, until darkened and lightly caramelized. Set aside to cool.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface to 1/16-inch thickness. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 12 squares, approximately 3 by 3 inches. Lay out on a baking sheet and bake 15 to 20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• Melt the butter with both the sugars in a skillet over medium heat. Add the pears. Cook until pears are just tender and juices thicken to a syrup consistency, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Whip the cream, granulated sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until it forms soft peaks.
• Place a puff pastry square in the center of a serving bowl or plate. Top with a few pears, whipped cream and pecan pieces. Repeat this process 2 more times ending with a sprinkle of nuts.

CHOCOLATE SILK NAPOLEON WITH VANILLA ANGLAISE AND CARAMEL DIPPED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lay 2 sheets of the phyllo on a flat surface and brush each with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over each. Top each with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter, and sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of pecans.
• Cut out 6 (5-inch) triangles from each sheet and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another sheet of parchment on top of the triangles and top the parchment with another sheet pan. Bake until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a baking rack.
• When the phyllo has cooled make 4 (3-layer) napoleons starting with a layer of phyllo then a layer of Chocolate Silk then another phyllo and end with a layer of phyllo. Spoon some of the Vanilla Anglaise onto a large dessert plate. Place the napoleon on top and garnish with Caramelized Pecans.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bring milk and cream with 1/2 of the sugar to a boil.
• Place chocolate in a large bowl and pour the hot milk mixture over. Let sit for 1 minute then whisk until smooth.
• Whisk the yolks, remaining sugar, vanilla, and salt together. Sift in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Combine milk and egg mixture, and whisk in the butter. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
• Pour into a half sheet pan and bake, covered with aluminum foil, until just set. Refrigerate until cold. Cut into 8 (5-inch) triangles.
• Heat milk, cream, vanilla bean in a medium saucepan. Whisk together sugar and eggs to the ribbon stage. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and return mixture to the pan. Cook over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
• Strain the mixture into a bowl set into a larger bowl of ice water and stir until cold.
• Caramelized Pecans: 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup water 8 whole pecans 1 pound butter in its wrapper
• Place sugar and water in a small saucepan and cook to the mixture reaches the hard crack stage (300 degrees F) on a candy thermometer.
• Skewer the pecans onto a wooden skewer and dip into the caramel. Place the skewers into the butter sideways and let the caramel drip onto a plate. Let the caramel harden and snip off with scissors leaving a 1-inch piece of caramel hanging from the pecan.

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED PECANS AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pecans, preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Mix the sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg-white mixture to coat well. Drain, then toss in the sugar mixture. Grease a baking sheet and spread the pecans on it. Bake until dry, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Pulse the pecans and sugar together in a food processor until ground. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough out on a work surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Brush with butter and sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons of the ground pecan mixture. Top with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter and sprinkle with pecans. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
• Trim the phyllo layers to make a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 16 4-by-3-inch rectangles. Divide between the baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, butter and pecan mixture. Set the pastries aside; you'll have extra.
• To make the sauce, place the sugar in a medium saucepan and stir in the water. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully add the cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until all the caramel is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth and hot.
• The napoleons can be prepared ahead up to this point. Reheat the caramel sauce and the pumpkin filling. To assemble, spread the mascarpone over 8 of the pastries, using about 2 tablespoons for each. Top with another pastry and spread with about 1/4 cup of the pumpkin mixture. Top with another pastry.
• Coat 8 plates with caramel sauce. Top with the napoleons and scatter the sugared pecans around them. Serve immediately.

CARAMEL PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Pour pecan halves into greased 9x13" pan and place into oven for 5 minutes.
• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup and cook until sugar is dissolved (this takes at least 3-4 minutes).
• Remove pecans from oven and pour into saucepan/caramel mixture.
• Stir to coat and pour back into 9x13" pan.
• Place back into oven for 45-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes or so.
• Remove pan and spread pecans onto parchment paper or silpat (I've used wax paper but it sticks at times-if it does put in fridge and remove when cold).
• Separate pecans as they cool (2 forks work well).
• I often HALF this because I can't keep out of them!