Pistachio Chocolate Checkers Food

PISTACHIO WHITE CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• For the pistachio white chocolate butter: Combine the pistachios, white chocolate chips, sugar, salt, almond extract and vanilla in a food processor and blend, scraping the sides occasionally, until very creamy and spreadable, about 10 minutes.
• For the white hot chocolate: Gently heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk in 4 to 6 tablespoons of the pistachio butter (4 tablespoons for a nice, light, not-too-sweet situation, or 6 for a very rich desserty sitch!). Save the remaining pistachio butter for another use.

PISTACHIO, CHERRY AND CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Combine the biscotti, butter and sugar in a food processor. Blend until the mixture forms moist crumbs that stick together when pressed. Firmly press the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until golden and feels firm to the touch, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Spread the cherry preserves over the cooled crust leaving a 1/2 to 1-inch border.
• For the filling: Place the chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the dried cherries and 1/2 cup of the pistachios. Pour the chocolate filling over the cherry preserves and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup pistachios on top. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours or preferably overnight.
• Loosen the tart from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the edge. Unmold the tart and transfer to a serving plate. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt flakes, if using. Cut into wedges and serve.

PISTACHIO CHOCOLATE CHECKERS

Steps:

• To make the chocolate dough, use the first set of ingredients. In a medium bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and butter. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour, salt and cocoa, stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Set aside.
• To make the pistachio dough, use the second set of ingredients. In a medium bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and butter. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour and salt, stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the pistachios and food coloring.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat out each dough to a rectangle 6x5 inches. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 8- 3/4 inch strips. Place 1 strip of each color side by side. Place two more strips on top of those, alternating colors. Repeat until the checkerboard is 4 strips high. Use remaining strips to form a second rectangle. Wrap rectangles and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Unwrap the dough and slice crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until set. Remove cookies from baking sheet to cool on wire racks.

PISTACHIO CHOCOLATE CHECKERS

Steps:

• To make the chocolate dough, use the first set of ingredients. In a medium bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and butter. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour, salt and cocoa, stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Set aside.
• To make the pistachio dough, use the second set of ingredients. In a medium bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and butter. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour and salt, stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the pistachios and food coloring.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat out each dough to a rectangle 6x5 inches. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 8- 3/4 inch strips. Place 1 strip of each color side by side. Place two more strips on top of those, alternating colors. Repeat until the checkerboard is 4 strips high. Use remaining strips to form a second rectangle. Wrap rectangles and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Unwrap the dough and slice crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until set. Remove cookies from baking sheet to cool on wire racks.

PISTACHIO & MILK CHOCOLATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking parchment. Whizz 125g of the pistachios, 75g of the chocolate and about half the sugar in a food processor until very finely chopped. Tip into a bowl with remaining sugar, butter, eggs, flour and milk, plus a pinch of salt, and beat. Scrape into the tin and bake for 35-45 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean. Cool.
• Melt the remaining milk chocolate, stir in the soured cream and cool until spreadable. Trim the edges off the cake, then split in half. Spread a little icing over the base, sandwich the top of sponge back on. Spread remaining icing over the top, roughly chop the remaining pistachios and scatter them over. Cut into 16 squares to serve.

PISTACHIO-CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Combine first 3 ingredients. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add dry pudding mix and milk; mix well. Blend in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 8 to 10 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

PISTACHIO-CHOCOLATE CHECKERS

Steps:

• Mix powdered sugar, butter and egg in large bowl.
• Stir in flour and salt.
• Divide dough in half: stir cocoa and milk into one half and nuts and food color into the other half.
• Pat chocolate dough into rectangle, 6x5 inches.
• Cut crosswise into 8 strips, 3/4 inch wide.
• Repeat with pistachio dough.
• Place strips of each color of dough side by side alternating colors, Top with 2 strips of each color alternating colors to create checkerboard.
• Gently press strips together.
• Make second stack with remaining strips.
• Wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cut rectangles crosswise into 1/4 inch slices.
• Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set.
• Cool.
• Makes 3 dozen cookies.