Churros With Dulce De Leche Ganache Food

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• For the stovetop method: Remove the label from the can of sweetened condensed milk. Place 3 to 4 forks upside down on the bottom of a large 6- to 8-quart pot. Place the unopened can on top of the forks and cover with water by a few inches. (The forks help to prevent a vacuum between the bottom of the can and the pot.) Place the pot over high heat until it reaches a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low or low to maintain a steady simmer for about 3 hours. Add more water to the pot if necessary to ensure that the can is submerged at all times. Let the can cool to room temperature in the water before removing. Open the can and scoop out the contents. The dulce de leche should be dark and caramelized.
• For the oven method: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a shallow baking dish in a roasting pan. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until the dulce de leche is dark and caramelized, 60 to 75 minutes, checking the water level occasionally and adding more if needed. Let cool, then whisk until smooth.
• Transfer the dulce de leche to an airtight container, put plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour over the chocolate, let sit for 2 or 3 minutes, then whisk until smooth and shiny. Cool slightly. Whisk in the liqueur, if using.
• One at a time, dip fruit, dried fruit, candied citrus peel, and crystallized ginger halfway into the warm ganache to cover by half. Place on a wire rack with parchment, wax paper, or foil underneath. Let stand until chocolate has dried.
• To make truffles, let ganache cool completely in the refrigerator until hard. Scoop small balls of the hardened ganache and shape by hand. Roll truffles in the cocoa powder to coat. ;

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds in a large, 4-quart saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the baking soda and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered at a bare simmer. Stir occasionally, but do not re-incorporate the foam that appears on the top of the mixture. Continue to cook for 1 hour. Remove the vanilla bean after 1 hour and continue to cook until the mixture is a dark caramel color and has reduced to about 1 cup, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small pot until hot, then pour over the chocolate. Let sit for a few minutes. Whisk until blended and smooth.

DULCE DE LECHE CHURRO TOTS WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Place 1 1/4 cups water, butter, brown sugar and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball and smells like toasted flour. Transfer to the bowl of a mixer and paddle the dough while adding the eggs one at a time, allowing machine to incorporate each egg before the next addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl often, and then add the vanilla. Lastly, add the dulce de leche and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a container and refrigerate until ready to fry.
• Heat vegetable oil for frying in a pot. Place the churro batter in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tube. When the oil is 375 degrees F, drop 2-inch-long churros from the pastry bag into the oil and fry until well browned and floating, about 4 minutes. Centers will still be a tiny bit gooey because of the dulce de leche in the batter. Remove the churros to a paper-lined plate. Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon and toss with the hot churros.
• To serve, place the churro tots on a small plate or in a shallow bowl accompanied by a dollop of Whipped Cream for dipping.
• Combine the milk, sugar and baking soda in a large, heavy saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the mixture becomes a caramel color and is thick enough that you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir, 45 minutes to an hour. By volume it should be reduced to about 1 cup. Cool to room temperature and use immediately, or store in refrigerator until ready to use.
• Combine the cream and sugar in a cold mixing bowl and whip until stiff peaks form.