Mascarpone Semifreddo Food

MASCARPONE SEMIFREDDO WITH CHERRY-PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the cherry-port sauce: Bring port and granulated sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until reduced by one third, about 5 minutes. Stir in cherries. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, until plump, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until thick, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the semifreddo: Whisk mascarpone, cream, confectioners' sugar, and a pinch of salt until medium-stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate. Spread mixture into a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan; cover with plastic wrap. Freeze until edges beginto harden and semifreddo is very cold, at least 50 minutes. Scoop into 4 serving dishes. Spoon cherry-port sauce over tops. Serve with chocolate wafer cookies.

CARAMEL APPLE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In the bowl of a food processor, process the graham crackers until finely crushed. Add the melted butter and process until it resembles wet sand. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake until golden around the edges and fragrant, 7 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the apple butter, cinnamon, salt and caramel sauce. Set aside.
• Place the softened ice cream in a large bowl. Add the caramel mixture and the almonds, and fold everything together with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated. Switch to a whisk if you like. Pour the mixture over the crust. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the cake. Place in the freezer and freeze at least 8 hours or ideally overnight.
• To serve, run a thin knife around the edge of the pan, and then release the sides. Sprinkle with the almond toffee, slice and serve.

STRACCIATELLA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• For the crust: Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 5 by 3-inch nonstick loaf pan with vegetable oil cooking spray. Using 2 pieces of parchment paper, line the pan, allowing the excess to hang over the ends and sides.
• In a food processor, blend the biscotti and hazelnuts together until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until the crumbs are moistened. Using a flexible spatula, press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges of the crust are golden. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
• For the filling: In a medium stainless steel or glass bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Put the bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Whisk until the egg mixture is pale, thick and creamy, and an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, about 10 to 15 minutes. Put the bowl into a larger bowl of iced water to cool completely.
• In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream until thick. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until the cream holds stiff peaks. Mix 1/4 of the cream into the cooled custard. Using a spatula, gently fold the remaining cream into the custard. Drop spoonfuls of the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the custard mixture and gently fold until just incorporated but still chunky. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared crust. Fold the overhanging parchment paper over the custard and freeze for at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Run a thin-bladed spatula around the semifreddo between the parchment paper and the pan. Unfold the parchment paper and invert the semifreddo onto a platter. Peel off the paper and cut into 1-inch thick slices. Serve on chilled plates.

CREAM CHEESE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat heavy cream on high until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator. Wash the mixing bowl and whisk attachment and set aside. (You'll need them again.)
• In a medium heat-proof bowl, combine the yolks, sugar, vanilla, salt and rum, if using. Whisk continuously, otherwise the sugar and alcohol will cook the egg, making the mixture grainy.
• In small saucepan, bring about an inch of water to a very low simmer. Place the bowl with the yolks on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler. (The bowl should not touch the water.) Whisk the yolk mixture continuously until the yolks are glossy, and have lightened in color and doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. The mixture should feel warm to the touch, and the sugar should be completely dissolved.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and continue to whisk until the mixture cools to room temperature, 8 to 10 minutes. (It will thicken a bit as it cools.) Transfer the yolk mixture and the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed, until completely smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Very gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the chilled whipped cream using a silicone spatula, being careful not to deflate the mixture. Stop earlier than you think because transferring the semifreddo to the loaf pan will continue to mix it together.
• Carefully pour the semifreddo into the prepared loaf pan. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 12 hours and up to overnight. Mixture should be frozen solid.
• When ready to serve, carefully remove the semifreddo from the mold (you may need to run the base of the loaf pan under warm water for a few seconds to aid removal) and transfer to a chilled cutting board or platter. Peel off the plastic wrap. Using a clean knife that's been run under hot water then wiped dry, slice the semifreddo into 1-inch-thick slabs. Place onto a chilled plate, top with a spoonful of maple syrup, a drizzle of cherry surette or balsamic vinegar, and a sprinkle of flaky salt.

COFFEE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Combine coffee and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally so sugar does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat.
• Whisk egg yolks in a heatproof bowl until frothy. Add sweetened coffee 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking vigorously to prevent egg yolks from curdling.
• Place bowl on top of a pot with simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Continue whisking vigorously until mixture thickens and gets creamy, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Remove bowl from heat and place over a bowl of ice; whisk until cooled. Fold in mascarpone cheese.
• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir 2 tablespoons of whipped cream into the coffee mixture to thin it out. Fold in remaining cream carefully with a spatula until just combined. Fold in walnuts.
• Pour mixture into 4 serving or ice cream glasses and freeze until firm, at least 5 hours.

MASCARPONE CHEESE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Whip the egg whites into soft peaks with a pinch of salt.
• In another bowl whisk the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla for a few minutes, then add the mascarpone cheese.
• When the cheese and egg yolks are fully mixed together, add one table spoon of the egg whites and stir this in with a metal spoon.
• Add the cheese mixture to the egg whites and stir in carefully, trying not to knock out the air from the beaten egg whites.
• Then pour the mixture into a nice, freezer proof bowl and put into the freezer for 3 to 4 hours. The mixture shouldn't be too hard, so don't leave it in the freezer for longer than this - good excuse to eat it asap really! :).

CITRUS SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Spray a 9x5x3 inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Line the pan with plastic wrap, allowing the excess to hang over the ends and sides.
• Whisk 1/2 cup of the sugar, the egg yolks, lemon juice, lime juice, limoncello, and salt in a large metal bowl to blend. Stir in the zests.
• Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water.
• Whisk the egg mixture until it is thick and creamy, and a thermometer inserted into the mixture registers 160*F, about 5 minutes.
• Set the bowl of custard into another bowl of ice water to cool completely.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in another large bowl until firm peaks form.
• Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream mixture into the custard.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
• Fold the overhanging plastic wrap over the custard and freeze until frozen, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Unfold the plastic wrap.
• Invert the semifreddo onto a platter and peel of the plastic wrap.
• Cut the semifreddo into 1-inch slices, sprinkle with cookie crumbs and serve.