Chocolate Berry Napoleons Food

CHOCOLATE NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a 12-in. square. Cut into twelve 4x3-in. rectangles. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 9-12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool., In a small bowl, whisk milk and sour cream until smooth. Add pudding mix; whisk for 2 minutes or until blended. Refrigerate for 5 minutes. , To assemble, split each pastry in half. Spoon pudding mixture over bottom halves and replace tops. Combine confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth; drizzle over top. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Serve immediately.

SAVORY CHOCOLATE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Use an offset spatula to spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of tempered chocolate over a sheet of acetate. When the chocolate begins to set but is not yet hard, use a sharp paring knife or rolling cutter to cut 1-inch squares. When the chocolate is set, peel off the acetate and break apart the chocolate squares.
• Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Add the chives, paprika, salt and pepper and turn the mixer on medium speed. Mix just until combined.
• Place the cream cheese mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe a dollop of the cream cheese onto a chocolate square. Top with a square of chocolate. Pipe another dollop of cream cheese and cover with another square of chocolate. Viola!

CHOCOLATE-BERRY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet into a 10-inch square; cut into 2 1/2-by-5-inch rectangles (8 total). Sandwich between 2 unlined rimmed baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, 30 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Cool. Cook 1/3 cup milk, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a small skillet over medium heat, whisking, until thick. Stir in 2 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate; cool. Fold in 1 1/2 cups whipped cream. To assemble, layer 2 pastry rectangles with the chocolate cream and raspberries. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

CRAB APPETIZER NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry sheet into 12 (2-inch) circles with a cutter. Place the pastry circles onto a baking sheet.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Split each pastry into 2 layers, making 24 in all.
• Stir the cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in the milk, horseradish, black pepper and crabmeat.
• Spread the crabmeat mixture on 12 bottom pastry layers. Top with the onions, almonds and top pastry layers. Sprinkle with the paprika.

ORANGE-FOOL NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Cut off about 1 inch from both ends of all 4 oranges; reserve the ends. Stand 1 orange cut-side down on a cutting board. Working from top to bottom, cut away the peel and pith. Cut the orange into 3 rounds, each about 3/4-inch-thick, transferring the rounds to a medium bowl as you work. Repeat with the remaining oranges. Refrigerate the slices until needed.
• Squeeze the juice from the reserved orange ends into a small saucepan. Add the orange zest, honey and any remaining juice from your cutting board, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, swirling the pot occasionally, until syrupy, about 6 minutes. Toward the end, the surface will be covered with big brownish bubbles. You should have about 1/4 cup of syrup. Let cool to room temperature, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat, add the pistachios and cook, tossing frequently until fragrant and toasted, about 4 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• Whisk together the yogurt, half the syrup and the orange-blossom water in a medium bowl.
• In each of 4 shallow bowls, layer 3 orange slices with 1 tablespoon of the yogurt mixture, beginning with an orange slice and ending with yogurt. Drizzle the remaining orange syrup over the tops, sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface roll out the pastry to 1/16-inch thick. Transfer pastry to a parchment-lined sheet pan and trim edges. With a fork prick surface all over and chill for 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pastry with a second piece of parchment paper and weight down with a second sheet pan. Bake pastry for 10 minutes. Remove top sheet pan and parchment and continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer pastry to a cooling rack.
• Make the filling: In a heavy saucepan combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Using a knife scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the milk mixture and add the whole bean. Bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat and allow to steep for one hour. Discard the bean or reserve for another use.
• Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees. Whisk the yolks into the cooled milk mixture and strain through a fine sieve into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place the dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the side of the dish. Bake custard for 3/4 to 1 hour until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. let cool; cover and chill for several hours or overnight. To assemble: Transfer pastry to a flat surface. Using a ruler measure out three 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips. With a serrated knife carefully cut the pastry using a gentle sawing motion. With a paring knife cut the custard into two 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips and cut each strip in half crosswise. With a long, wide offset spatula transfer a piece of custard onto a strip of pastry, covering half of it. Transfer a second piece of custard to fill the first layer. Top with a second strip of pastry, smooth side up, and repeat process. If necessary, smooth the sides of the napoleon with a knife so that they are stacked neatly.
• Using a serrated knife carefully slice the napoleon into individual serving pieces. Sift confectioner's sugar over the napoleon to form a thick coating. Heat skewers on stovetop burner until red-hot and brand the sugar with cross hatch marks.
• Recommended drink: 1993 Passito di Pantelleria, Nuova Agricoltura

