Claret Sauce Food

BEEF IN CLARET

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a frying pan until it is lightly brown.
• Add the onions and cook uncovered for roughly ten minutes.
• Then add the mushrooms, stir, cover and cook gently for a further ten minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 300F/150C/Gas Mark 2.
• Cut the stewing steak into cubes roughly 1½" square.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and brown the cubes of meat.
• Place in a casserole, add the garlic and sprinkle the flour over the meat.
• Place in the oven uncovered for 15 minutes to continue the browning process.
• Stir from time to time.
• Add the wine, light seasoning and herbs.
• Cover and simmer for 3 hours or until the meat is tender.
• Remove from the oven and stir in the trimmings.
• Heat for a further five minutes and serve with boiled potatoes sprinkled with chopped parsley.
• If you have another bottle of Burgundy or Beaujolais to drink with the meal- so much the better!

VALERIE'S SPUMONI

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9-by-5-inch aluminum loaf pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with plastic wrap on all sides, leaving a 2-inch overhang; the cooking spray will help the plastic stick directly to the sides of the pan.
• In a food processor, pulse the chocolate wafers until very fine, like sand. Add the chocolate sauce and pulse a few more times until the mixture comes together. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and firmly press into the bottom of the pan to create a crust. Freeze for 30 minutes to set.
• Meanwhile, remove the chocolate-chocolate chip gelato from the freezer to soften. After 30 minutes, remove the loaf pan from the freezer and spread the chocolate gelato over the crust; use a small offset or rubber spatula to spread the gelato into a flat, even layer. Return the loaf pan to the freezer for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, let the vanilla bean gelato soften at room temperature.
• When the vanilla gelato has softened, transfer it to a bowl and stir in the sliced Amarena cherries, the Amarena syrup and the red food coloring if using. Mix until the cherries are evenly dispersed and the food coloring is completely incorporated. Remove the loaf pan from the freezer and evenly spread the cherry gelato over the chocolate gelato. Place back in the freezer for at least 1 hour more; it takes longer for the cherry layer to set.
• Thirty minutes before the cherry layer is set, remove the pistachio gelato from the freezer to soften. When softened, spread in an even layer over the cherry gelato; the pistachio layer should come up nearly to the top of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap from the top of the pan and invert the spumoni onto a cutting board. Gently lift the loaf pan away and remove the remaining plastic wrap. Slice the spumoni into 3/4-inch slices, using a chef's knife dipped in warm water; dip the knife in the warm water between each slice. Serve immediately.

HOT CLARET WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In an enamel saucepan, combine the claret, sugar, clove-studded strips of lemon peel, and the cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture just to the boiling point over low heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar, and strain it. Stir in the lemon juice.
• Pour the wine into eight 10-ounce heat-proof mugs, rinsed first with boiling water, and garnish each drink with a lemon slice.

CLARET CUP

Steps:

• Stir ingredients, except soda, with ice and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with soda and garnish with cucumber and orange slices in the glass.

CLARET LEMONADE

Steps:

• Combine lemon juice and sugar in a tall collins glass and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add ice, pour in claret, and garnish with lemon slice. Serve with a straw.

SPUMONI ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Remove the lid from the cherry ice cream and let sit at room temperature until the ice cream softens to the consistency of thick cake batter, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the lids from the pistachio and chocolate ice creams and let soften in the refrigerator until the ice creams are softened to the consistency of thick cake batter, 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the ice creams soften, cover the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with one layer of whole amaretti cookies, flat sides down. Put the remaining amaretti in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a heavy pan. Line another 9-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap, leaving a few inches of overhang. Add the crushed cookies and set aside until Step 4.
• On top of the whole cookies in the springform pan, spread the softened cherry ice cream in an even layer. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove air pockets. Distribute the maraschino cherries over the cherry ice cream, saving a handful for the top of the cake. Spread the softened pistachio ice cream in an even layer on top of the cherries. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove air pockets. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 2 hours or up to 1 week. (If at any point the ice cream is melting to liquid, pop the cake and ice creams in the freezer to firm to a spoonable consistency.)
• Immediately after placing the cherry and pistachio layers in the freezer, prepare the chocolate layer: Shake to distribute the cookie crumbs evenly in the cake pan. Spread the softened chocolate ice cream in an even layer over the cookies. Press down as you go to adhere the ice cream to the cookies, then tap the pan on the counter to remove air pockets. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 2 hours or up to 1 week.
• Run a knife around the cake in the springform pan, then unmold the springform and transfer the cake to a serving plate. Use the plastic wrap overhang to remove the chocolate ice cream out of the cake pan. Invert the layer onto the pistachio ice cream so the crushed cookies are on top (do not remove the plastic wrap). Freeze until set, about 4 hours or overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, whip the cream with the sugar and salt until stiff peaks form. Remove the cake from the freezer and remove the plastic wrap from the cake. Working quickly, with a spoon or offset spatula, frost the sides and top of the cake with the whipped cream, then decorate with sprinkles and the reserved maraschino cherries. Serve right away. (If you find the cake too solid to cut, run your knife under hot water before slicing and wipe it dry between cuts. Also remember that the first piece is always the trickiest to get out.)

SPUMONI

Steps:

• Evenly layer softened chocolate ice cream into a 9x5x3 in loaf pan. Smooth the surface. Cover and freeze until firm.
• Repeat with pistachio ice cream.
• Combine vanilla ice cream with cherries, nuts and flavoring, mixing well. Even spoon over pistachio layer. Cover and freeze until firm.
• Spread raspberry sherbet over vanilla layer. Smooth the surface. Cover with foil and freeze at least 6 hrs or overnight.
• Run dinner knife around edges of mold. Dip bottom of mold quickly into hot water, place well-chilled serving platter over mold and invert.
• Garnish as desired with cherries, macaroon crumbs or nuts. Slice Spumoni with a knife dipped into hot water.

QUICK RED-WINE DESSERT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine wine, sugar, and cinnamon stick; cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil; cook until mixture is syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.