Meyer Lemon Mousse Cups Food

MEYER LEMON MOUSSE CUPS

Steps:

• Using a paring knife, trim the tip end from a lemon so the fruit sits level. Cut stem end 1/4 of the way down lemon (or cut in a decorative pattern). Repeat process with 7 more lemons.
• Hold a cut and trimmed lemon over a sieve set over a liquid-measuring cup. Using a reamer, squeeze juice, and set juice aside. Scoop out flesh with a spoon (do not puncture lemon skin), and discard flesh. Repeat with remaining cut lemons. Measure 1/4 cup juice, and set aside. Reserve remaining juice for another use. Cover lemon shells with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. With a grater, remove zest from half of the remaining lemon; cover zest with plastic, and set aside.
• Make lemon curd: Place egg yolks, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 6 tablespoons sugar in a small heavy saucepan. Whisk to combine. Set pan over medium heat; stir constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure to stir sides and edges of the saucepan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Pass mixture through a fine sieve set over a medium bowl. Add butter, one piece at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in reserved lemon zest. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks with a handheld electric mixer. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Clean the whisk attachments. In a second medium bowl, with a handheld electric mixer, whip egg whites and a pinch of salt to soft peaks. Sprinkle in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and continue whipping until stiff glossy peaks form. Set aside.
• Remove lemon curd and whipped cream from refrigerator. Stir 1/4 of the whipped cream into curd to lighten the curd. With a large rubber spatula, gently but thoroughly fold in remaining whipped cream. Fold in whipped egg whites.
• Remove lemon shells from refrigerator. Transfer mousse to a medium pastry bag fitted with a coupler, and pipe into lemon shells. Chill until set, a minimum of 1 hour or overnight.

MINI LEMON MOUSSE CUPS

Steps:

• Add COOL WHIP to lemon curd in medium bowl; stir with whisk just until blended.
• Spoon into 9 small dessert dishes.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.

FRESH LEMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a large heat-proof bowl, whisk together the 3 whole eggs, 3 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, the lemon zest, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for about 10 to 12 minutes until the mixture is thick like pudding. (I change to a whisk when the mixture starts to get thick.) Take off the heat and set aside for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, until completely chilled.
• Place half the egg whites and a pinch of salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and continue to beat until the whites are stiff and shiny. Carefully fold the beaten whites into the cold lemon mixture with a rubber spatula. Place the cream in the same bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (no need to clean the bowl) and beat on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the lemon mixture. Fold in the lemon curd, and pour into a 7-inch-diameter, 3-inch-deep souffle dish. Decorate with sweetened whipped cream and lemon slices that have been cut into quarters. Chill and serve cold.
• Place the cream, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium and then high speed until the cream just forms still peaks. Spoon the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.

MEYER LEMON CURD MOUSSE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, whisk egg yolks; whisk in lemon zest and juice.
• Cook, while whisking over medium low heat until thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in gelatin; stir in butter, a few pieces at a time, stirring well after each addition.
• Strain, pressing with a spatula, discard any undissolved bits of gelatin and egg.
• Cover with plastic wrap, pressing to surface to prevent "skin" from forming.; refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Stir and gently fold in whipped cream; refrigerate 1 hour longer.
• Stir before using or serving.

MEYER LEMON CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter eight 3/4 cup ramekins or custard cups. Whisk 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar, flour, and pinch of salt in medium bowl to blend. Combine milk, egg yolks, lemon juice, and lemon peel in large bowl; whisk until blended. Add flour mixture to yolk mixture and whisk custard until blended.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar to whites and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of whites into custard. Fold remaining whites into custard in 2 additions (custard will be slightly runny).
• Divide custard equally among prepared ramekins. Place ramekins in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake custard cups until golden brown and set on top (cakes will be slightly soft in center), about 27 minutes.
• Chill custard cakes uncovered until cold, at least 4 hours, then cover and keep refrigerated. Can make one day ahead.
• Using electric mixer, beat creme fraiche in medium bowl until softly whipped.
• Run small knife aoround each custard cake to loosen. Invert each cake onto plate. Place dollup of creme fraiche atop or alongside cakes and serve.

MEYER LEMON CURD MOUSSE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk together eggs and yolks in a heavy small saucepan. Whisk in sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium-low heat, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat; add gelatin, stirring constantly, until gelatin dissolves and mixture is slightly cool. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, stirring after each addition, until smooth.
• Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to remove as much curd as possible; discard any undissolved bits of gelatin and egg. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto surface of curd to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or overnight. Stir curd, and gently fold in whipped cream. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Stir before using.