Pumpkin Seed Praline Food

DARK CHOCOLATE FLAN WITH PUMPKINSEED PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet lined with nonstick liner, buttered parchment or waxed paper, spread pepitas close together in a single layer.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup sugar and 6 tablespoons water. Bring to a simmer, stirring only until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, tilting pan occasionally to distribute heat evenly, until a caramel of a deep amber color forms, about 15 minutes.
• Working quickly (before caramel cools and hardens), pour half the hot caramel into a 9-inch loaf pan, tilting pan to coat bottom and a bit of the sides. Pour remaining caramel over pepitas, using an offset spatula to help spread caramel if necessary. Let both pans cool completely. When pepita praline is cool, break into 2-inch pieces.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine milk, cream, chili powder, cinnamon, peppercorns and star anise. Bring to a simmer over high heat; reduce to medium and simmer 5 minutes. Let stand, off heat, 15 minutes. Return to a simmer, turn off heat and whisk in chocolate until smooth.
• In a bowl, whisk eggs, remaining 1/3 cup sugar and the salt together. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot chocolate mixture into eggs until fully combined. Pour custard through a fine sieve into caramel-coated loaf pan. Place loaf pan in a deep roasting pan. Add 2 inches hot tap water to roasting pan. Cover roasting pan tightly with foil; prick foil all over with a fork.
• Carefully transfer pan to oven. Bake until flan is lightly set but still jiggles when shaken (lifting foil to check), about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer loaf pan to a wire rack to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate flan at least 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, run an offset spatula along sides of pan to gently release it. Turn onto a serving platter and top with pepita praline; serve in slices.

PUMPKIN FLAN WITH PUMPKIN SEED PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Heat a 2-quart souffl&é dish or round ceramic casserole in middle of oven.
• Cook 1 cup sugar in a dry 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork, until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel without stirring, swirling pan, until deep golden, about 5 minutes. Quickly and carefully remove hot dish from oven and immediately pour caramel into dish, tilting it to cover bottom and sides. (Leave oven on.) Keep tilting as caramel cools and thickens enough to stay in place.
• Scald whole milk with evaporated milk in a saucepan and remove from heat. Beat eggs and remaining cup sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in salt, pumpkin, tequila, and spices. Pour milk mixture through a sieve into a bowl and beat into pumpkin mixture in a slow stream until combined well.
• Pour custard over caramel in dish and set in a water bath of 1 inch hot water. Put pan in middle of oven and lower temperature to 350°F. Bake until golden brown on top and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours, possibly longer. Remove dish from water bath and transfer to a rack to cool. Chill flan, covered, until cold, at least 6 hours.
• To unmold flan, run a thin knife around flan to loosen from sides of dish. Wiggle dish from side to side and, when flan moves freely in dish, invert a large serving platter with a lip over dish. Holding dish and platter securely together, quickly invert and turn out flan onto platter. Caramel will pour out over and around it. Cut flan into wedges and serve with caramel spooned over and with shards of praline.

PUMPKIN-WALNUT PRALINE BARS

Steps:

• Make the Pastry:.
• In food processor, combine the flour with the sugar and salt. Add the pieces of cold butter and pulse until they resemble small peas. Add the ice water and pulse just until the dough is slightly moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it serveral times, until it comes together. Flatten the dough into a flat circle, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350*F. Butter a 9"x13" glass baking dish. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry to an 11"x15" rectangle, about 1/8" thick. Trim the pastry to a 10"x14" rectangle. Roll the pastry around the rolling pin and carefully unroll it in prepared baking dish, easing it into the corners. Line the pastry with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans. Bake the pastry for 20 minutes, or until it is lightly browned and just set. Remove the foil and beans. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes longer, until the pastry is cooked through but not browned.
• Make the filling:.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the light brown sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin-pie spice. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk until smooth. Whisk in evaporated milk until the filling is blended. Pour the filling into the prebaked crust and smooth the surface. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but very wiggly in the center.
• Make the Topping:.
• In a medium bowl, toss the walnuts with the flour and brown sugar. Add the butter and stir until combined. Drop tablespoons of the topping onto the partially baked pumpkin layer. Bake about 20 minutes longer, until the topping is sizzling and golden and the pumpkin filling is just barely wiggly in the center. Let it cool completely, and cut into 16 bars. Enjoy!
• Note: the bars can be refrigerated up to 3 days.

SAUTEED PEARS WITH PUMPKIN SEED PRALINE CREAM

Steps:

• Saute pears in butter for about 3 to 4 minutes or until just soft and golden. Add the vanilla, port and lemon juice. Toss for a couple of minutes just to reduce sauce a little. Remove from heat. Whip cream with icing sugar until peaks begin to form. Fold in the ground praline. Serve over warm pears.
• In a medium saucepan with heavy bottom on high, heat sugar until melted and starting to turn amber. Add the pumpkin seeds and continue to cook for about 2 minutes or until sugar turns a rich brown caramel color. Be cautious because seeds will pop. Tilt pan to blend sugar, do not stir. Ensure that you have a baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready as mixture is very hot. Remove from heat immediately and pour onto baking sheet. Let cool completely. Transfer to food processor and grind.

PUMPKIN SEED PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F. Lightly oil a large sheet of foil on a baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
• Cook sugar, water, and a pinch of salt in a deep 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a metal fork, until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel without stirring, swirling pan, until deep golden. Immediately stir in pumpkin seeds and quickly pour onto foil, spreading into a thin sheet before it hardens. (If caramel hardens and is difficult to spread, put in a 400°F oven until warm enough to spread, 1 to 2 minutes.)
• Cool praline on baking sheet on a rack until completely hardened, then break into large pieces.