Chocolate Chestnut Ice Cream Food

CHESTNUT CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Over low heat, melt chocolate in heavy cream, stirring until smooth; let cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer whip the butter and sugar until light, then fold in the cooled chocolate, chestnut puree and rum. Mix until smooth and pack into prepared ramekins or custard cups. Cover and chill overnight.
• Pipe whipped cream rosettes in center if you wish.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes. Blend the chestnut puree, almond extract, salt and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in half of the melted chocolate.
• Beat the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping. Fold one-quarter of the remaining whipped cream into the chestnut mixture, then fold in the rest. Chill up to 8 hours.
• Divide the mousse among dessert glasses. Top with the reserved whipped cream. Remelt the remaining chocolate in the microwave, if necessary, then drizzle on top.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes. Blend the chestnut puree, almond extract, salt and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in half of the melted chocolate.
• Beat the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping. Fold one-quarter of the remaining whipped cream into the chestnut mixture, then fold in the rest. Chill up to 8 hours.
• Divide the mousse among dessert glasses. Top with the reserved whipped cream. Remelt the remaining chocolate in the microwave, if necessary, then drizzle on top.

CHESTNUT ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE GRAND MARNIER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make ice cream:
• Finely chop chestnuts and cook with 1 1/4 cups milk at a bare simmer in a large heavy saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Purée in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids).
• Bring cream and remaining 1 3/4cups milk just to a simmer in heavy saucepan and remove from heat.
• Beat together yolks and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale and mixture forms a ribbon when beaters are lifted.
• Whisk 1/3 of hot cream mixture into yolk mixture to temper, then whisk yolk mixture into remaining cream mixture. 3Whisk in chestnut purée and salt, then add zest. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, just until mixture registers 170°F on an instant-read thermometer (do not boil).
• Immediately pour custard through a fine sieve into a clean metal bowl and stir in vanilla. Set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool custard, stirring occasionally. Chill, surface covered with waxed paper, until cold, at least 3 hours.
• Freeze custard in ice-cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Make sauce:
• Bring cream just to a simmer in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat and remove from heat. Add chocolate and butter, whisking until smooth. Whisk in Grand Marnier.
• Serve ice cream with sauce.

FRENCH CHESTNUT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put milk, chestnut puree and 3 oz of the sugar in a pan and bring to a boil over med. heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a bowl until a light ribbon consistency.
• Pour the boiling milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then pour the mixture back into the pan.
• Stir over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the custard lightly coats the back of the spoon. When you run your finger through it, it should leave a clear path on the spoon.
• Immediately take the pan off the heat and pour custard into a bowl.
• Add the rum now, if using.
• Cool over ice, stirring occasionally to prevent the formation of a skin.
• When cold, pass the custard through a fine strainer or a chinois into the ice cream maker and churn 10-15 minutes.
• Pour the cream into the ice cream maker, in a slow stream. Churn an additional 10 minutes. It is ready when firm but still creamy.
• Serve with the marrons glace on top, in small pieces, if desired, or with a drizzle of semi-sweet chocolate sauce, or just plain.