Orange Marquise Food

CHOCOLATE MARQUISE

Steps:

• Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Then assemble a bain-marie - do this by pouring a little water into a saucepan and placing the bowl over the water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl). Set the pan over a gentle heat and warm the water until the chocolate has melted. Take off the heat and leave to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, place the butter and half the sugar into another large bowl. Using a tabletop mixer or electric hand whisk, beat until the mixture is really light and creamy, then beat in the cocoa powder.
• Separate the eggs (the whites can be frozen for another time) and put the yolks in a third bowl. Tip in the remaining sugar, then beat together until pale and creamy. To check if it's ready, make a figure-of-eight shape in the mixture with the beater - it should hold its shape for a moment. In a fourth bowl, whip the cream until thickened with soft peaks.
• Pour the melted chocolate into the butter mixture, and carefully stir through until it is well combined. Gently fold in the egg mixture. When this is amalgamated, stir in the whipped cream. Now line a 6.5 x 22cm tin with 3 layers of cling film, leaving a 10cm overhang.
• Spoon the mixture into a large piping bag with a large nozzle attached (see Gordon's steps, far right). Pipe a layer over the bottom of the tin, then cover this with a layer of After Eights (cut some in half to ensure they fit). Pipe over another layer of chocolate cream, followed by a layer of After Eights. Continue until you have 4 layers of chocolate mints and the tin is full, finishing with a chocolate cream layer. Fold over the cling film, then chill overnight or up to 2 days.
• Just before serving, place the marquise in the freezer for 10 mins to make it easier to slice. Place the tin, bottomside up, on a serving plate, slide off the tin, then peel away the cling film. If you have a blowtorch, quickly run the flame over the surface of the marquise to give it a glossy sheen. Alternatively, dip a palette knife in boiling water and smooth the surface that way. Use a serrated knife dipped in boiling water to cut the marquise into slices.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE MARQUISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F, grease a 9" cake pan to the depth of 2", line bottom with parchment.
• Place 1/2 c of sugar in a saucepan, add orange juice and stir over gentle heat until sugar has dissolved completely.
• Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate until melted, then add butter, cube by cube until melted and thouroghly mixed.
• Whisk the eggs into the remaining sugar in a large bowl until very thick, add the orange zest.
• Using a metal spoon, fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture lightly and evenly.
• Sift the flour over the top and fold in.
• Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Place in a rosting pan, transfer to the oven and pour hot water into the roasting pan to abut halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
• Bake for about 1 hour or until the cake is firm to the touch.
• Remove the cake from the water bath and place on a wire rack to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• To turn out, invert the cake onto a baking sheet, place a serving plate upside down on top, then turn plate and baking sheet over together so the cake is transferred to the plate.
• Dust with confectioners sugar and decorate with stips of pared orange zest.

ORANGE SEGMENTS WITH BERRIES AND BALSAMIC CREAM

Steps:

• Cut the peel and white pith from the oranges. Cut between the membranes to release the segments.
• Whisk the vinegar, creme fraiche, and sugar in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until it thickens and resembles a sauce, about 8 minutes.
• Arrange the orange segments and strawberries decoratively on plates. Drizzle the warm balsamic sauce over the fruit and serve. Alternately, the balsamic sauce can be served at room temperature and spooned atop the fruit. This is great served with frozen yogurt or ice cream.

QUINCE ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours or until mixture is reduced to 3 cups, stirring frequently., Cool slightly; carefully mash. Fill all containers to within 1/2 in. of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year. Thaw frozen marmalade in refrigerator before serving.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & STRAWBERRY MARQUISE

Steps:

• Line a 1.2 litre loaf tin with a double layer of cling film allowing it to overhang the edges. Arrange rows of sponge fingers, widthwise, across the base. Sprinkle evenly with 3 tbsp orange juice.
• Put chocolate in a heatproof bowl with the butter. Microwave on Medium for 1½-2 mins, gently stirring halfway through. Whisk cream with 1 tbsp icing sugar until it just holds its shape. Fold in the melted chocolate until evenly mixed.
• Select 8-10 even sized strawberries. Spoon half the chocolate mix into tin, then put selected strawberries down the centre of the tin, pressing down gently. Spoon over remaining chocolate cream and smooth the top. Fold overhanging cling film over marquise. Chill for at least 24 hrs, preferably 2 days in the fridge until set.
• Weigh out 250g of the remaining strawberries, roughly chop them and put in the food processor with 2 tbsp icing sugar and 1 tbsp orange juice. Blitz until smooth, then press through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Chill until needed.
• To serve, unmould marquise and cut into thick slices. Serve with strawberry sauce and a few reserved strawberries.