CHOCOLATE PHYLLO NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the butter and cocoa to make "cocoa butter".
• Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on the pan and brush with cocoa butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons of sugar, then place another sheet of phyllo on top. Brush with cocoa butter, sprinkle with sugar, lay another sheet of phyllo on top, brush with cocoa butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Cover the stack with parchment paper. Place another pan on top to weight it down. Then place another, empty sheet pan on the very top. (This is to keep the phyllo from buckling during baking).
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the phyllo is dark brown. It's very difficult to tell, as it's so chocolate-y looking as it is. Remove the whole stack of sheet pans and let cool (do not unstack the pans).
• To assemble the dessert, break the phyllo up into random pieces about 3-inches square. Place a dab of mascarpone on each of 4 plates and press 1 phyllo piece down on it. Spoon on a heaping tablespoon of mascarpone in the center and surround it with raspberries. Place another phyllo piece on top and repeat, topping off with a final phyllo piece. Garnish with a mint sprig, a dusting of powdered sugar, and raspberry puree, if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND SUMMER BERRY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Stir white chocolate in large bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Bring milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk milk barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from heat. Bring milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk milk into chocolate. Let chocolate mixture cool until just beginning to thicken, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream and vanilla in another large bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 17x11x1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 15x12-inch rectangle. Cut crosswise into three 12x5-inch rectangles. Repeat rolling and cutting with remaining pastry sheet to make six 12x5-inch pastry rectangles total. Transfer 2 pastry rectangles to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Cover remaining pastry rectangles and chill.
• Pierce pastry rectangles on baking sheet all over with fork. Top with second piece of parchment. Place another 17x11x1-inch baking sheet atop parchment to weigh down pastry rectangles as they cook. Bake pastries until edges and bottoms are golden, about 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet and parchment paper from atop pastries. Turn pastries over. Continue baking uncovered until bottoms are golden, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer pastries to rack; cool. Repeat piercing and baking with remaining 4 pastry rectangles in 2 more batches. (White chocolate cream and pad pastry rectangles can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep cream refrigerated. Store pastry rectangles airtight at room temperature.)
• Place 1 pastry rectangle on work surface. Spread 1 1/2 cups of chocolate cream over pastry. Gently toss all berries in large bowl. Arrange of berries in single layer over chocolate cream. Place second pastry rectangle atop berries. Spread 1 cups of chocolate cream atop second pastry rectangle. Top with of berries. Top with third pastry rectangle. Repeat with remaining 3 pastry rectangles, chocolate cream and berries to form second napoleon. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate.) Using serrated knife, cut each pastry crosswise into 10 equal pieces. Sprinkle powdered sugar over each and serve.

A-1 CHOCOLATE COCO-CHERRY NAPOLEONS #A1

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. unfold your phyllo sheet and cut into 3 strips along the creases where the dough was folded. then cut each strip into 4 equal parts and place on a lighly sprayed baking sheet. bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
• meanwhile in a sauce pan add a-1 sauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar, cayenne pepper and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted and well incorporated ( approximately 5 minutes). add the cherries and heat until barely warmed through ( approximately 5 minutes) then set aside.
• remove your phyllo from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. now it is time to assemble. take 3 squares of the phyllo dough and place one on a plate spread 1/8 cup of vanilla pudding, then take 2 tbsp of cherries through a slotted spoon and place on top of pudding, sprinkle with a 1/2 tbsp shredded coconut. place another phyllo square on top of that and repeat the same steps from the first layer. top with the last phyllo square, repeat theses steps until you have all 4 servings prepared. at this point take your whipped cream and in a circular motion decorate until you come to a peak, drizzle all 4 servings with the chocolate sauce reserved from the cherries on top of the whipped cream and serve.

CHOCOLATE MINT NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• For sauce: Combine crème de menthe and sugar in small saucepan; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves; remove from heat; cool; strain into bowl.
• For mousse: Whisk yolks and ¼ cup sugar in small bowl to blend; bring ¼ cup cream to simmer in small saucepan; gradually whisk hot cream into egg mixture; return mixture to same saucepan; stir constantly over medium-low heat until custard thickens, about 1 minute (do not boil); reduce heat to low; add chocolate, crème de cacao and butter and stir until smooth; pour into large bowl; chill until cool, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes; beat ½ cup cream in small bowl to stiff peaks; fold cream into chocolate mixture; cover and chill.
• For Chocolate Bark: Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment; finely grind mints in processor; place half of chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water; stir until candy thermometer registers 115F; pour onto 1 prepared sheet; using spatula, spread chocolate to 1/16-inch thickness over parchment; sprinkle half of ground candies over half of chocolate; fold parchment in half to seal candies in chocolate; repeat with remaining chocolate and candies; cover and chill 1 to 24 hours; peel parchment off chocolate bark; break or cut each sheet of bark into 6 large irregular pieces, reserving any small pieces for garnish; place 1 bark piece on plate; spread scant 1/3 cup mousse over bark; place another bark piece on top of mousse; spread scant 1/3 cup mousse over; top with another bark piece; place dollop of mousse on top of chocolate and top with any smaller bark pieces, standing pieces upright; repeat with remaining bark and mousse; (Can be made 6 hours ahead; cover; chill).
• Serve napoleons with sauce.