Peach Melba Slightly Twisted Food

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the pan to the boil and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a fast simmer.
• Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them, if not then you can get them out later. Poach the peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft, and then remove them to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• When all the peaches are poached, peel off their skins and let them cool (then you can remove any remaining stones). If you are making them a day in advance then let the poaching syrup cool and then pour into a dish with the peaches. Otherwise just bag up the syrup and freeze it for the next time you poach peaches.
• To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or a food processor. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug.
• To assemble the Peach Melba, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop or 2 of ice cream. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each.

PEACH MELBA TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Combine the flour, 1/3 cup of the toasted almonds, the granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough just comes together. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk; wrap tightly and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 15 minutes. Unwrap the dough and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edge of the crust is slightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is golden brown all over, 15 to 20 more minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Combine the diced peach, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the peach is soft and the glaze is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove the lemon zest; let the glaze cool.
• Make the filling: Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and nutmeg in a bowl with a mixer until smooth; spread evenly in the crust. Arrange the sliced peaches on top of the filling in concentric circles. Brush with all but about 1 tablespoon of the glaze. Gently toss the raspberries with the remaining glaze, then scatter on top of the tart along with the remaining toasted almonds. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

NOT-SO-CLASSIC PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Make the raspberry sauce: Put 1 cup raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a blender and whiz to liquify. Pour through a fine-meshed strainer and into a medium bowl. Keep cool.
• Using a paring knife, peel and halve the peaches. Slice the halves into half-moon pieces about 3/8-inch thick. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 teaspoons sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Toss to coat.
• To serve, arrange peach slices in the bottom of 6 dessert bowls. Top each serving with a scoop or 2 of vanilla ice cream. Splash raspberry sauce over each portion. Garnish with a few raspberries if you wish.

EASY PEACH MELBA DESSERT

Steps:

• Drain peaches, reserving syrup. Set aside two peaches and 1 tablespoon syrup (refrigerate remaining peaches and syrup for another use). , Place each sponge cake on a plate; drizzle with reserved syrup. Top with ice cream and a peach half. , In a small saucepan, heat jam until melted; drizzle over peaches. Top with nuts if desired. Serve immediately.

PEACH MELBA SUNDAE

Steps:

• Put a sundae glass or bowl in the freezer to chill. To make the sauce, put the raspberries, sugar and lime juice in a blender, and blitz to a purée, loosening with a splash of water if necessary. Set aside. Meanwhile, whip the cream with the vanilla and icing sugar until it holds its shape, then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle, if you like.
• Pour the champagne or prosecco (if using) into the chilled glass, then neatly layer balls of ice cream, peach wedges, raspberries, raspberry sauce and cream, finishing with a big swirl of cream on the top. Scatter with the toasted almonds and serve straight away with two spoons.

PEACH MELBA POTS

Steps:

• Put the mascarpone, yogurt, sugar, ground cloves and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Using a balloon whisk, beat until smooth. Pour in the cream and whisk again until the mixture just holds its shape - you want it to be soft and pillowy, so be careful not to take it too far.
• Put a little jam in the bottom of 6 small glasses or pots, top with some of the cream mixture, then 4 peach slices and more jam. Follow this with another layer of the cream, a drizzle of jam and finally the raspberries. Can be chilled for up to 5 hrs. Scatter over the hazelnuts and serve with biscotti or amaretti biscuits on the side.

PEACH MELBA PIE

Steps:

• Combine both flours, the butter and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a food processor and blitz to a fine crumb. Add cold water 1 tbsp at a time (4-5 tbsp), pulsing until the mix starts to cling together. Tip out and knead with your hands (add more water if required) to make a pliable pastry dough. Split in half and flatten each portion. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hr.
• Remove a disc of pastry from the fridge, unwrap and, on a generously floured surface, roll it out to a large, circle, wider than the pie dish. Transfer to a floured baking sheet and chill for about 10 mins. Repeat with the remaining disc.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Stone and quarter the peaches. Cut each in two, and toss in a bowl with the lemon juice, cornflour, vanilla extract, sugar, honey and raspberries. Add the butter in small pieces.
• Using a floured rolling pin, drape one of the pastry sheets across a 24cm pie dish. Let it sink in and, holding the edges, lift and tuck into the corners. Prick the pastry all over and fill with the peach mixture.
• Drape the second pastry sheet over the filling. Press together the top and bottom crusts, crimping with your fingers to seal, and trim off any excess. Cut three 8cm slits across the top crust, brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle over the demerara sugar. Bake for 55 mins to 1 hr until the crust is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling out. Cool for about 10 mins before serving with cream or vanilla ice cream.

CARAMELIZED PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath, and set aside. Place peaches in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon, and transfer to ice-water bath. Keep the pot of water on the stove. Peel peaches, and cut in half, discarding pits. Reserve ice-water bath.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar over butter; add peaches, cut side down. Cook until they start to brown, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; cook until sugar caramelizes, about 6 minutes more, spooning syrup over peaches occasionally. Reduce heat to low, turn peaches, and cook until caramel turns amber in color, about 2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, return the pot of water on the stove to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer.
• Make sabayon: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks until pale and thick, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl once. Add moscato, and beat for 2 minutes more.
• Transfer yolk mixture to a large clean metal bowl, and set over the simmering water. Whisk until the sabayon thickens and is fluffy and slightly stiff, about 3 minutes. Set bowl in ice-water bath. Continue whisking until chilled, about 3 minutes.
• Whip cream to medium-stiff peaks; fold into chilled sabayon. At this point, sabayon may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. To serve, divide among six goblets. Place a peach half on sabayon, and top with 3 generous tablespoons of warm raspberry sauce.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce heat to low. Place peach halves cut side up in pan; cook for 5-8 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat. Cool peaches in syrup for 30 minutes. , Remove peaches with a slotted spoon and place cut side down in a shallow dish. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until chilled., In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat raspberry jam for 20 seconds; stir until smooth. Place peach halves cut side up in dessert dishes. Top with ice cream; drizzle with jam.