Orange Almond Choclava Food

ORANGE-ALMOND CHOCOLATE LOGS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream the butter, almond paste and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest until light and fluffy. In a microwave, melt white baking chocolate; stir until smooth. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Slowly stir in orange juice. Beat until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes or until easy to handle, stirring occasionally., Shape into 2-in. logs; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Combine coarse sugar and remaining orange zest; set aside., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip logs in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar mixture. Let stand until firm.

ARMAGNAC CHOCOLATE ALMOND TART

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour, ground almonds, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; press onto bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Place on a baking sheet. For filling, sprinkle slivered almonds over crust. In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over hot water, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in golden syrup, Armagnac, vanilla and salt until well blended. Gradually beat in chocolate mixture. Slowly spoon filling over almonds. Bake until set, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.,

NUT FRUIT BARK

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment; grease the paper and set aside., In a double boiler or metal bowl over hot water, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in espresso powder and half the cherries and nuts. Spread into prepared pan; top with remaining cherries and nuts (pan will not be full). Sprinkle with salt if desired. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. , Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

SOPA AJOBLANCO

Steps:

• Rinse almonds in cold water; drain. Place in a large bowl; add enough water to cover by 3 in. Cover and let stand overnight. Spread bread cubes onto a baking sheet; let stand overnight., Place 1 cup bread cubes in a small bowl. Pour cream over bread; let stand 15 minutes. Drain almonds, discarding soaking liquid. Transfer almonds to a blender. Add bread mixture, broth, vinegar, garlic, salt and white pepper; process until blended. While processing, gradually add 1/2 cup oil in a steady stream. Transfer to a large bowl. Refrigerate, covered, at least 6 hours., In a large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat; stir in paprika. Add remaining 1/2 cup bread cubes; cook and stir until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. , Remove soup from refrigerator, stir to re-distribute settled out oil. Divide soup among bowls; top with toasted croutons, grapes, chopped almonds and additional oil.

KOURAMBIETHES

Steps:

• Place almonds in an ungreased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° until lightly browned, 5-10 minutes, stirring several times. When cool, process in a food processor until finely chopped; set aside. , In a large bowl, cream butter and 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk, whiskey or juice and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and reserved almonds; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into 3-in. logs. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; shape into crescents. Bake at 350° until set and bottoms are lightly browned, 14-18 minutes. , Carefully roll warm cookies in remaining confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar.

ROASTED CHEDDAR HERB ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolk; stir in almonds. In a small bowl, toss cheese with seasonings. Add to almond mixture; toss to combine. Transfer to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool completely.

MARZIPAN CUPS WITH CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Using well-floured hands, press tablespoonfuls of dough onto bottoms and up the sides of greased mini-muffin cups., For filling, in a small bowl, mix almond paste and sugar until blended. Add eggs and extract. Place 1/2 teaspoon jelly in each cup; top with 1 teaspoon almond mixture. Place one almond on top of each cup. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

SLOW COOKER CANDIED NUTS

Steps:

• In a greased 3-qt. slow cooker, mix butter, confectioners' sugar and spices. Add nuts; toss to coat. Cook, covered, on low 2-3 hours or until nuts are crisp, stirring once., Transfer nuts to waxed paper to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Making the Pavlova:.
• Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, start beating the egg whites and salt until they are frothy and form very soft peaks.
• Add the vanilla and continue to whisk.
• Start to add the sugar slowly, a tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat the eggs on high until they are glossy and stiff peaks form.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Trace a plate slightly smaller than you want the final cake to be (about 8 inches is good).
• Lay the side of the paper with the pen/pencil markings face down on the baking sheet. You do not want pencil on the bottom of your dessert!
• Spoon all of the meringue into the center of the circle and smooth out with the spoon to form a mound (about i inch smaller than the circle on the parchment paper).
• Use a spoon to form a well in the center of the meringue, pushing it from the center to the edges of the Pavlova.
• Place the meringue in a preheated 225 degree F oven for 2 hours.
• Turn the oven off and allow the Pavlova to cool in the oven (if you can, leave it in the oven overnight). (You may need to hire bodyguards at this point.).
• Making the chocolate whipped cream:.
• Whip the cream, icing sugar and cocoa until stiff peaks form.
• Making the orange curd:.
• Place all of the ingredients except the butter into the top of a double-boiler (or place about 2 inches water in a saucepan, bring to a gentle simmer and place a metal bowl over it).
• Whisk everything together and cook over a gentle simmer until the mixture thickens.
• Continue to whisk as it cooks - it can take eight to 20 minutes.
• The mixture will coat the back of a spoon when it's ready.
• Remove from heat and add the butter.
• Whisk until the butter has melted and been completely incorporated.
• Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on the top of the curd to keep a skin from forming (I hate skin).
• Refrigerate until cold.
• Two to four hours before serving, spoon the whipped cream into the well in the center of the cooled Pavlova.
• Use a spoon to form a well in the whipped cream.
• Spoon the orange curd into the well in the whipped cream.
• Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.