Glazed Fruit Dessert Food

GLAZED FRUIT MEDLEY

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, mix the orange juice, sugar and cornstarch until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Transfer to a small bowl; cool slightly. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours., Just before serving, combine the fruit in a large serving bowl. Drizzle with orange juice mixture; toss gently to coat.

FRESH FRUIT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-by-15 inch jelly roll pan.
• For the crust, sift together the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together white and confectioners' sugars, butter, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients. Blend well. Spread the dough evenly on the bottom of the greased pan. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• For the filling, cream together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread over the cooled crust. Arrange the fruit on the cream cheese filling and refrigerate.
• For the glaze, mix together the sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Whisk in the water, orange juice, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil gently for one minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Spoon or brush the glaze evenly over the fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

GLAZED FRUIT

Steps:

• Insert a toothpick or wooden skewer into the base of each small fruit. Cut off one end of the grapefruit to make a flat base, then pierce 50 small holes in the grapefruit to hold the toothpicks for display. Line a baking sheet with a piece of waxed paper.
• In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the sugar, the water, and the cream of tartar to a boil. Brush down the sides of the pan two times with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing. Cook the mixture without stirring until it registers 240°F on a sugar thermometer, then add the lemon juice. Brush down the sides of the pan two more times and continue cooking the mixture until it registers 310°F on the thermometer.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Holding a small fruit by the toothpick, dip the fruit into the sugar syrup, coating it completely. Lift the fruit from the syrup, gently shake off the excess syrup, and place the fruit onto the waxed paper. Repeat with the remaining small fruit. If the sugar syrup begins to firm up while you are working, warm it over medium heat until it is liquid again. Let the glaze set up at room temperature (about 10 minutes).
• Place the toothpicks into the holes in the grapefruit. Keep the fruit at room temperature until serving time. Serve the fruit within 12 hours of preparation.

BALSAMIC GLAZED FRUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Measure 2 tablespoons lemon juice into a large non-reactive bowl. Add the fruit to the bowl and toss to coat.
• Melt the butter over medium heat in a non-reactive roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet. Cook until it stops foaming and turns light brown. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, vinegar, remaining lemon juice, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stir well until the sugar has melted, and simmer until slightly reduced.
• Season the cut fruit with a pinch of salt and pepper and pour into the roasting pan. Stir well until evenly coated.
• Spread the fruit into a single layer and place in the oven. Let cook slowly about 6 hours, turning the pieces over every hour for at least the first 3 hours. To test whether the fruit is ready, remove a piece after 2 hours and let cool for a few minutes. Taste to see if the flavor is intense enough for your palate. Do not let the fruit get as dry as a fruit leather. It should still be moist and flexible. Remove any pieces that are done before the rest. Remove from the oven, let cool completely, and store in a tightly sealed container.
• Refrigerate, if not consumed within 2 days. Let come to room temperature or warm gently before serving, if refrigerated. The fruit will keep a week or more in the refrigerator.
• Cook's Note: Oven-drying is a technique for intensifying flavor. If the fruit is watery, it may take up to 8 hours to dry. If the fruit is at its peak, ripe, and firm, it may take far less time.

FRESH FRUIT GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine fruit juice and cornstarch in a 2 cup microwave-safe measuring cup.
• Stir in sugar and crushed fruit or rind.
• Microwave for 2-2 1/2 minutes at High, stirring once, until thickened.
• Stir in flavoring.
• Cool.
• Serve.