Mascerated Berries With Vanilla Cream Food

MASCERATED BERRIES WITH VANILLA CREAM

Steps:

• Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, mash 1 cup berries with sugar and orange juice in a large bowl until sugar begins to dissolve. Gently stir in remaining 5 cups berries; let sit at room temperature, tossing occasionally, until berries are juicy, 1-2 hours.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a medium bowl. Add chilled cream, sour cream, and sugar. Using a whisk or electric mixer, beat until soft peaks form. DO AHEAD: Cream can be made 30 minutes ahead. Cover and chill.

MASCERATED STRAWBERRIES OVER CHOCOLATE SHORTCAKES AND VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the strawberries and 1/2 cup sugar. Using a fork, lightly mash the berries. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with 1 teaspoon of the butter. In a mixing bowl, sift 1 3/4 cups of the flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder together. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and mix well. Add the remaining 1/2 cup butter and work it into the dry ingredients, using your hands, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in the chocolate milk. The dough will be sticky. Dust your work surface with 1 tablespoon of the flour. Turn the dough onto the floured surface. Gently fold each side towards the center. Pick up the dough and dust the work surface with the remaining tablespoon flour. Return the dough to the floured surface and fold each side towards the center again. Turn the dough over and lightly press it out to 1-inch thickness. Cut the biscuits using a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter. Place them on the baking sheet and bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. To assemble, cut the biscuits in half. Place a scoop of the ice cream in the center of each biscuit. Place the shortcakes in the center of each plate. Spoon the strawberries over the shortcakes. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

MACERATED BERRIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the berries and limoncello. Sprinkle the sugar over the berries and stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the mint.;

BOOZY BERRIES AND CREAM

Steps:

• For the cream: In a saucepan, bring some water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Have a mixing bowl ready that will fit over the top of the pan but not sink all the way in.
• Put the egg yolks in the mixing bowl off heat. Add the granulated sugar and whisk until the yolks start to turn pale. Place the mixing bowl over the saucepan with the simmering water. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add to the egg mixture. Slowly add the rum and whisk to combine. Cook over the simmering water until thick, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool.
• For the orange liqueur raspberries: Add the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, orange liqueur and orange zest to a bowl and mix together. Let macerate for 1 hour.
• To assemble: Pile the fruit into 6 individual martini glasses and top with the cream. Crush a cookie over each one and garnish with mint.

BUTTER-TOASTED VANILLA POUND CAKE WITH MACERATED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries, balsamic vinegar, sugar, almond extract, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Leave to macerate for 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat, swirling to coat the entire pan. Add the pound cake slices and toast until lightly browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pound cake from the pan, swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter; and toast the pound cake on the reverse side until lightly browned, another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Place the toasted pound cake on plates and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the side of each slice. Top the slices with some of the macerated strawberries and garnish with toasted almonds. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan
• In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and mix for 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla; mix for 1 minute, until well blended. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until completely blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before turning the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 8 servings

MACERATED BERRIES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, stirring gently. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight, stirring occasionally.

MACERATED BERRIES WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Place the raspberries and blueberries in separate bowls. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of sparkling wine. Gently toss the berries; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, chill a medium mixing bowl and the beaters of an electric mixer.
• In chilled bowl beat the whipping cream, confectioner's sugar and the rose water until soft peaks form.
• In wine glass layer raspberries, whipped cream and blueberries. Fill glasses half full.

MACERATED FRUIT

Steps:

• Combine your ingredients of choice in a medium bowl and toss together until the fruit is evenly coated. For inspiration, try some of my favorite fruit, herb and spice combinations, such as Peach and Ginger, Blackberry and Mint, Cherry and Cinnamon and Strawberry and Vanilla.
• Cover the bowl with reusable or regular plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring about halfway through and gently pressing the fruit with a rubber spatula until the liquid completely covers the fruit.
• After the 24 hours, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, gently pressing on the fruit with a rubber spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Reserve both the fruit and the liquid. Discard any other solids, such as herb sprigs, whole spices or aromatics.
• Serving suggestions for the macerated fruit: Serve immediately on top of yogurt with granola, or desserts, such as grilled pound cake or ice cream. You can also muddle the fruit into cocktails or add it to sangria. The fruit can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw before serving.
• The macerated liquid can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, cover with reusable or regular plastic wrap and freeze for up to 6 months. You can use a small offset spatula to help remove individual cubes from the tray, then thaw the macerated liquid as needed.
• Serving suggestions for the macerated liquid:
• Homemade soda: For 1 serving, pour 1/4 cup macerated liquid in a tall glass filled with ice, top with 12 ounces sparkling water and serve.
• Fruit shrub: For the shrub base, combine 1 part macerated liquid with 1 part apple cider vinegar (for example, 1/2 cup of each). Mix to evenly combine. For 1 serving, pour 1/4 cup of the shrub base into a tall glass filled with ice, top with 12 ounces sparkling water and serve.
• Fruit vinaigrette: Turn your shrub base (see above) into a vinaigrette. Whisk 1 part shrub base with 1 part neutral oil (such as canola, grapeseed or vegetable oil; for example, 1/4 cup of each) in a bowl until emulsified. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Fruit syrup: Bring the macerated liquid to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until reduced by half and thickened to the consistency of maple syrup-it should coat the back of a spoon without running off very quickly. Let the syrup cool completely, then serve over ice cream, pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt and granola. The syrup also makes for a great gift when poured into a jar. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

MACERATED BERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Combine berries with sugar. Stir occasionally for 45 minutes, and watch as they transform into a vibrant, juicy sauce. Serve over ice cream, pancakes, or shortcake. For a float, alternate the berries with scoops of ice cream and top it all off with seltzer.