Pistachio Blancmanges Food

BLANCMANGE

Steps:

• Mix the cornstarch, sugar, and salt with 1/4 cup of cold milk.
• In a small pot, heat the remaining milk over low heat (Do not boil!).
• While whisking, slowly add the cold milk mixture to the heated milk, stirring constantly, in a heavy bottomed pan or a double boiler.
• Continue to cook over low heat, whisking constantly, for 15 minutes until the raw taste of the cornstarch disappears and it thickens. (Do not boil!). It will thicken all at once at the end of the cooking time.
• Let cool, then add the vanilla.
• Cover and chill.
• For Chocolate Blancmange, when you heat the milk, add 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate and stir until smooth.
• Can pour into decorative 1/4-1/2 cup dishes.

PISTACHIO CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Pour milk in a large pan, and cook on high heat. When milk starts boiling, remove from heat. Put a large empty bowl and another one filled with ice the refrigerator. Pour egg yolks and sugar into an electric mixer and mix until it becomes thick and white. Leave aside. Put milk back on heat and bring to boil. Pour a little milk into egg and sugar mix whipping constantly. Pour into milk pan and cook at low temperature stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until firm consistency (about 5 minutes). Do not bring to boil. To check if creme is ready, rub your finger on the back of the spoon and if it leaves a trace, the creme is cooked. Add the pistachio paste. Put the bowl on ice to stop the cooking process. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

BRANDIED POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• Bring sugar, orange juice, water, zest, and vanilla bean to a boil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add peaches, stem ends up. Cover pan and reduce heat, then poach peaches at a bare simmer 8 minutes. Turn peaches over and continue to poach, covered, until tender, 7 to 8 minutes more.
• Transfer peaches with a slotted spoon to a bowl or shallow dish to cool, reserving poaching liquid in saucepan. Lift out vanilla bean pod and scrape seeds into poaching liquid, then boil liquid until reduced to about 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a small bowl or glass measure and cool. Stir in brandy (to taste).
• Peel peaches and serve whole with syrup.