Ricotta Stuffed Apricots Food

BLUEBERRY-RICOTTA STUFFED EBELSKIVERS

Steps:

• For the filling: Mix together the ricotta, honey and lemon zest in a small bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the pancakes: Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
• Whisk together the milk, sour cream, egg yolks and lemon zest in another medium bowl. Whisk the yolk mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (the batter will be lumpy). Allow the batter to rest while you whip the egg whites.
• Beat the egg whites in a separate medium bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
• Heat an ebelskiver pan over medium heat for 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and brush 4 of the wells generously with melted butter so there is some butter pooling at the bottom of each (the butter should barely sizzle when it hits the pan). Fill each buttered well with about 1 tablespoon batter. Repeat with the butter and batter in the remaining 4 wells. (You are working in batches to prevent the butter from burning.) Allow the batter to cook slightly around the edges, about 30 seconds.
• Carefully spoon about 1 teaspoon of the ricotta filling into the center of each ebelskiver, then press 2 blueberries (or just 1 if large) into the center. Spoon about 1 tablespoon additional batter on top of the blueberries so the wells are very full. Cook until the bottom crusts are golden brown, an additional 2 1/2 minutes.
• Push a wooden skewer through the raw batter and into the bottom crust of each ebelskiver to turn it slowly. Allow the raw batter to flow back into the well and create a new bottom crust. (If an ebelskiver does not slide up easily or hold its shape, slide it back to its original position and give it more time to cook and set.) Cook until the new undersides are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Check all sides of the ebelskivers: If there are pale spots on some, turn them pale-side down so they brown against the bottom of the pan for a few seconds. When they are done, the ebelskivers should be deep golden brown all over and a skewer inserted deep into the pancakes, avoiding the filling, should come out clean. If you find that some are cooking much more quickly than others, rotate the pan occasionally to even out the heat. Remove the ebelskivers from the pan.
• Repeat the process with the remaining melted butter, batter, filling and blueberries to make 6 more ebelskivers. By the second batch, the pan will be significantly hotter, so you may need to reduce the heat or remove the pan from the heat occasionally to ensure even cooking. Dust the ebelskivers with confectioners' sugar and serve warm drizzled with honey.

FRESH BERRIES & SWEET RICOTTA

Steps:

• Place the Homemade Ricotta in a medium bowl and stir in the sugar, honey, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours. In another bowl, combine the strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• When ready to serve, divide the berries among 6 bowls. With an ice cream scoop, place a large dollop of the ricotta in each bowl and drizzle with lots of the Fresh Raspberry Sauce. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and serve.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.
• Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

APRICOTS WITH HONEY-GINGER RICOTTA AND PISTACHIO NUTS

Steps:

• Slice the apricots in half, carefully remove the pits, and set aside. Combine the ricotta cheese with the ginger and 2 teaspoons of the honey in a mixing bowl.
• Place the apricot halves on a serving platter and top each with a spoonful of the honey-ginger-ricotta mixture. Sprinkle the pistachios on top, and drizzle with the remaining teaspoon honey. Serve immediately.

APRICOT-RICOTTA STUFFED CELERY

Steps:

• Place apricots in a food processor. Cover and process until finely chopped. Add the ricotta cheese, brown sugar, orange zest and salt; cover and process until blended. Stuff or pipe into celery. Chill until serving.

RICOTTA STUFFED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Mix ricotta, honey and cinnamon.
• Spoon mixture into a piping bag with a star tip. I use a #18, but any size will work as long as it is large enough for the ricotta mixture to be piped through it.
• Take each apricot and roll it in your fingers to reveal the hole made when the pits were removed. Pipe the ricotta mixture into this hole, filling the apricot.

MARZIPAN STUFFED APRICOTS IN CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Roll marzipan into 24 small balls. Stuff one ball of marzipan into opening in each apricot where pit was removed. Press apricot closed, flattening slightly.
• Melt candy melts as directed on package. Dip each apricot halfway in melted candy. Place on waxed paper. Let stand about 5 minutes or until candy coating is set.

APRICOT & RICOTTA TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/gas 3. Tip all the ingredients for the base, except for the egg, into a food processor and blend until like breadcrumbs. Add the egg and blend again to make a paste. Scrape onto the base of a greased 24cm loose-bottomed springform tin, spread with a spatula then bake for 25 minutes until risen and just set.
• Meanwhile beat the ricotta in a bowl with the eggs, soured cream, sugar and vanilla, then when the base has had its 25 minutes, take it out of the oven. Quickly scatter the apricots over the base and pour the cheese mixture on top. Return to the oven for 50 minutes more until the mixture has set and is starting to turn golden round the edges.
• Run a knife round the cake to release it from the sides of the tin then cool and chill. You can make this a day ahead.
• Transport the tin covered with cling film or foil, then turn out and dust with icing sugar when you get there.