Fresh Lemon Mousse Ina Garten Food

FRESH LEMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• Juice and grate the zest from the lemons.
• Combine the egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat until thickened.
• Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Pour into a double boiler and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened, whisking constantly. Let stand until cool.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a chilled mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into the lemon mixture. Chill for 2 hours.
• Beat the whipping cream in a chilled mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Fold into lemon mixture. Chill until serving time.
• To serve, spoon the mousse into individual dessert bowls.

FROZEN MOCHA MOUSSE

Steps:

• Break 3 ounces of the chocolate into pieces and place the pieces in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk in the coffee liqueur, water and espresso granules and heat the mixture until the chocolate just melts. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Place the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, until the mixture is the texture of mayonnaise. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla, and slowly pour in the cooled chocolate mixture.
• Put the egg whites and salt in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the whites form soft (not dry!) peaks. Fold them carefully into the chocolate mixture. In the same bowl (no need to clean it) beat the heavy cream until it forms soft peaks and fold it carefully into the chocolate mixture. Grate the remaining 4 ounces of chocolate and fold it into the mixture.
• Pour the mixture into a 10-cup souffle dish, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours or overnight.
• For the whipped cream, place the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and whip on medium and then high speed until it reach stiff peaks. Spoon the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the edge of the mousse with the whipped cream, and sprinkle extra chocolate shavings over the center of the mousse for decoration. Serve frozen.

FROZEN LEMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• Cut 2-inch holes out of the bottom of a large tin foil roasting pan in neat rows, leaving 1 to 2 inches in between the holes. Invert the pan and place paper cooler cups in the holes to hold them upright during freezing.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan combine the lemon juice, sugar, yolks, egg, and butter. Over medium heat, whisk the mixture constantly until thickened. Strain it into a bowl set over ice and chill it, stirring to thicken slightly. Fold in the whipped cream and pour or pipe into paper cones set in the prepared tin foil roasting pan. Freeze overnight. Peel off the paper and serve the cone flat side down and serve with berries.
• In a small saucepan bring water, sugar and vanilla bean to a boil. Add blackberries and turn off the heat. Fish the berries out of the hot liquid with a slotted spoon, and transfer them to a plate in a single layer and allow to cool.
• Yield: 1 cup

LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired.
• Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
• For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

Steps:

• Heat the half-and-half, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until hot, about 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks in another bowl, stir some of the hot pumpkin into the egg yolks to heat them, then pour the egg-pumpkin mixture back into the double boiler and stir well. Heat the mixture over the simmering water for another 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly. You don't want the eggs to scramble. Remove from the heat.
• Dissolve the gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water. Add the dissolved gelatin, banana, and orange zest to the pumpkin mixture and mix well. Set aside to cool.
• For the decoration: Whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add the granulated sugar and vanilla and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks. Fold half the whipped cream into the cooled pumpkin mixture.
• Pour the mousse into a 7 by 4-inch souffle dish. Pipe or spoon the remaining whipped cream decoratively on the mousse and sprinkle, if desired, with orange zest. Serve chilled.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO, INA'S WAY

Steps:

• To prep, discard the tough ends of the asparagus and cut the tips diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths.
• Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender.
• Drain and cool immediately in ice water.
• Heat the olive oil and butter (or margarine, if using) in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the leeks and fennel and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender.
• Add rice and stir for a minute to coat with the oil and butter.
• Add white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the stock, two ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more.
• The whole cooking process will take 25 to 30 minutes.
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
• Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• Whisk the lemon juice and mascarpone together in a small bowl.
• When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture, plus the Parmesan cheese.
• Allow to sit off the heat for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.
• Gustare!