Pear And Ricotta Blintzes With Spiced Maple Butter Sauce Food

PEAR AND RICOTTA BLINTZES WITH SPICED MAPLE-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Whisk all ingredients in heavy small saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Cool until slightly thickened, whisking occasionally. (Can be made 3 days ahead; chill.)
• For crêpes:
• Blend milk and eggs in blender until smooth. Add flour, butter, sugar and salt; blend until smooth batter forms. Chill 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Reblend for 10 seconds before using.
• Heat nonstick skillet with 8-inch bottom over medium-high heat; brush with oil. Pour scant 3 tablespoons batter into skillet. Rotate and shake skillet to spread batter over bottom. Cook until crêpe is brown at edges and appears dry on top, about 20 seconds. Turn crêpe over. Cook until brown spots form on bottom of crêpe, about 12 seconds. Turn crêpe out onto paper towel; cover with paper towel. Repeat, making about 26 crêpes and brushing skillet occasionally with oil. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap; chill.)
• For filling:
• Mix currants and rum in small bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Mix in pears and 1/4 cup sugar. Cook until pears are tender and brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes; cool.
• Beat cream cheese, eggs, peel, vanilla and 1/4 cup sugar in bowl. Beat in ricotta cheese; stir in pear and currant mixtures. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Place 1 crêpe, spotted side up, on work surface. Shape 1/4 cup filling into 3-inch-long log in center of crêpe. Fold bottom of crêpe over filling. Fold in sides; roll up. Place seam side down in prepared dish. Repeat with remaining filling and crêpes.
• Cover dish with foil. Bake blintzes until thermometer inserted into center of filling registers 160°F to 170°F, about 45 minutes. Place 2 blintzes on each plate. Whisk sauce over low heat until just warm and smooth. Serve blintzes with sauce.

BREAKFAST RICOTTA WITH BERRIES & MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saute pan over medium heat. Stir in the almonds and saute, tossing frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the almonds are a golden brown. Sprinkle with the fleur de sel, add the maple syrup and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, honey and vanilla and divide it among breakfast plates. Surround the ricotta with the berries and spoon the almond and maple syrup mixture over the ricotta. Place a slice of toasted brioche on each plate and serve warm.
• Set a medium-meshed sieve over a deep bowl. Line the sieve with two double layers of cheesecloth and dampen the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a large stainless steel or enameled pot such as Le Creuset and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally (a full rolling boil means that the bubbles have expanded in the pot). Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute until it curdles.
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl, discarding the liquid as it collects in the bowl. Allow it to drain at room temperature for 20 to 25 minutes. The longer you let the mixture drain, the thicker it will be. Transfer the ricotta to another bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Yield: about 2 cups

PEAR MAPLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat a 9-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven.
• Add the flour, pears, baking powder and salt to a food processor. Pulse 2 to 3 times to combine. Add 5 tablespoons butter, pulsing until it resembles a coarse meal. Pour in the half-and-half and 2 tablespoons maple syrup and pulse until just combined. Transfer to a floured work surface and roll the dough into a square about 1/2-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter (or the rim of a glass works, too), cut 8 biscuits, re-rolling if necessary.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the hot skillet. Swirl the skillet to coat the bottom and sides with butter, then pour the butter into a bowl and mix with the remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Add the biscuits to the skillet and brush them each with a little of the maple butter, saving the rest for finishing.
• Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Brush the remaining maple butter on the biscuits and let them cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

EASY MAPLE BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring maple syrup and butter to a boil over medium heat.
• Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Whisk in cream.
• Store in the refrigerator.