Coffee Pecan Meringue Ice Cream Sandwiches Food

CANDIED BACON AND PECAN MERINGUE TART WITH COFFEE FROZEN CUSTARD

Steps:

• For the coffee frozen custard: Roughly chop the coffee beans and add to a pot, along with the milk. Heat until steaming.
• Whisk the egg yolks, whole egg and sugar until lightened, about 30 seconds. Temper the eggs by slowly whisking in some of the hot milk. Add back to the saucepan and heat to 170 degrees F on a thermometer, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream, vanilla and espresso powder. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, then cool in an ice bath.
• Transfer the frozen custard base to an ice cream maker, churn according to manufacturer's instructions and then freeze until firm.
• For the pate brisee: Combine the pastry flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse to mix. Add the butter and pulse until blended and the mixture looks like sand. Drizzle in the eggs, 4 teaspoons water, and vanilla; process just until a dough comes together.
• Transfer the dough to the counter and shape into two 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Cook the bacon until crispy, though not burned. Drain on paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat, leaving the remaining fat in the pan.
• Roughly chop the pecans and add them to the bacon skillet, along with the brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook over high heat until the sugar melts. Reserve in a bowl.
• Cream together butter, reserved bacon fat, white sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in the vanilla and orange zest.
• Add the eggs in 3 additions, scraping the bowl in between. Blend well.
• Add the light corn syrup and dark corn syrup; blend until smooth. Reserve.
• Par-bake the tart shell: Roll out lemon-size pieces of pate brisee to a 1/4-inch thickness. Place over nine 4-inch tart pans and gently press in.
• Roll the pin over the tart pans to cut away excess dough, then prick the dough with a fork. Place the tart pans on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the foil over each tart and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Pre-bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tart shells are lightly browned. Remove the pie weights and foil. Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
• Finish the tart: Place enough pecans in each tart shell to fill them level, then crumble over some bacon. Pour the filling into the tart shells, filling up to the edge.
• Bake the tarts for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake for another 20 minutes. Let cool.
• For the meringue: With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until foamy. Slowly add the sugar and then the vanilla; whip to a medium peaks. Transfer to a pastry bag.
• Pipe a rosette of meringue onto each tart, then toast with a kitchen torch.
• Serve the tarts with a scoop of the coffee frozen custard.

COFFEE-PECAN MERINGUE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with foil; butter and flour foil. Combine 1 cup pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon and salt in processor; grind finely. Add 1 1/2 ounces (about 1/4 cup) chocolate and 1 cup nuts and process just until pecans are coarsely chopped, using about 10 on/off turns.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup brown sugar, beating until mixture is very stiff, about 4 minutes. Fold in nut mixture and instant coffee (crystals will not dissolve).
• Drop batter by scant tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing evenly. Lightly press pecan half onto each cookie. Bake until meringues are dry, about 55 minutes. Cool completely on sheets.
• Place 1 tablespoon ice cream on bottom side of 1 meringue. Gently press bottom side of another meringue onto ice cream. Place on baking sheet; freeze. Repeat with remaining meringues and ice cream. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Melt 3 ounces chocolate in top on double boiler set over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over sandwiches. Cover and freeze. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)

COFFEE ICE CREAM WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• Heat the milk and sugar to the boiling point. Remove from the heat and sprinkle on the coffee.Let stand for 2 minutes, then stir, cover and cool.
• In a heatproof bowl, beat the egg and extra yolks until the mixture is thick and pale.
• Strain coffee mixture into a pan, heat to the boiling point, then pour onto the eggs in a steady stream, beating hard all the time.
• Set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and stir until it thickens. Cool, then chill in the fridge.
• Whip the cream with the sugar. Fold it into the coffee custard and freeze in a covered container. Beat twice at hourly intervals, then let freeze until firm.
• To caramelize the pecans, preheat the oven to 350°F Spread the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Put them into the oven for 10-15 minutes to toast, until they release their fragrance.
• On the top of the stove dissolve the brown sugar in 2 tablespoons water in a heavy pan, shaking it around over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup clears.
• When the syrup begins to bubble, add the toasted pecans and cook for a minute or two over medium heat until the syrup coats and clings to the nuts.
• Spread the nuts on a lightly greased baking sheet, separating them with the tip of a knife, and let cool. Store when cold in an airtight tin if they are not to be used the same day.
• Transfer the ice cream from the freezer to the fridge 30 minutes before serving. Serve with caramelized pecans.

PECAN MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
• Beat egg white until stiff. Add brown sugar to egg white and beat until smooth. Fold pecans into mixture, using a large wooden spoon and stir until nuts are well coated. Drop by spoon onto un-greased cookie sheets. (About 2 pecan halves per spoonful).
• Bake until golden brown and meringue is completely dry - about 1 hour.