Rustic Apricot Sorbet Food

APRICOT SORBET

Steps:

• Combine water and sugar in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add apricots, and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until apricots are tender.
• Place apricot mixture and vanilla in a blender; process until smooth, and chill.
• Pour mixture into freezer can of an ice cream freezer, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Spoon into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 2 hours or until firm.

RUSTIC APRICOT SORBET

Steps:

• Place the water and the sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring all the while. When the sugar has dissolved, add the apricots, return to the boil, and reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering gently. Simmer the apricots just until they begin to turn tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
• Puree the apricots and their poaching liquid in a food processor until smooth. Strain the mixture if you like, though it isn't necessary. Chill the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least one hour and up to 24 hours.
• Just before freezing, whisk in the lemon juice. Freeze according to the ice cream freezer manufacturer's instructions.

RUSTIC STRAWBERRY TART AND SWEETENED WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the strawberries to a bowl along with the sugar, flour, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice and toss together until well combined. Set aside while you prepare the crust.
• Lightly flour your work surface so the crust doesn't stick. Unroll the pie crusts and lay one on the other, overlapping about halfway. Use a rolling pin and roll the crusts in the center to join them together and to spread them out slightly. It should be about 19 inches by 11 inches and fit on a sheet pan.
• Use a knife to round the top and bottom edges slightly and along the sides to neaten up the edges; no more than 1/2-inch of dough should be cut away. (Discard the extra dough.) Transfer to a parchment-lined-sheet pan.
• Spoon the strawberry mixture into the center of the dough leaving a 1-inch border around all sides. (Be sure they aren't too mounded so they bake evenly in the oven.) Working carefully, fold edges of the dough up and over the strawberries, pleating them as you go.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon water together. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat only the folded edge of the dough.
• Place the sheet pan into the oven and bake the tart for 30 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through the bake to make sure it bakes evenly. While it is baking, heat the apricot preserves in a small pan with a splash of water until warmed through.
• When the crust is golden brown, remove it from the oven. Brush the strawberries gently with the warmed apricot preserves and cool completely before cutting and serving with the Sweetened Whipped Cream.
• With a whisk, a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream and white sugar until it has formed soft peaks.

APRICOT SORBET

Steps:

• Freeze the apricots in a freezer-proof container. Place frozen apricots in a blender or food processor; add sugar and lemon juice. Cover and process until combined. Serve immediately or freeze.

HONEY APRICOT VANILLA SORBET

Steps:

• Wash, pit and chop apricots.
• Add water and apricots to a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until softened.
• Remove from heat and stir in the honey until combined with the apricot-water mixture.
• Let cool 10-15 minutes.
• Puree mixture in a food processor or blender. Don't worry if small pieces of apricot peel remain, they will add extra tang in the final product!
• Stir in vanilla and cool several hours or overnight.
• Freeze mixture according to your ice cream maker's instructions.
• To make Brown Sugar Almond Apricot Sorbet follow the above directions using ¾ cup of muscovado sugar and ⅛ tsp almond extract instead of the honey and vanilla extract.

ROASTED APRICOT SORBET

Steps:

• Put sugar, water, and dried apricots in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and let stand until apricots are softened, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, roast whole fresh apricots in a 350 degree oven until soft, about 1 hour.
• Peel and pit when cool enough to handle.
• Puree dried apricot mixture, roasted apricots, lemon juice, and almond extract in a blender until smooth.
• Chill at least 2 hours until cold.
• The puree can be chilled up to 8 hours.
• Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.