Chocolate Ginger Praline Bombe Food

CHOCOLATE-TOPPED PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and have a tablespoon-sized cookie scooper ready.
• Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, butter and baking soda to a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally, until the sugars are dissolved and the mixture begins to boil. Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pot and continue to cook until the mixture reaches between 235 to 240 degrees F. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Add the pecans, vanilla and salt and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the candy begins to dull and the mixture starts to thicken, about 4 minutes. Working quickly, drop heaping tablespoon-sized mounds with the cookie scooper onto the prepared baking sheet (see Cook's Note). Cool completely until set and the pralines have reached room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Add the chocolate chips to a heat-resistant metal or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water and stir until completely melted. Remove bowl from the heat. Using a spoon, add a dollop of chocolate on the top of each of the praline mounds and use the back of the spoon to spread slightly and create a swirl in the chocolate. Sprinkle with the flaked sea salt, if using. Let cool completely until set (see Cook's Note). Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator with wax paper between the layers of pralines.

BROWNIE BOMBE

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl and mix until well combined; set aside.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler, then whisk together until fully combined. Pour the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined. Fold in the flour and cocoa.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the bombe: Using a 4-inch ring cutter, cut a round from the baking sheet of brownies. Slice the remaining brownies into approximately 3-by-4-inch rectangles. You should have 10 rectangles. Keep 5 rectangles as they are and cut the other 5 in half to make triangles.
• Line a 2 1/2-quart (about 9 inches across) freezer-safe bowl with plastic wrap. Place the brownie round in the bottom of the bowl and, alternating between the rectangles and triangles, fill the sides of the bowl. Press the brownie pieces into the bowl so that the interior of the bowl is lined with brownies. Break off any excess that extends above the edge of the bowl. Make sure to press the seams together so there are no cracks. Break the remaining brownie pieces into small crumbles and reserve.
• Wrap a 5-inch freezer-safe bowl in plastic wrap from the bottom, combining the loose ends of the plastic wrap at the top.
• Spread the softened ice cream inside the large bowl over the brownie layer. You should have about a 2-inch-thick layer of ice cream. Place the 5-inch bowl inside the ice cream layer, pushing it into the ice cream slightly to create a well. Cover the top with plastic wrap and freeze until the ice cream is firm, about 2 hours.
• In a large chilled bowl, combine the heavy cream, granulated sugar and cocoa. Whip the cream with a whisk or electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and remove the small bowl. Pour the hot fudge into the well, then fill with the whipped cream. Combine the reserved brownie crumbles and walnuts and sprinkle over the top of the bombe. Cover with plastic wrap and push down to press the brownie crumbles into the bombe. Freeze until the whipped cream is frozen, about 2 hours.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and place the bowl side into a large bowl of hot water for 1 minute. Remove the plastic wrap. Invert the bombe onto a large platter or plate. Remove the glass bowl and plastic wrap. Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Slice and serve.

CHOCOLATE, GINGER & PRALINE BOMBE

Steps:

• Take a large food bag, cut down one side and along the base, then open out. Use to line a 1-litre pudding basin. Tip the contents of the jar of conserve into a large bowl, then stir to break it down. Using a large sharp knife, shave 50g of the chocolate into shards, then reserve. Measure 450ml of the cream into a bowl, then whip until it just holds its shape. Fold the cream into the ginger conserve using a large spoon until the cream is evenly flecked with ginger, then gently fold in the shaved chocolate.
• Spoon the cream mixture into the lined bowl and smooth the top. Freeze for at least 4 hrs, or overnight is better, until the ice cream is firm. Line a wooden board with foil, then lightly oil the foil. Tip the sugar into a heavy based pan, then gently heat, without stirring, until the sugar is melted and a golden caramel. You can swirl the pan gently to help it melt evenly if necessary. Remove from the heat, then stir in the almonds. Tip onto the foil, spread out with the back of an oiled metal spoon, then leave to set.
• Pour the reserved cream into a small pan. Break up the remaining chocolate, then add to the pan, stirring over a low heat until the chocolate has dissolved. Set aside to cool and thicken.
• When the almond caramel has set, break it up into small pieces using a rolling pin. You are aiming for a mix of larger and smaller pieces.
• When the chocolate sauce has cooled and is thick enough for spreading, turn the ice-cream bombe out onto a serving plate, remove the bowl, then peel off the plastic. Spread the chocolate over the top and sides of the bombe as evenly as possible. Add more as the first layer starts to set until you have used it all up. Scatter over the almond caramel, then return to the freezer until firm. To store the bombe, wrap in freezer film until ready to serve.
• To serve, transfer the bombe to the fridge 45 mins before serving. Dust with a little icing sugar and cut into thick wedges.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE SPIDER BONBONS

