Gingerbread Souffles With Vanilla Sauce Food

VANILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in the water, stirring until blended. Bring mixture to a boil and continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and mix in the butter and vanilla. Serve warm.

GINGERBREAD SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grease six 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups and lightly sprinkle with sugar; set aside., Preheat oven to 375°. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk and cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Transfer to a large bowl., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the bowl, stirring constantly. Stir in the brown sugar, crystallized ginger and spices until blended; allow to cool slightly., In a large bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, stir a fourth of the egg whites into ginger mixture until no white streaks remain. Fold in remaining egg whites until combined. Transfer to prepared dishes., Bake until top is puffed and center appears set, 20-24 minutes. Serve immediately.

GINGERBREAD SOUFFLES WITH VANILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, combine the half and half, vanilla bean and vanilla seeds in a mediumsaucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat.
• Take the pan from the heat.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar and egg yolks, then gradually whisk in the hot half and half.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over medium low heat until the custard thickens enough to coat the badk of the spoon, about 5 minutes.
• (DO NOT BOIL or the mixture will curdle).
• Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a small bowl and stir in the bourbon.
• Let cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until fully chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 400*F.
• Butter eight ounce ramekins.
• Coat the insides evenly with sugar and shake out the excess.
• Put the dishes on a large baking sheet and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the flour and whisk until the mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk the milk into the flour mixture, whisking constantly until the milk is thickened and themixture is smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Take the pan from the heat and whisk in the sugar, molasses, rum, ginger, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
• Let cool until warm, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk in the egg yolks and set aside.
• Whip the egg whites with an electric mixer at high speed until frothy.
• Add the cream of tartar and beat until the whites are still, but not dry.
• Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture in three additions.
• Divide the batter among the prepared dishes and run the tip of a knife around the top of the mixture, about 1/2 inch from the edge to facilitate crowning.
• Bake the souffles until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Serve right away, making an indentation in the souffles and drizzling in the sauce.

HOT VANILLA SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush 4 to 6 individual souffle dishes (or a 7-cup souffle dish) well with melted butter. Put the sugar inside one dish and toss to coat, then tip the excess sugar into the next dish and repeat. Place the dishes in the refrigerator to chill.
• Reserving 1/3 cup of the milk, place the remaining 1 cup in a large saucepan. Add the vanilla bean and heat just to a boil, then turn off the heat and set aside to let the vanilla bean infuse for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the flour, and the reserved 1/3 cup milk. Add a little of the hot milk and whisk to combine, then add the flour mixture to the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Simmer just until thickened, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, stir, cover, and set aside 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and whisk in the egg yolks.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Fold into the milk mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared dishes, filling them 3/4 full. Run your thumb around the inside rim of each dish, making a shallow "moat" around the edge of the batter. This will help the souffles to rise straight up. Dust the surfaces with confectioners' sugar. (The souffles can stand at this point for up to 30 minutes.) Bake in the center of the oven until puffed and light golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Do not open the oven door unless absolutely necessary.
• Satin Chocolate Sauce: Combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water in the top half of a double boiler. Stir constantly until melted, then whisk in the syrup and water without removing the double boiler from the heat. Whisk until smooth and shiny. (The sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerated. To rewarm, stir over low heat or heat in a microwave.) At the table, serve the hot souffles by poking a hole in each one and pouring chocolate sauce into the hole, then drizzling sauce over the tops. For a large souffle, spoon onto dessert plates and drizzle sauce on each serving.

VANILLA SOUFFLES WITH VANILLA CREME SAUCE

Steps:

• Coat the bottom and sides of 4 6-oz baking dishes with vegetable cooking spray; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook flour mixture, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
• Add half and half, stirring constantly; stir in 4 tbsp sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat.
• Beat egg yolks until thick and pale. Gradually stir half of the hot half-and-half mixture into egg yolks; add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat 2 minutes; stir in vanilla. Cool 15 to 20 minutes.
• Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add remaining 2 tbsp sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Gradually fold egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Spoon into prepared baking dishes.
• Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until puffed and set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve immediately with Vanilla Creme Sauce.
• Vanilla Creme Sauce:.
• Combine 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tsp cornstarch in a heavy saucepan; gradually stir in whipping cream. Cook stirring constantly, over low heat until sugar dissolves.
• Beat 8 egg yolks until thick and pale; gradually stir about half of hot whipping cream mixture into yolks. Add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly.
• Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened. Pour through a wire-mesh strainer into a small bowl, discarding lumps. Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Serve with Vanilla Souffles, fresh fruit, or pound cake.