Dulce De Leche And Banana Smoothie 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.

DULCE AND BANANA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Fit a large pastry bag with a 1/2 -inch round tip.
• Combine the butter, granulated sugar, salt and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; sift the flour into the saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon to make a paste. Return to medium heat and stir until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan and is slightly shiny, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until slightly cooled, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the whole eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth before adding the next.
• Transfer the dough to the pastry bag. Pipe 1-inch mounds of dough 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Smooth the tops with a damp fingertip. Beat the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water; brush on the dough mounds. Bake 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking until the puffs are golden brown and crisp, about 25 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, beat the heavy cream and the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form; refrigerate until ready to assemble. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted.
• Cut the puffs in half crosswise with a serrated knife; sandwich with the sliced bananas, dulce de leche and whipped cream. Drizzle the puffs with the melted chocolate and more dulce de leche.

DULCE DE LECHE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Finely grind the hazelnuts in a food processor. Spread on a baking sheet; bake until golden, 12 minutes.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, 1/3 cup of the ground hazelnuts, the baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolks, liqueur and vanilla; beat until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Turn onto a sheet of plastic wrap; shape into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Dust the dough with flour and roll out into a 6-by-12-inch rectangle (1/4 inch thick) on a floured surface. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares; arrange 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheets. Cut out circles from the middle of half of the squares using a small cutter. Refrigerate until firm, 15 minutes.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden on the bottom, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Stir together the dulce de leche and the remaining ground hazelnuts. Sandwich between the plain and cut-out cookies. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

DULCE DE LECHE BANANA CREAM PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Place the Maria crackers in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Add the peanuts and salt to the crumb mixture and process until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until combined. Transfer the crust mixture into a 9 1/2-inch diameter glass pie dish, pressing and forming the crust evenly across the bottom and up the sides. Refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes to solidify the butter.
• For the cream filling: Using a hand-held mixer, whip the cream cheese and butter at medium speed until fluffy with minimal lumps. Add the powdered sugar and cinnamon, whipping at low speed until just combined and being careful not to curdle the butter. Add the cream and whip to soft peaks.
• To assemble the pie: Spread the dulce de leche on top of the chilled crust. Top with the sliced bananas, forming 2 layers if necessary. Pour the whipped cream on top and spread evenly to completely cover the banana layer. Refrigerate and chill until set, about 2 hours.
• To serve, top the pie with a 1-inch border of the remaining chopped peanuts. Warm the remaining dulce de leche in the microwave or on the stovetop until melted. Drizzle the dulce de leche on top of the pie and serve.

HOMEMADE DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Classic menthod:
• Stir together 4 cups milk, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and thickened, about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. (After about an hour, stir more often as milk caramelizes, to avoid burning.) Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
• Sweetened condensed milk method:
• Heat oven to 425°F with rack in middle. Pour the contents of 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate and cover tightly with foil. Set plate in a roasting pan and add enough hot water to pan to reach halfway up pie plate. Bake milk in middle of oven 45 minutes. Check water level and add additional, if necessary, then continue to bake 45 minutes more, or until milk is thick and brown. Remove pie plate from water bath and cool, uncovered. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.