Pecan Roulade With Praline Mousse Food

CREAMY PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Mix light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, water and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves. Stir in pecans and cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 238 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. If you spoon a drop of boiling syrup into a cup of ice water, it will form a soft ball that flattens easily between your fingers.
• Remove pan from heat and stir rapidly until mixture thickens. Drop pralines by the spoonfuls, 1-inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Let cool completely until firm. Store in an airtight container.

PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Combine the pecans, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup and vanilla in a large Dutch oven fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook until the candy thermometer registers 236 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and continue stirring for 1 minute; the mixture will begin to thicken. Working quickly, carefully pour the praline mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread thin before it starts to set. Allow to cool and harden for at least 10 minutes.
• Break into serving-size pieces. Store in an airtight container.

PRALINE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Prepare the praline and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• In a saucepan, put the yolks, one- half cup of the sugar and the milk. Bring to the simmer and cook until the mixture achieves a custardlike texture. Do not overcook or the eggs will curdle. Remove from the heat immediately.
• Blend the gelatin with the water until it is softened. Stir this into the custard mixture and stir until dissolved. Pour and scrape the mixture into a mixing bowl. Let it stand until cool.
• Put the egg whites in one large mixing bowl, the cream in another.
• Beat the whites until they are almost stiff and add two tablespoons of sugar. Continue beating until they are stiff.
• Beat the cream until it is almost stiff and add the remaining two tablespoons of sugar. Continue beating until it is stiff.
• Add half of the whites to the egg-yolk sauce and beat them in. Add the remaining whites, folding them in gently. Fold in the cream.
• Continue folding while gradually sprinkling the praline on top. Chill until set.

MAPLE PEAR, PECAN & MASCARPONE ROULADE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Oil a 30 x 24cm swiss roll tin and line with baking parchment. Put the eggs, vanilla and both sugars in a large bowl, and beat with an electric whisk for 5 mins, or until thickened and doubled in volume. The beaters should leave a thick trail when lifted out of the mixture.
• Sift over the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ¼ tsp salt, and very gently fold in using a large metal spoon. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 10-15 mins until golden and springy. Leave to cool in the tin a little, then turn out onto a sheet of baking parchment dusted with icing sugar. Roll up from a longer end, along with the parchment, then leave to cool.
• Toss the pears with the lemon juice in a bowl, then tip into a sieve set over a bowl to drain off any excess liquid. Beat together the mascarpone, double cream and 3 tbsp of the maple syrup until thick and spoonable. Tip the pecans into a food processor and blitz until finely chopped, then spread out on a large sheet of baking parchment.
• When the sponge is completely cool, unroll and drizzle over the remaining maple syrup. Spread with three-quarters of the mascarpone mixture, then scatter over the pears and roll up again tightly. Spread the remaining mascarpone all over the outside of the roulade, then swiftly roll in the chopped pecans. Cut into thick slices and serve with an extra drizzle of maple syrup, if you like.