Ricotta Mascarpone Blintzes With Rhubarb Strawberry Compote Food

CHEESE BLINTZES WITH STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the crepes, combine the milk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter in a blender and pulse. Add flour and powdered sugar and pulse until mixture is completely blended. Refrigerate mixture for 15 minutes to remove air bubbles.
• While the batter is chilling, combine the filling ingredients in a standing mixer or in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, being sure to break up the harder farmer cheese so that it is evenly distributed in the filling. Don't stress about any remaining chunks of farmer cheese as they will melt in the oven. Refrigerate while you make the crepes.
• To make the crepes heat an 8-inch non-stick pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, lightly brush it with melted butter. Pour ¼ cup of your batter into the middle of the pan and quickly rotate the pan to evenly coat the bottom. After about a minute the bottom of the crepe will be a nice brown color. Run a flexible spatula under the crepe and lay it flat on a plate - cooked side up. You can stack the rest of the crepes on each other this way.
• To make the blintzes, place a crepe cooked-side up and spoon 3-4 tablespoons of filling lengthwise in the middle of the crepe. Fold one long side of the crepe over the filling, then fold the two short sides in, and fold the remaining side over. Place the blintzes seam-side down in a baking dish for 30 minutes. At this point the blintzes can be wrapped and refrigerated up to a day in advance.
• While the blintzes chill, add the sliced rhubarb, orange juice and sugar into a medium pot and cover. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the rhubarb has softened, add the strawberries and continue cooking uncovered for another 5 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional minute and remove from heat.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Fry the blintzes, two or three at a time, starting with the seam side down, until they are brown on both sides (about a minute per side) placing them side-by-side in a large casserole dish when done. Bake the blintzes in the dish for about 12 minutes to firm them up.
• Plate the blintzes, generously spoon the compote over them and dust with powdered sugar if you like.

CHEESE BLINTZES WITH STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• BLINTZES: Using a blender, mix the eggs, milk and flour at low speed. Add the Grand Marnier. Once the batter is well mixed and coats the spoon with a thin film, refrigerate, covered for 1 hour in a pitcher or bowl.
• Stir the batter thoroughly and before making the crepes, test the liquid by dunking a spoon in the mixture; again, it should coat the spoon with a thin film. Adjust by adding milk if necessary.
• Using a 8-10" nonstick pan, spray with oil, and heat the pan over medium-high heat. Pour about one cup of batter to coat one pan. Once covered, pour a thin layer of batter into the heated pan, swirling to coat if necessary.
• When the crepes pull away from the edge of the pan in about 20 seconds, remove from the heat, tap them lightly or run a knife across the edge of the pan to release, and invert the crepes on a dry towel to cool. Stir the batter at brief intervals to re-suspend the ingredients.
• FILLING: Mix together the ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest and a small pinch of salt.
• ASSEMBLY: With the cooked side up, spoon about 1/4 cup filling inside the center of the wrapper.
• Fold and hold the two opposite sides of the crepe over the filling until they almost meet and then fold over the ingredients pulling the stuffing toward you.
• Fold the crepe over until you form a seam on the blintz. Set finished 2-inch by 1 1/2-inch flat "eggroll" shaped blintz on a dry towel with the seam side down.
• COOK: Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium high heat, beginning with the seam side down. Saute each blintz until golden brown, carefully so the cheese does not escape.
• Flip the blintz onto the other side. Lower the flame and cook slowly, about 2 to 5 minutes to avoid burning the crepe.
• TOPPING: Gently toss the rhubarb, strawberries, flour, sugar and lemon and let stand until moist, 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter and add the fruit mixture. Cook the fruit for approximately 35 minutes, stirring to make sure the fruit does not brown. Cover 5 minutes or until rhubarb is soft.
• TO SERVE: Ladle the warm fruit over the blintz and top with a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with a fresh strawberry half.

RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients, except for the tapioca, in a saucepan over medium heat to extract the juices, and then cook until the rhubarb is al dente. Add the starch and simmer until the compote thickens. Remove from the heat and transfer to a hotel pan to cool. Serve with Streusel.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cream together the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add flour, combine until pebbly.
• Press together in your hand. Break off pieces and bake until golden brown

RICOTTA AND ORANGE BLINTZES WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the batter: Combine the milk, water, eggs, flour, sugar, and salt in a blender. Blend on medium speed for 15 seconds, until the batter is smooth and lump-free. Scrape down the sides of the blender and pour in the melted butter. Blend it again for a few seconds just to incorporate the butter. Refrigerate the batter for 1 hour to let it rest.
• Make the filling: In a small bowl combine the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, egg, confectioners' sugar, and zest and blend until smooth. Chill until ready to use.
• Make the sauce: Combine the strawberries, sugar, water, cornstarch, and zest in a small pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir gently until the berries release their natural juices. The consistency should remain a bit chunky, it will thicken up when it cools down.
• Make the crepes: Put an 8-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat and brush with a little melted butter. Pour 1/4 cup batter into the pan and swirl it around so it covers the bottom evenly; pour back any excess. Cook until the crepe batter sets and the bottom is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Use a heatproof rubber spatula to loosen the crepe and flip it. Cook it on the other side for about 1 minute. Slide them onto a plate and continue making the crepes until all the batter is used. Cover the stack with a towel to keep them from drying out. Makes about 10 crepes.
• Assembly: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spoon 1/4 cup of the cheese filling along the lower third of the crepe. Fold the bottom edge away from you to just cover the filling; then fold the 2 sides in to the center. Roll the crepe away from you a couple of times ending with the seam side down. Put an ovenproof skillet over medium heat and brush with melted butter. Pan-fry the blintzes top side down until crisp and golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip them over, transfer the pan to the oven, and bake for 10 minutes so the cheese mixture sets. Using a spatula, transfer the blintzes to serving plates. Spoon the strawberry sauce on top, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve immediately.

CHEESE BLINTZES WITH STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make crepes:
• Stir flour, sugar and salt in large bowl. Whisk eggs, milk, butter and vanilla in medium bowl to blend. Add to dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
• Spray with vegetable oil spray and heat over medium-low heat. Pour 2 tablespoons crepe batter into pan and swirl pan to coat bottom thinly. Cook until edge of crepe is light brown, about 1 minute. Loosen edges of crepe gently with spatula. Carefully turn crepe over. Cook until beginning to brown in spots, about 30 seconds. Transfer crepe to plate. Place paper towel atop crepe. Repeat with remaining batter, spraying pan with vegetable oil spray as needed and covering each crepe with paper towel, forming total of 16 crepes.
• For filling:
• Mix farmer cheese and cream cheese in large bowl to blend. Stir in sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract and ground cardamom.
• Place 1 crepe on work surface. Place 2 tablespoons filling 3-inch-long log just below center. Fold bottom of crepe over filling. fold sides in. Roll crepe up, enclosing filling completely. Transfer blintz to plastic-lined dish. Repeat with remaining filling and crepes.(Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill overnight)
• For compote:
• Simmer orange juice and honey in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Add rhubarb and stir until just tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in vanilla extract and ground cardamom. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Keep chilled.) Stir in strawberries.
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Place 5 blintzes, seam side down, in skillet. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer blintzes to baking sheet; keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 11 blintzes in 2 more batches. Place blintzes on plates. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.