Chocolate Bourbon Tart With Sweet Habanero Spiced Nut Crust Food

MACADAMIA NUT CRUST

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the nuts, panko, sugar, flour, and salt. Add the melted butter and stir to combine.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 or 10-inch cake, pie, or springform pan as a crust for a cheesecake or cream pie. Bake according to instructions for cheesecake or pie. If baking for a precooked pie filling, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place on the center rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

SPICED BOURBON WITH RED WINE

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup each sugar and water, 4 allspice berries, 1 star anise pod and 4 slices fresh ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Let cool, then strain. Shake 3 ounces bourbon, 2 ounces apple cider, 1 ounce each of the spiced syrup, orange juice and lemon juice and 3 dashes of orange bitters in a shaker with ice; strain into 2 glasses filled with ice. Top each with 1/4 cup red wine. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

CHOCOLATE TART WITH HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• A sublime silky chocolate custard fills this simple hazelnut shortbread crust. Serve garnished with whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts for a special touch.;
• Preheat oven to 400F. 2. To prepare crust: Coat a 9-inch tart pan with cooking spray. Combine whole-wheat pastry flour, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, hazelnuts, 1/4 cup sugar and salt in a food processor; process until the nuts are finely ground. Add butter one piece at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until incorporated. Add oil and ice water and pulse just until incorporated. Turn the dough out into the prepared pan (it will be crumbly), spread evenly and press firmly into the bottom and all the way up the sides to form a crust. 3. Bake the crust until set and the edges are beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. 4. To prepare filling: Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small bowl; let stand, stirring once or twice, while you prepare the rest of the filling. 5. Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling); remove from the heat to cool slightly. 6. Whisk egg yolks, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon flour in a medium bowl until combined. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot milk. Whisk the egg yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining hot milk. Return to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (do not boil), about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; whisk in chocolate until completely melted. Whisk in the softened gelatin and coffee liqueur (if using) until smooth. 7. Beat reconstituted egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until frothy. Increase speed to high and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently fold the chocolate custard into the egg whites until blended. Spoon the filling into the crust; smooth the top with the back of a spoon and chill, uncovered, until set, about 1 hour.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 268 calories; 16 g fat (6 g sat, 7 g mono); 55 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 3 g fiber; 141 mg sodium; 117 mg potassium. 2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 2 carbohydrates (other), 3 fat
• TIP: Ingredient Note: Dried egg whites are pasteurized-a wise choice when making uncooked fillings. You'll find them in the baking or natural-foods section of most supermarkets. Reconstitute according to package directions.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Loosely cover and refrigerate the tart for up to 1 day. | Equipment: 9-inch tart pan (with or without removable bottom)
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

SPICED BOURBON WITH RED WINE

Steps:

• Make the spiced syrup: Combine the sugar, 1/2 cup water, the allspice, star anise and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Strain into a liquid measuring cup.
• Make the cocktails: Combine the bourbon, apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, 1 ounce of the spiced syrup (reserve the rest for more cocktails) and the orange bitters in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into 2 ice-filled rocks glasses and top with the red wine. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

PECAN AND CHOCOLATE TART WITH BOURBON WHIPPED CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Roll out Pâte Sucrée disk on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/8"-thick round, dusting with flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Transfer crust to tart pan; press onto bottom and up sides of pan. Trim dough flush with edge of pan. Chill for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Spread out chopped pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, stirring once or twice, until lightly browned and aromatic, 8-10 minutes.
• Place butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Cook, swirling pan a few times, until butter browns and smells nutty, about 5 minutes. Discard vanilla bean.
• Whisk sugar, both corn syrups, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in warm brown butter, then eggs; whisk to blend. Spread chopped pecans in an even layer over prepared tart shell. Scatter chocolate over. Place pecan halves in concentric circles over chopped pecans and chocolate. Pour filling slowly and evenly over nuts.
• Bake tart until filling is just set in center, 45-50 minutes.
• Transfer tart to a wire rack; let cool for at least 30 minutes. DO AHEAD: Tart can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Beat cream, crème fraîche, and bourbon until soft peaks form. DO AHEAD: Bourbon whipped crème fraîche can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; chill. Rewhisk before serving.
• Remove pan sides. Cut tart into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature with bourbon whipped crème fraîche.

FAVORITE CHOCOLATE-BOURBON PECAN TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 12-in. circle. Press onto bottom and up sides of an ungreased 11-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Sprinkle with chocolate chips., Beat eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, bourbon and salt. Stir in pecans. Pour over chocolate chips. Bake until center is just set and crust is golden brown, 30-35 minutes. , Cool on a wire rack. Cut into slices. Serve with caramel topping.

CHOCOLATE-BOURBON TART WITH CURRANTS AND ORANGE CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• For Crust:
• Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray vegetable oil spray on 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Combine ground cookies and butter in processor; blend until very moist crumbs form. Using plastic wrap as aid, press crumbs firmly onto sides, then bottom of prepared pan. Chill 15 minutes. Bake until set, about 8 minutes. Cool.
• For Filling:
• Mix currants and bourbon in heavy small saucepan. Bring to simmer over low heat. Cover and set aside. Whisk corn syrup and egg yolks in medium bowl. Bring half and half to simmer in another heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk half and half into yolk mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until custard thicken and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 4 minutes (do not boil). Pour into large bowl. Add chopped bittersweet chocolate and nutmeg, whisk until melted and smooth. Mix in currants and bourbon. Chill just until cool, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Whip cream in medium bowl to stiff peaks. Fold cream into chocolate mixture. Transfer filling to crust. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Gently press up tart pan bottom to loosen tart. Remove pan sides. Transfer tart to platter. Top with chocolate curls. Sift powdered sugar over. Serve with Orange Custard Sauce.
• For Orange Custard Sauce:
• Bring half and half to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk sugar and yolks in small bowl. Gradually whisk in hot half and half. Return mixture to saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 3 minutes (do not boil). Strain into bowl. Mix in peel. Cover and refrigerate until cold. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Makes about 1 1/2 cups.