Drunken Cherries With Mascarpone Cream Food

DRUNKEN CHERRIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine all ingredients; stir until well mixed and sugar is dissolved.
• Ladle mixture into one 24 oz. (1-1/2 pints) glass jar; store, tightly covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 week.

DRUNKEN CHERRIES WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together brandy and 1/4 cup sugar until sugar is mostly dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, fennel seeds, and pepper; whisk to combine. Add lemon zest and cherries and stir until combined. Refrigerate, covered, 24 hours (or up to 3 days), stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl, whisk mascarpone until loose and shiny, about 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream and 2 teaspoons sugar on high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Whisk in vanilla. Fold mascarpone into whipped cream until well combined. Divide cherries and liquid among 4 plates. Serve with mascarpone cream and biscotti.

CREPES WITH MASCARPONE AND CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the mascarpone, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Set aside. If making more than 2 hours ahead reserve in the refrigerator but let come to room temperature before serving. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cherries, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, lemon zest and juice and a splash of water. Cook until the cherries have let off their juice and the flavor has concentrated, about 10 to 12 minutes. When done the cherries should be very sweet and the juice should be syrupy.
• To assemble:
• Schmear some of the mascarpone/chocolate mixture, about 1/4-inch thick, onto the lower half of a crepe. Fold the top half over the bottom to create a perfect half circle and press to secure. Fold the crepe in half again, to create a loose triangle. Repeat this process with remaining 7 crepes. To serve, arrange 2 triangles on each serving plate and spoon the stewed cherries over the tops.
• Batter: In a mixing bowl, add the flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the eggs, milk, club soda and 3 tablespoons of melted butter into the center of the well and whisk together until just combined. The mixture should be like VERY loose pancake batter. If the mixture is a little thick, whisk in a little more milk. Let the batter sit for at least 30 minutes before using.
• Crepes:
• Melt about a 1/2 teaspoon of butter in a small nonstick saute pan. The butter should coat the bottom of the pan, if there is a lot of excess, wipe it out with a paper towel. Keep the paper towel handy in case you need it again (you will).
• Put the pan over medium heat. Fill a 2-ounce ladle, almost to the top, with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, tipping and rolling the pan, as you ladle the batter, to evenly cover the bottom. This will take a little practice, even when you are an experienced crepe maker the first couple always get wasted. Accept it and move on.
• When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, turn the crepe over and cook it for about 1 minute on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan to a plate and let cool. Stack the crepes as they are cooked between parchment paper squares. Repeat this process, until all the batter is used, wiping the pan with your paper towel or melting a little more butter to the pan, as needed.

BAKED CRISP WITH FIVE SPICED APPLES, PEARS, DRUNKEN PRUNES, AND MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small pot over low heat, add the prunes and wine. Bring to a simmer and then remove from the heat and let steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Plating: Remove the cobbler dishes from the oven and serve hot topped with mascarpone cream.
• In a medium bowl, combine the apples and pears with the lemon juice. Using another small bowl, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, five-spice powder, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Add the dry mixture to the apples and pears and toss until coated. Pour the prune and sugar mixture into the fruit and toss again.
• Coat the cobbler dishes with butter and generously fill with the fruit mixture (it will shrink down as it bakes). Top each serving with 1/4 cup oat crisp topping and bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until the fruit is tender and topping is golden and crunchy. In a small bowl, mix the mascarpone with the chopped lemon zest. Reserve in the fridge.
• In a food processor, combine the oats, butter, flour, and both sugars and blend just until crumbly. Be careful not to over-process, as the mixture will become pasty.

MACERATED SOUR CHERRIES AND MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, mix cherries, lemon verbena, sugar, mace and wine. Cover tightly, and macerate at least 24 hours.
• Strain and set aside cherries, reserving juice. Remove lemon verbena leaves from strainer, and add to juice.
• Put juice in blender, and blend it fine. Strain through medium strainer, pressing to extract all liquid. Pour juice over cherries, reserving 1/4 cup.
• In small bowl, soften cheese with spatula; slowly stir in reserved juice until mixture is smooth.
• Combine cream and sugar in another bowl, and beat until soft peaks form. Fold cream into mascarpone.
• To serve, divide mascarpone into 4 bowls. Pour cherries and juice over cheese. Top each serving with pinch of mace.