Grapes A La Creme Food

BAKED BRIE A LA REE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the pine nuts for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Add the butter to the skillet and throw in the onion, thyme and rosemary. Season with the salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized, about 18 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Meanwhile, with a serrated knife, cut off the top rind of the round of Brie, discarding when done. Put the Brie in a small cast-iron skillet or casserole dish. Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove the foil, top with the caramelized onions and return to the oven until the cheese has melted and there is slight color around the edges, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish with the pine nuts, parsley and oregano and serve with the carrot sticks.

ROASTED GRAPES WITH CARAMELIZED WINE AND YOGURT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• At least 1 day before you plan to serve, make the ice cream: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup/200 milliliters of water over medium-high heat. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the orange and lemon zests, remove from the heat and set aside to cool down and infuse for at least 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl or pitcher, combine the yogurt, cream, orange and lemon juices. Pour in the sugar syrup, discarding the strips of zest. Stir well to combine, pour through a fine sieve and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours.
• Pour mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until the ice cream is set. Transfer to a container and freeze until solid. (Can be prepared up to this point up to 1 month in advance.)
• On the day of serving, prepare the grapes: Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/240 degrees Celsius. In a medium bowl, combine grapes, muscat, honey, thyme, brown sugar and lemon zest, and stir well. Pour into a high-sided 9-by-13-inch/20-by-25-centimeter baking dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring a few times, until the grapes have caramelized and the liquid is syrupy.
• If the juices don't thicken, pour them into a saucepan (reserve the cooked grapes separately) and reduce over medium heat until syrupy and beginning to caramelize. Turn off the heat and immediately stir the grapes back into the sauce.
• Five minutes before serving, remove ice cream from the freezer and divide between serving bowls. Spoon grapes and sauce over the ice cream and serve at once.

COOKED GRAPES WITH CREAM

Steps:

• Place grapes, vinegar and water in a stainless-steel saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook gently for about 5 minutes. The grapes will lose their red color and begin to crack open.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl combine the lemon rind, lemon juice, honey and mint leaves. When grapes are cooked, add them to lemon-honey mixture and stir well. When cool, add the Cognac. Serve in wine glasses, garnished with a spoonful of sour cream.

COEUR A LA CREME WITH RASPBERRY AND GRAND MARNIER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Scrape down the beater and bowl with a rubber spatula and change the beater for the whisk attachment. With the mixer on low speed, add the heavy cream, vanilla, lemon zest, and vanilla bean seeds and beat on high speed until the mixture is very thick, like whipped cream.
• Line a 7-inch sieve with cheesecloth or paper towels so the ends drape over the sides and suspend it over a bowl, making sure that there is space between the bottom of the sieve and the bottom of the bowl for the liquid to drain. Pour the cream mixture into the cheesecloth, fold the ends over the top, and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve, discard the liquid, unmold the cream onto a plate, and drizzle Raspberry and Grand Marnier Sauce around the base. Serve with raspberries and extra sauce.
• Place raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and orange liqueur into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Chill.

CRéME BRULEE WITH SUGARED GRAPES

Steps:

• Day before serving, over low heat, heat heavy cream in a heavy, 2 ½ quart saucepan just until bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Remove from heat. In double boiler top, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat yolks until very thick and light.
• Gradually beat in 1/3 cup granulated sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating until very thick-about 4 minutes. Gradually stir in cream, using wooden spoon. Cook, over hot, not boiling, water, stirring constantly, until thickened-about 15 minutes.
• Mixture should be thick enough to form a coating on a metal spoon. Add vanilla. Strain custard into attractive 9-inch shallow baking dish, 1 inch deep, or 9-inch pie plate. Or turn into 6 (1/2 cup) individual soufflé dishes. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• An hour or two before serving, set in large baking pan; surround completely with ice. Sift brown sugar through strainer evenly over surface. Run under broiler, 4 inches from heat, just until sugar melts slightly and caramelizes-it forms a hard crust.
• Refrigerate until serving. Meanwhile, prepare frosted grapes: Wash and dry bunches of grapes on paper towels. With soft brush, coat grapes with slightly beaten egg white. Quickly roll in granulated sugar to coat well. Place on rack on tray to dry.
• If necessary, roll grapes in sugar to coat once again. Place in freezer a few minutes.
• To serve: Place crème brulee on silver platter; surround with small bunches of frosted grapes, alternating with large strawberries. Makes 8 servings.
• McCall's Cooking School.