Raspberry Plum Sorbet Food

RASPBERRY-PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Combine sugar and water in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Cool sugar syrup completely.
• Blend plums and raspberries in processor until smooth. Strain through coarse sieve into large bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Stir in cooled sugar syrup. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
• Process sorbet in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer sorbet to bowl. Cover and freeze. (Sorbet can be made 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)

RASPBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• Put the sugar and water in a pot and heat until the sugar dissolves.
• This is likely to happen before the water boils.
• Do not stir, but instead set the mixture aside to cool and then put in the fridge until it is completely cold.
• Afterwards, mix the berries, cold syrup and creme de cassis in a food processor or blender.
• Whiz until smooth and then, if desired, push through a sieve to remove the seeds.
• You can leave the seeds in if you like a little crunch in your sorbet.
• Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker.
• You can also do it by hand, stirring the frozen edges into the center every hour or so until it is nearly frozen.
• However, the texture will not be as velvety as in an ice cream maker.

BLACK RASPBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• Combine water, sugar, and creme de cassis in a medium bowl. Stir until sugar granules are completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Combine berries and lemon juice in a blender; process to a smooth puree.
• Set a fine mesh strainer over a medium bowl. Pour small batches of the berry puree into the strainer, stirring vigorously to force the liquid into the bowl. Discard the seeds once most of the liquid has been removed.
• Stir the berry puree into the sugar mixture until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for about 4 hours.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until until stiff peaks form. Remove the puree from the freezer and whisk until slushy. Fold egg whites into the puree until just blended. Cover and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.

RASPBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Let syrup cool.
• Pulse raspberries and remaining 3/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons water in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve set in a deep bowl or a large glass measuring cup. Using a rubber spatula, gently press down on the mixture to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids.
• Transfer raspberry puree to a deep bowl or airtight container. Add syrup, and stir until well combined. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Pour mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturers' instructions. Transfer sorbet to a large airtight container, and freeze for at least 2 hours.

RASPBERRY-CHAMBORD SORBET

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water over high heat.
• Stir occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup is simmering, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. (You should have about 1/2 cup syrup.).
• In a mixing bowl, combine the warm syrup with the raspberry puree, Chambord and lemon juice. Stir well to combine and then let mixture cool to room temperature.
• For faster freezing, transfer the mixture to the refrigerator to chill there first.
• Freeze the mixture in an ice-cream maker, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• When ready to serve, place the sorbet in a pretty dessert cup, parfait glasses, or even champagne flutes; with macadamia nut cookies, and a sprig of mint.
• Voila!

RASPBERRY PLUM JAM

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine the plums, raspberries, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Continue to boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. , Remove from heat; skim off foam. Ladle hot mixture into six hot pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

PLUM-RASPBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• Slice the plums in half and remove the pits. Cut the plums into eighths and put them in a medium, nonreactive saucepan with the water. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until tender. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and raspberries. Let cool, to room temperature.
• Once cool, purée the mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth. If you wish, press the purée through a mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Stir in the kirsch.
• Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Serve scoops of Plum-Raspberry Sorbet in Gingersnap Ice Cream Cones (page 230).
• Normally I'm a fan of leaving things as close to their natural state as possible. Yet in many of the frozen desserts with berries, I choose to strain out the seeds. Why? Much of the pleasure of eating ice creams, sorbets, and sherbets is in the smooth, creamy mouthfeel, and crunching on seeds, or getting them stuck between your teeth, can be somewhat unpleasant if there are a lot of them. Especially if you don't have a toothpick handy afterward. If you do wish to keep the seeds in your mixtures, by all means do so. Or compromise a bit by straining out half of the seeds and leaving the rest in.

RASPBERRY SORBET FOR TWO

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Pour into 2 dessert dishes. Cover and freeze for 1 hour or until edges begin to firm. Stir and return to freezer. Freeze 1-1/2 hours longer or until firm. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with raspberries.