Chocolate Crostatas With Marmalade Food

CHOCOLATE CROSTATA

Steps:

• I love this because the crust is crunchy and buttery and it goes so well with the tartness of the chocolate.
• Ganache: In a small pot, over low heat, heat the cream with the cinnamon and orange zest. Use the pot of cream as the bottom of a double boiler and melt the chocolate, in a bowl, over the cream. When the chocolate has melted and the cream is heated, transfer the cream to a bowl and allow the chocolate and cream to cool slightly and separately. When somewhat warm, whisk the cream and the chocolate together to combine. Put the ganache in the refrigerator to cool.
• Crostata: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Pulse the mixture to blend. Add the butter and continue pulsing to integrate and give the dough the consistency of a "gravel driveway."
• With the processor running, pour 2 tablespoons of ice water through the hole in the top of the machine and process until the dough looks like wet sand, adding more water if necessary, until it finally gathers into a ball.
• Remove the dough from the food processor and flatten it between 2 pieces of floured parchment paper on a baking sheet. Chill and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out 8 (5 1/2-inch) circles. Make sure you lightly flour under and over the dough as you roll it.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush any excess flour off the dough before putting a spoonful of the cooled ganache in the center of each circle. Fold the sides up around it, making the chocolate the center of a small "money purse." Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter. Put any remaining ganache in the cavities of the crostada. Serve immediately with sour cream, whipped cream, or ice cream, if desired. Sift some powdered sugar over the crostata and garnish with a pinch of ground cloves, if desired.

BRUSCHETTA WITH RICOTTA AND MARMALADE

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the bread until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Spread 2 tablespoons of ricotta over each piece of toast. Spoon 1 tablespoon of marmalade over the ricotta, and serve.;

APPLE CROSTATAS

Steps:

• To make the crust: Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a processor. Add the butter. Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the ice water and pulse until moist clumps form. Gather the dough into a ball; flatten into a disk. (If the dough still crumbles and does not form into a ball, add another tablespoon of ice water.) Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• For the filling: Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the apples, 1/4 cup of sugar, and lemon juice in large bowl; toss gently to blend. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, dust a large sheet of parchment paper with flour and roll out the dough on the paper to an 11-inch round. Transfer the dough on the parchment paper to a heavy large baking sheet. Spoon the apple mixture over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, leaving the apples exposed in the center. Pleat loosely and pinch the dough to seal any cracks. Brush the crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.
• Bake the crostata until the crust is golden and the apples are tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack; cool for 10 minutes. Slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the crostata from the baking sheet. Cool the crostata to lukewarm. Sprinkle with the almonds and serve.