Lemon Charlottes With Lemon Curd And Candied Lemon Peel Food

LEMON CHARLOTTES WITH LEMON CURD AND CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• For candied lemon peel:
• Line small baking sheet with foil. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel from lemons in long strips (yellow part only). Place in small saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover generously; bring to boil. Drain. Repeat blanching 2 more times. Cut lemon peel into 1/8-inch-wide strips. Bring 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil gently 5 minutes. Add lemon peel; simmer until peel is translucent, about 15 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer peel to prepared sheet; sprinkle 1 cup sugar over and toss to coat. Let dry at room temperature 2 hours. Transfer lemon peel mixture to airtight container. Pour syrup into bowl. (Candied lemon peel and syrup can be made 3 days ahead. Store peel at room temperature. Cover and chill syrup.)
• For lemon curd:
• Whisk egg yolks, whole eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and salt to blend in top of double boiler over barely simmering water (do not allow bowl to touch water); whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer registers 160°F, about 6 minutes. Transfer to glass bowl; place plastic wrap directly on surface; refrigerate overnight.
• Finely chop enough candied lemon peel to measure 1/4 cup; place in small bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup lemon curd; cover and chill. Beat whipping cream in large bowl until peaks form. Fold 1 cup whipped cream into remaining lemon curd; cover and chill. Cover remaining whipped cream; chill.
• Line six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes (3 inches in diameter with 1 1/2-inch-high sides) with plastic wrap, leaving 3-inch overhang. Cut ladyfingers into 2-inch lengths, reserving ends. Stand 7 ladyfinger pieces upright side by side, rounded side out, around inside rim of each dish. Place reserved end pieces of ladyfingers in bottom of each dish, covering completely. Brush ladyfingers lightly with lemon syrup. Spoon 1/4 cup lemon cream mixture into center of each dish. Gently spread generous 1 tablespoon lemon curd-peel mixture over top of each. Chill at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)
• Using plastic wrap as aid, lift charlottes out of soufflé dishes. Carefully peel off plastic wrap. Place on plates. Spoon reserved whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe whipped cream rosette atop each charlotte. Sprinkle each with candied lemon peel.

MEYER LEMON CURD TART WITH CANDIED LEMON PEELS

Steps:

• For the candied lemon peels: Set a wire rack into a rimmed baking sheet. Use a vegetable peeler to peel 1/2-inch strips from 3 of the lemons; reserve. Juice all 5 lemons (you should have about 1/2 cup); cover and refrigerate the juice. Put the reserved strips of peel into a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the peels and repeat the process 2 more times. Pat the peels completely dry.
• Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the peels and cook until they start to turn translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Use tongs to remove them from the saucepan and lie them flat on the prepared rack. Let dry at room temperature, 6 hours and up to overnight. Toss the peels with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in a small bowl.
• For the shortbread crust: Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch tart pan with cooking spray.
• Add the flour, butter and confectioners' sugar to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized pieces. Add the egg and pulse until the dough comes together. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared tart pan. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly on a rack, about 30 minutes.
• For the lemon curd: Meanwhile, whisk the reserved lemon juice, eggs, yolks, milk and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until well combined. Add the butter and stir continuously until the mixture is thick and coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain the curd if any lumps form, then pour into the crust and smooth with a spatula.
• Bake until the curd is set, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool slightly on a rack, about 30 minutes, then transfer to the fridge to cool completely, about 1 hour more. Decorate with the candied peels and serve cold.

CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• Cut lemons into slices about 1/4 inch thick and remove the fruit pulp. Cut the rings in half so the peels are in long strips.
• Bring water and lemon peel to a boil in a small pan. Drain water, and repeat with fresh cold water. Repeat the boiling step three times (see Editor's Note). Drain and set peels aside.
• Combine 2 cups fresh water with 2 cups sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to low and stir in citrus peels; simmer until the white pith is translucent. Store peels in syrup, refrigerated, to keep them soft, or allow them to dry. Toss dry candied peels in additional sugar and store airtight at room temperature.

CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• Place rack on rimmed baking sheet. Cut 1/4 inch off top and bottom of each lemon. Score each lemon lengthwise in quarters, cutting just through peel (not into flesh). Carefully pull off each peel quarter in 1 piece. Cut each quarter lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Cook peel in large saucepan of boiling water 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain peel; rinse well and drain again.
• Bring 4 cups water and 4 cups sugar to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar completely. Add drained lemon peel to saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lemon peel is very soft and looks translucent, about 40 minutes.
• Using fork, transfer lemon peel, 2 or 3 strips at a time, to prepared rack. Separate strips and arrange crosswise on rack. Let peel drain 15 minutes. Sprinkle peel generously with additional sugar. Turn strips over and sprinkle second side generously with sugar. Let dry uncovered overnight. DO AHEAD: Candied lemon peel can be made up to 1 week ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Gifts from the kitchen:
• Consider making a double batch of the Candied Lemon Peel to give as holiday gifts. Wrap some of the sparkly strips of peel in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Add a tag that suggests chopping the peel and sprinkling it over vanilla ice cream or using it in a favorite scone or muffin recipe. For a more decadent treat, dip the candied peel partially in melted dark chocolate. Place the strips on aluminum-foil-lined baking sheets and chill until the chocolate sets.

CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score each lemon, cutting peel into four wedge-shaped sections. Loosen and remove peel with a spoon (save fruit for another use)., Place peel in a large heavy saucepan and cover with cold water., Bring to a boil. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Drain and repeat. Cool for 5 minutes. Carefully scrape off excess pulp from peel. Cut the peel into 1/4-in. strips., In another saucepan, combine sugar and water; cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add lemon strips. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; simmer, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes or until peels are transparent, stirring occasionally., Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to wire racks placed over a baking pan. Let stand for 1 hour. Sprinkle superfine sugar into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. pan. Sprinkle strips over sugar; toss to coat. Let stand for 8 hours or overnight, tossing occasionally., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each strip into chocolate mixture; place on waxed paper until set. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

LEMON CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Line bottom and sides of 9 inch springform pan with ladyfingers.
• Soften gelatine in lemon juice.
• On top of double boiler use an electric mixer to beat egg yolks together with 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Gradually beat in gelatine mixture.
• Cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken, about 10 minutes.
• Pour into large bowl and add lemon peel. Refrigerate until mixture begins to thicken, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In the clean top of a double boiler stir together egg whites and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar.
• Beat egg whites over simmering water until soft peaks form.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Fold beaten egg whites and whipped cream into lemon-gelatine mixture.
• Spoon into ladyfinger-lined pan.
• Chill for 3 hours or overnight.
• Carefully remove sides of springform pan. Garnish as desired (thin lemon slices work very well).

CANDIED LEMON SLICES

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut lemon into 12 paper-thin slices; discard seeds and ends of rind.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, and add lemon slices; stir until softened, about 1 minute. Drain, and immediately plunge slices into ice-water bath. Drain.
• Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium skillet, swirling to dissolve sugar. When liquid is clear and bubbling, reduce heat to medium-low. Add lemon slices, arranging them in one layer with tongs. Simmer (do not let boil) until rinds are translucent, about 1 hour.
• Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Let stand until ready to serve. Lemon slices can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 day.