Steps:

• For the molds: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate. Temper the milk chocolate by melting it first and allowing it cool to about 82 degrees F. Reheat the chocolate to about 88 degrees F for use. Prepare 2 trays of chocolate hemisphere molds (32 pieces per mold) with tempered melted milk chocolate by coating the insides of the mold with a layer of the milk chocolate. Allow to set. Reserve extra tempered chocolate.
• For the praline butter: In a small saucepot over low heat, heat the fondant and invert sugar until soft. In a separate small saucepot over low heat, melt the chocolate. Combine the fondant, melted chocolate, praline, and butter in a separate bowl and mix with an immersion blender until smooth. Place in a piping bag without a tip.
• Using the pastry bag, fill the prepared chocolate hemisphere molds with the praline butter until each mold is about 3/4 full. Cover the praline butter-filled mold with more tempered milk chocolate to seal the bonbon. Scrape the top to remove excess chocolate. Let rest at room temperature until set, 2 to 3 hours.
• Carefully unmold. For the legs, place the remaining tempered milk chocolate in a piping bag and pipe 2-inch lines on strips of parchment paper, cut 3 inches by 6-inches, and curl the paper slightly to create an arc. Hold the shape by placing the paper between 2 sturdy objects, like 2 books. Let the chocolate set. Take each leg and adhere to the unmolded chocolate bonbon with a little additional tempered milk chocolate. Each chocolate mold requires 8 legs.

CHOCOLATE & GINGER TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3-4. Butter and line a 23cm round springform tin with a disc of buttered baking parchment. Lightly dust the inside of the tin with cocoa and tip out excess.
• Put the chocolate and butter into a medium-size heatproof bowl, add the ginger wine and set the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Tip both the sugars into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer and add the egg yolks. Whisk until pale and light. Pour the melted chocolate and butter into the yolks and stir until smooth. With another large, spotlessly clean bowl and whisk, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they just hold a stiff peak.
• Sift the almonds and ginger into the chocolate mixture and fold in using a large metal spoon. Add one-third of the egg whites and stir in to loosen the mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites until combined.
• Spoon half the mixture into the prepared tin and gently spread level using a palette knife. Gently warm the ginger preserve until it's just spreadable and carefully spoon onto the cake in small dollops. Spoon over the remaining chocolate mixture, spread level and bake just below the middle shelf of the oven for 50 mins-1 hr until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out with a moist crumb attached. Allow the cake to cool in the tin and don't be dismayed if the top sinks and cracks.
• To make the ganache icing, tip the chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Then add the cream, butter and ginger wine. Set the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and stir until melted and velvety smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Carefully run a palette knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it, then put on a serving plate. Spread the ganache over the top, and leave to set before serving.

GANACHE, SOFT FILLING FOR CHOCOLATES ETC...

Steps:

• To make chocolate cases: melt 200g ( 7 oz) chocolate over a pan of warm water, do not overheat, when three quarters of it is melted, remove from heat and stir vigorously, this should distribute the heat and melt the remaining chocolate without it getting too hot and going "grainy".
• Take a small teaspoon of melted chocolate and " paint" the inside of your mini muffin paper or the insides of your silicone ice block forms. If coverage is a bit skimpy don't panic. these set in the fridge in minutes and a second coat is easier and works better than trying to get one very thick coat. Put them in the fridge to harden. Reserve enough of your chocolate to cover the bottom of your forms once they have been filled with the ganache filling.
• Put butter and cream in a saucepan and bring to boil, stirring all the time.
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and liqueur.
• Stir well until smooth (heat of mixture will melt chocolate) leave to cool a little, then let cool.
• Use as soft filling for chocolates and tartes.
• This does thicken up over time, and good chocolate is never refrigerated, just kept in a cool dry place. If these are refrigerated the filling gets very firm over time.
• By now your ganache filling mixture should be cool enough to put into the chocolate cases, using a piping bag or a teaspoon, fill them with the ganache, (but not quite to the very top of the chocolate case) Then put them back into the fridge for a while, and once set a little solid, put a "top" of melted chocolate on them to seal them closed and refrigerate until the top too is solid. I like to keep these in the fridge for a least a few hours or somewhere nice and cool overnight before I try and get them out of the forms.
• If using mini muffin papers, peel away the papers from the chocolates (this can be fiddly, don't press too hard as you peel them or your chocolate will break), If using the silicone ice cube forms, GENTLY easy the chocolates out of the forms, they will just pop out -- plate up and amaze your guests with these divine triumphs !

