Chocolate Silk Napoleon With Vanilla Anglaise And Caramel Dipped Pecans Food

MINI CHOCOLATE DIPPED CARAMEL APPLES WITH VANILLA SWIRLS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Remove the stem from each apple and press a wooden stick into the top. Put the caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 4 minutes, stirring once. Add more time in 30 second increments, if needed.
• Roll each apple quickly in the caramel sauce until well coated and shake to remove the excess. Arrange on the baking sheet to set. Cool for 30 minutes.
• Melt the chocolate candy melts in a double boiler. Dip the cooled apples into the chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Cool for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Fill a microwavable squeeze bottle halfway with colored vanilla flavored candy melts and microwave it in 30 second increments, squeezing the bottle to distribute the heat. Drizzle on the cooled apples and decorate with a bow when completed.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Melt 3-1/2 oz. chocolate as directed on package; cool.
• Beat pudding mix, milk, coffee concentrate and vanilla in medium bowl with mixer 2 min. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cut pastry sheet crosswise into 3 rectangles; place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet. Prick all over with fork; cover with additional parchment paper, then second baking sheet. Bake 15 min.
• Uncover pastry pieces; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake additional 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown. Cool 15 min.
• Stack pastry pieces on serving plate, filling layers with pudding mixture. Gently press down on top of Napoleon to secure.
• Whisk powdered sugar and water until blended; spread onto top of Napoleon. Melt remaining chocolate; pour into resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one bottom corner off of bag; use to pipe chocolate into 3 lengthwise lines on top of Napoleon. Drag toothpick crosswise over chocolate lines. Wipe toothpick clean, then drag, in opposite direction, across chocolate lines next to first swirled lines. Repeat until chocolate is evenly swirled on top of Napoleon to resemble photo. Refrigerate 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; butter the foil with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle with pecans and chocolate chips; set aside. , In a heavy saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Cool completely before cutting.

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED PECANS AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pecans, preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Mix the sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg-white mixture to coat well. Drain, then toss in the sugar mixture. Grease a baking sheet and spread the pecans on it. Bake until dry, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Pulse the pecans and sugar together in a food processor until ground. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough out on a work surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Brush with butter and sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons of the ground pecan mixture. Top with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter and sprinkle with pecans. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
• Trim the phyllo layers to make a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 16 4-by-3-inch rectangles. Divide between the baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, butter and pecan mixture. Set the pastries aside; you'll have extra.
• To make the sauce, place the sugar in a medium saucepan and stir in the water. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully add the cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until all the caramel is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth and hot.
• The napoleons can be prepared ahead up to this point. Reheat the caramel sauce and the pumpkin filling. To assemble, spread the mascarpone over 8 of the pastries, using about 2 tablespoons for each. Top with another pastry and spread with about 1/4 cup of the pumpkin mixture. Top with another pastry.
• Coat 8 plates with caramel sauce. Top with the napoleons and scatter the sugared pecans around them. Serve immediately.

CARAMEL PECAN SILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• Mousse:.
• Prepare mousse the day before.
• Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl and let stand 1 minute to soften.
• Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved and mixture is clear.
• Cool for two minutes.
• In medium size mixing bowl, stir together sugar and cocoa.
• Add whipping cream and vanilla.
• With hand mixer, beat (medium speed) until stiff.
• Pour in gelatin mixture and beat until well blended.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Makes about 1 cup.
• Thick Caramel Sauce:.
• Heat water, sugar, corn syrup and lemon juice on high heat in a heavy-bottomed 2 or 3 quart saucepan.
• When sugar starts to melt, stir constantly with a whisk.
• As soon as all of the sugar crystals have melted (the liquid will be dark amber in color), add the butter to the pan (the mixture will foam up considerably).
• Continue to whisk briskly until the butter has melted, then remove from heat.
• Add the cream to the pan (the mixture will foam up considerably), and then the salt and continue to whisk until sauce is smooth.
• Let cool in the pan for a couple minutes, and then pour into a glass mason jar and let sit to cool to room temperature.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Crust:.
• Melt butter.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and nutmeg.
• Press into a 9 inch pie plate or 8 inch square cake pan.
• Chill in refrigerator 2 hours before filling.
• Filling:.
• Allow cream cheese to soften.
• Beat cream cheese, sour cream and lemon juice together and slowly beat in powdered sugar.
• Lightly toast pecans, stir into caramel and pour into bottom of crust.
• Gently spread cream cheese mix over the caramel.
• Gently spread mousse over cream cheese.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Serve.