Hazelnut Pots De Creme Food

HAZELNUT POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small saucepan, heat cream, hazelnuts and chocolate until bubbles form around sides of pan and chocolate is melted, stirring occasionally., In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar. Remove cream mixture from heat; stir a small amount of hot cream mixture into egg mixture. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Stir in liqueur if desired. Strain, discarding hazelnuts., Transfer to six 6-oz. ramekins. Place in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until centers are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Garnish servings with chocolate curls.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Spoon the chocolate-hazelnut spread into your blender. Add the chopped chocolate. Set your ramekins/cocottes/teacups/glasses on a baking sheet.
• In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, sugar, salt and egg yolks over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 8 to 10 minutes; I like to use a flat-bottomed wooden spatula so that I can make sure the eggs aren't catching on the bottom and cooking. Cook until the custard thickens, resembling something like very thick paint. It should register between 175 and 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Another test: the custard should coat the back of the spatula, and when you draw a line across the back of the spatula with your (clean!) finger, the line should hold and maintain its edges without running. Remove from the heat immediately.
• Now, pour the warm custard through a strainer into the blender. Let it sit 5 minutes to melt the chocolate. Add the Sriracha, espresso powder if using and vanilla extract. Then, put the lid on the blender, hold down with a thick kitchen towel, and blend on low, then high, until smooth and combined, scraping down the sides if necessary. Taste for seasoning.
• Pour the custard into your containers, tapping them against the rim of the baking sheet to remove air bubbles. Pop them in the fridge and chill until the custards are set, 2 to 3 hours.
• Top with whipped cream or creme fraiche, some grated chocolate and minced hazelnuts. A little sea salt would be nice too.

POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in warm milk. Stir until it boils and the chocolate coats the spoon. Remove from heat. Stir into the egg yolks and add the Bourbon. Pour into the pots de creme cups.
• Use the leftover egg whites to make small meringues to serve with the pots de creme and a slivered orange rind for the garnish.

CARAMEL POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, over medium heat, cook the sugar, water and vanilla bean until it turns a deep caramel color. Swirl pan to color evenly, do not stir.
• When caramel in color, turn off the heat and slowly add milk and cream. Be careful, it will splatter. If caramel hardens, turn on the heat and stir until harden caramel dissolves and the mixture boils. Once it reaches a boil, remove from the heat.
• In a bowl, mix yolks, salt and vanilla extract. Slowly temper in caramel mixture, adding a small amount at a time, to prevent yolks from scrambling. Mix to combine, then strain through a fine mesh strainer.
• Fill 6 (4-ounce) ramekins with the creme mixture. Place them in a high-sided baking dish and fill baking dish 1/2 full with boiling water. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until set. The middle should jiggle slightly. Remove, let cool and refrigerate.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Combine half-and-half, chocolate and sugar in small heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat for 10 minutes or until the mixture reaches a full boil and thickens.
• Gradually stir about half of hot chocolate mixture into beaten egg yolks. Stir egg yolk mixture into remaining hot chocolate mixture. Cook and stir over low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in Frangelico and vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture into six pots de crème cups, demitasse cups or soufflé cups. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
• Make the sweetened whipped cream:.
• In a chilled bowl, beat cream with sugar and Frangelico until soft peaks form, using electric mixer at medium speed.
• Assembly:.
• Garnish each pot de crème with a dollop of whipped cream and chopped hazelnuts.