MACADAMIA NUT AND BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE ICE-CREAM BOMBE WITH MACADAMIA NUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Make the macadamia nut ice cream:
• In a heavy skillet melt the butter over moderate heat and in it cook the macadamia nuts, stirring, until they are light golden. Transfer the nuts with a slotted spoon to a small bowl, reserving the butter, and let them cool. In a large metal bowl whisk together the eggs, the sugars, the cream, the milk, the salt, and the reserved melted butter, transfer the mixture to a large saucepan, and cook it over moderately low heat, stirring until it registers 175°F. on a candy thermometer. Return the mixture to the metal bowl, cleaned, and chill it until it is cold. Freeze the mixture in an ice-cream freezer according the manufacturer's instructions, adding the macadamia nuts, patted dry, when it is frozen partially. Makes about 1 quart.
• Make the ganache:
• In a saucepan combine the chocolate and the cream, bring the cream just to a boil, stirring, and remove the pan from the heat. Stir the mixture until it is smooth and stir in the Kahlúa. Transfer the ganache to a metal bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
• Make the chocolate ice cream:
• In a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water melt the chocolate, stirring, until it is smooth. In a large saucepan whisk together the melted chocolate, the cream, the milk, the eggs, the sugar, and a pinch of salt and cook the mixture over moderately low heat, stirring, until it registers 175°:F. on a candy thermometer. Stir in the vanilla and stir the mixture until it is combined well. Chill the mixture, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until it is cold. Freeze the mixture in an ice-cream freezer according the manufacturer's instructions. Makes about 1 quart.
• Make the macadamia nut praline:
• In a heavy saucepan combine the sugar with 1/3 cup water, bring the mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring and washing down any sugar crystals clinging to the side of the pan with a brush dipped in cold water until the sugar is dissolved, and cook the syrup, swirling the pan gently, until it turns pale golden. Stir in the macadamia nuts, return the syrup to a boil, and boil the mixture until the syrup is golden. Pour the praline immediately onto an oiled baking sheet and let it cool completely. Break the praline into pieces and in a food processor grind it fine in batches .
• Line a lightly oiled 2-quart steamed-pudding mold, including the center stem, or a 2-quart metal bowl with plastic wrap, into it pack the macadamia nut ice cream, and spread the ganache over the top. Freeze the mold for 5 minutes, or until the ganache is set. Pack the bittersweet chocolate ice cream into the mold, cover the mold with the lid or plastic wrap, and freeze the bombe for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days.
• In a heavy saucepan combine the sugar with 1/3 cup water, bring the mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring and washing down any sugar crystals clinging to the side of the pan with a brush dipped in cold water until the sugar is dissolved, and cook the syrup, swirling the pan gently, until it turns pale golden. Pour the mixture immediately onto an oiled baking sheet and let it cool completely. Break the sugar candy into small pieces.
• To unmold the bombe, dip the mold several times into a bowl of warm water, run a long thin knife around the outer rim of the mold and the rim of the center stem, and invert the bombe onto a platter, Coat the bombe with the ground macadamia nut praline.The bombe may be made 3 hours in advance and dept frozen. Garnish the top of the bombe and the platter with the sugar-candy.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE

Steps:

• Melt butter, sugar, cocoa powder and syrup in a large bowl. Add crushed biscuits and sultanas and stir well.
• Spead mixture onto a baking sheet so it is about 1.5cm thick. Allow to cool 15 mins.
• Melt chocolate and spread over top. Allow to cool 45 mins and cut into small (3cm) squares.