Jerrys Apple Rosemary And Caramel Shortcakes Food

JERRY'S APPLE, ROSEMARY, AND CARAMEL SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scoop out cores of apples with a melon baller. Use the same tool to remove blossom scars at bottoms of apple halves and any skin remaining at stem ends.
• Place sugar in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. When sugar begins to melt, stir with a wooden spoon. It will form big lumps at first, but keep cooking and stirring until all the sugar is dissolved and forms a light-amber syrup. As soon as it reaches this stage, remove from heat, and add butter to prevent caramel from overcooking. Stir until butter is melted and incorporated. Arrange apples cut side up on top of caramel, and tuck rosemary sprigs between them. Place skillet in oven, and bake for 15 minutes. Using tongs, turn apples over; bake until apples are softened, about 15 minutes more.
• Using a serrated knife, cut shortcakes in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of each shortcake cut side up on a large dessert plate. With a small spatula, lift the hot caramelized apple halves from syrup, and place each one cut side down on a shortcake bottom. Remove and discard rosemary. Return skillet with caramel to stovetop, and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Gradually whisk in cream. When sauce is smooth, remove from heat.
• Top each apple half with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of each dessert, letting it drip onto the plate. Place the shortcake tops over each. Serve immediately.

CARAMEL APPLE SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Make the shortcakes:
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Into a bowl sift together the flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, the baking powder, and a pinch of salt and stir in zest. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat 1 cup of the cream with the vanilla until it just holds soft peaks. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, add the whipped cream, and with a fork combine the mixture until it just forms a dough. On a lightly floured surface knead the dough 6 times, or until it is just combined well, roll or pat it out 1/2 inch thick, and with a floured 4-inch cutter cut out a total of 6 rounds, gathering and rerolling the scraps. Brush the rounds with the additional cream or the milk and sprinkle them with the additional sugar. Bake the shortcakes on a greased baking sheet in the middle of the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden, transfer them with a spatula to a rack, and let them cool.
• Make the caramel apples:
• In a dry heavy skillet cook 1/2 cup of the sugar over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt and cook the sugar, stirring with a fork, until it is melted completely and turns a golden caramel. Remove the skillet from the heat and whisk in the cream carefully. Return the skillet to the heat and whisk the caramel sauce until it is smooth. In a large heavy skillet cook the apples, each peeled, cored, and cut into 8 slices, in the butter over moderately high heat, stirring, until they are browned lightly, add the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, and cook the apples until they are soft and caramelized. Add the sauce to the apples and stir the mixture carefully.
• Break each shortcake in half, arrange 2 halves on each of 6 dessert plates, and spoon the apples over them.