Orange Fools Food

BOODLE'S ORANGE FOOL

Steps:

• Use the sponge slices to line the bottom and halfway up the sides of a deep serving dish or bowl.
• Mix the orange and lemon zests and juices with the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
• In another bowl, whip the cream until it just starts to thicken, then slowly add the sweetened fruit juice, whipping the cream as you do so.
• Whip until the cream is light and thickened and all the juice absorbed.
• Pour the mixture over the sponge and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, longer if possible, so that the juice can soak into the sponge and the cream thicken Serve decorated with segments or slices of fresh orange.

ORANGE FOOLS

Steps:

• With a vegetable peeler remove 2 strips zest from orange (each about 3 by 1/2 inch) and mince.
• Squeeze enough juice from orange to measure 1/2 cup and in a small heavy saucepan simmer orange juice until reduced to 1/4 cup.
• Remove pan from heat and add sugar and butter to orange juice, whisking until butter is melted. Whisk in egg until combined well and cook mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubble appears on surface, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and add zest to orange curd, whisking. Pour orange curd into a bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stir until cold.
• In another bowl beat cream until it just holds stiff peaks and fold into orange curd gently but thoroughly.
• Spoon orange fool into 2 chilled goblets.

ORANGE-FOOL NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Cut off about 1 inch from both ends of all 4 oranges; reserve the ends. Stand 1 orange cut-side down on a cutting board. Working from top to bottom, cut away the peel and pith. Cut the orange into 3 rounds, each about 3/4-inch-thick, transferring the rounds to a medium bowl as you work. Repeat with the remaining oranges. Refrigerate the slices until needed.
• Squeeze the juice from the reserved orange ends into a small saucepan. Add the orange zest, honey and any remaining juice from your cutting board, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, swirling the pot occasionally, until syrupy, about 6 minutes. Toward the end, the surface will be covered with big brownish bubbles. You should have about 1/4 cup of syrup. Let cool to room temperature, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat, add the pistachios and cook, tossing frequently until fragrant and toasted, about 4 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• Whisk together the yogurt, half the syrup and the orange-blossom water in a medium bowl.
• In each of 4 shallow bowls, layer 3 orange slices with 1 tablespoon of the yogurt mixture, beginning with an orange slice and ending with yogurt. Drizzle the remaining orange syrup over the tops, sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

RHUBARB AND ORANGE FOOL

Steps:

• Place the orange juice and rind, the rhubarb, red currant jell and sugar in a saucepan. Cover and simmer gently for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is just tender, but not mushy.
• Remove the pan from the heat , transfer the rhubarb to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Drain the cooled rhubarb to remove some of the liquid. Reserve a few pieces of the rhubarb and a little orange rind for garnish. Puree the remaining rhubarb in a food processor or blender, or press through a sieve.
• Stir th custard into the puree then fold in the whipped cream. Spoon the fool into individual bowls, cover and chill. Just before serving, top with the reserved fruit and rind. Serve with cookies.

STRAWBERRY-ORANGE FOOL

Steps:

• Blend 2 cups of the strawberries, and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a blender or food processor until smooth. Transfer to medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until bubbling and just thickened. Set aside to cool, then refrigerate and chill for about 1 hour. Stir in remaining 1 cup strawberries.
• In a medium clean, cold bowl, beat cream with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the sugar and liqueur until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into strawberry mixture. Chill fool until beginning to set, about 30 minutes.

BLOOD ORANGE FOOL

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine blood orange juice and peel, sugar and water. Bring to a boil and reduce to approximately 1 cup. Allow to cool, cover and refrigerate syrup overnight. Strain out peel and pulp of orange. Whip cream to stiff peaks with 1/4 cup syrup. Spoon into blood orange halves. Sprinkle tops with almonds.

STRAWBERRY AND ORANGE FOOLS

Steps:

• Place chopped strawberries in medium bowl. Mash coarsely with fork. Place in colander and let drain 15 minutes.
• Beat cream in large bowl to stiff peaks. Gently fold in yogurt, sugar, orange juice and peel. Fold in Cointreau, if desired. Gently fold in strawberries. Divide among 4 wineglasses or coupes. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Garnish fools with additional halved strawberries and serve.