Orange Pistachio Divinity Food

PISTACHIO-CRANBERRY DIVINITY

Steps:

• Line large cookie sheet with waxed paper. In medium bowl, beat egg white with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form; set aside.
• In 2-quart heavy saucepan, mix water, corn syrup and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Without stirring, cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until syrup reaches 250°F on candy thermometer.
• When syrup is 250°F, continue beating egg white on high speed while slowly pouring syrup into egg white. Beat 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture holds a soft peak and does not flatten when dropped from a spoon.
• Fold in vanilla, nuts and cranberries. Quickly spoon mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Let stand about 30 minutes or until completely set.

PISTACHIO DIVINITY

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with wax paper. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Lightly spray 2 teaspoons with cooking spray.
• In a large heavy-bottom stainless steel saucepan, stir together sugar, corn syrup, ½ cup water, and salt. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 256°. (When thermometer is near 256° begin beating egg whites.)
• In a large bowl of a stand mixer, beat egg whites at medium speed until foamy. Add vanilla extract and cream of tartar, and beat at high speed until stiff peaks form. Add hot sugar syrup to egg white mixture in a thin, steady stream, beating until mixture holds its shapes and begins to lose its glossy appearance, approximately 5 minutes.
• Using prepared spoons, immediately drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Press a pistachio on top of each mound. Let stand until dry before removing from baking sheets, approximately 6 hours.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature with layers separated by wax paper until ready to serve.

ORANGE-PISTACHIO PHYLLO DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking dish. Combine the almond paste, whole eggs, egg yolks, melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor. Pulse until combined with a few small lumps of almond paste. Add 1 tablespoon orange blossom water, the baking powder, salt and vanilla; pulse to combine. Add the phyllo pieces and pulse until finely chopped. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and firm on top, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the syrup: Heat the orange juice, honey, lemon juice, the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and the remaining 1 tablespoon orange blossom water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and immediately pour half of the syrup over the cake; let soak in, 15 minutes. Add the pistachios to the remaining syrup and pour over the cake, spreading the pistachios with a rubber spatula. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan, about 3 hours, tipping the pan occasionally to distribute the syrup. Cut diagonally into small diamonds.

ORANGE PISTACHIO COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg, orange zest and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half. Roughly shape each portion into a 7-in. roll along the long end of a 14x8-in. sheet of waxed paper. Tightly roll waxed paper over dough, using the waxed paper to mold the dough into a smooth roll. Place waxed paper-covered roll in an airtight container; freeze 30 minutes or until firm, or refrigerate overnight. , Preheat oven to 350°. Sprinkle pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet. Unwrap and roll each roll of dough in pistachios. Cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1/2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 6-8 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Cool slightly on pan. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, orange juice and butter until smooth. Spread over cookies. If desired, sprinkle with additional pistachios. Let stand until set.