Minty Wreaths Food

HOLIDAY BERRY MERINGUE WREATH

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 225 degrees F. Line the back of a baking sheet with parchment. Use a 12-inch bowl as a stencil: Flip it upside down and trace a 12-inch circle onto the parchment. Use a 9-inch bowl to trace a circle inside the 12- inch one. This is the outline of your wreath.
• For the wreath: Combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the very clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 minute more. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff, shiny peaks form, 13 to 15 minutes.
• Build the wreath: Using the template on the parchment as your guide, drop dollops of meringue in a line along the inside of the 12-inch circle. Use a rubber spatula to help clean off your spoon between dollops. Following the 9-inch circle and slightly overlapping the outer ring of meringue, make an inner ring of meringue dollops to fill in the rest of the template. Flatten the meringue slightly with the back of the spoon, making sure to keep a lot of peaks. Bake the meringue until it is dry, crisp, and pearly white on the outside, about 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the cranberry sauce: Bring the cranberries, sugar and lemon juice to a simmer in medium saucepan and cook until the cranberries are soft and just begin to burst and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Gently fold in the raspberries and pomegranate seeds. Whip the heavy cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.
• Before serving, spread the whipped cream on the meringue. Spoon over the cranberry sauce and sprinkle with mint leaves.

EASY MINT THINS

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate candy coating; stir until smooth. Stir in extract., Dip crackers in chocolate candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set., Drizzle tops with white candy coating; decorate as desired. Let stand until set. Store in airtight containers.

PARTY WREATH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Boil the potato halves until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• In a food processor, grind the ginger and serrano chiles until very fine, then add the peas and grind just a little, to get a coarse mash. Tip the pea mixture into a large bowl.
• In a small pan over medium, heat the oil and add 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, the fennel and cumin, and toast until light golden, about 1 minute. Pour into the bowl with the peas. Add the mint, garam masala and potato, and mix well, breaking up the potato. Season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
• Working on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper, cut the puff pastry lengthwise into two equal rectangles, and roll gently with a floured pin to flatten creases. Use your hands to squash half the pea mixture into an even snake of filling down one pastry rectangle, from one end to the other, then roll the pastry lengthwise around it to seal it into a tube, cutting off any overlapping dough and pinching the seam tightly to close. Repeat with the other pastry, then transfer the parchment to a sheet pan.
• Join the two tubes in a circle, seam sides down. Use a knife to make cuts at an angle every 3/4 inch or so, going all the way through the filling but leaving a bit of pastry still connected in the innermost circle. Pinch and turn each segment to slightly point the filling upward, opening the pieces like petals. Brush the dough tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until the pastry is completely cooked through and golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature, with green chutney, tamarind chutney or Maggi ketchup.