Semifreddo Food

COFFEE AND FUDGE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan (9-by-5-inch works best) with plastic wrap, letting the edges hang over and allowing enough extra plastic to wrap the semifreddo.
• In a large bowl, combine the instant coffee, coffee extract, vanilla and 1 pint of the heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to whip until medium to firm peaks form. Use a spatula to gently fold in the condensed milk. Transfer half of the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and freeze until just beginning to set, about 20 minutes.
• Microwave 1/2 cup of the hot fudge with the remaining 1 tablespoon heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl for 20 to 25 seconds, just to loosen it slightly. Spoon it lengthwise down the center of the pan, from end to end.
• Transfer the remaining cream mixture to the loaf pan on top of the fudge. Use a butter knife to make swirls going through the mixture. (This will move the fudge throughout the mixture.) Wrap with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 6 hours.
• Before serving, let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat the remaining 1/4 cup fudge. Unwrap the plastic, invert onto a serving plate and remove the plastic entirely. Drizzle with the hot fudge and sprinkle with the chopped espresso beans. Slice and serve immediately.

SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In a mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream into medium peaks. Add 1 cup of the sugar to the cream and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Turn the cream out into a large bowl. Clean the bowl and whisk attachment. Add the egg yolks and the remaining 1 cup sugar. Whisk until the yolks are pale yellow and tripled in volume. Add the yolks to the whipped cream. Add the almond or vanilla extract and begin to fold the yolks into the cream. Add the pistachios and turn the mixture out into a glass serving dish. Freeze overnight. To serve: Cut the semifreddo into desired size pieces. Place individual pieces in a serving bowl and top with berries and chocolate sauce. Garnish with powdered sugar and a sprig of mint.

SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Line a 9 x 5 x 3-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang of several inches on all the ends. Chill the pan in the freezer. At least 20 minutes before you are ready to whip the cream , place the large bowl and the beaters of an electric mixer in the refrigerator.
• Pour the chilled heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract into the chilled bowl and whip the cream at high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Return the bowl to the refrigerator while proceeding with the next steps.
• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes.
• In another large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. With the mixer running, slowly add the hot sugar syrup into the eggs in a thin stream. Continue beating until the mixture is very light and fluffy and feels cool to the touch, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Gently fold the chilled whipped cream into the cooled egg-syrup mixture.
• Gently fold in the cookie crumbs and chopped almonds.
• Remove the prepared loaf pan from the freezer. Spoon the mixture into the pan. Cover securely with the overhanging plastic wrap and return to the freezer. Freeze until set, at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
• Unwrap the top of the loaf pan. Invert onto a serving plate, lift off the pan and remove the plastic wrap. Sprinkle with the additional crushed cookies, if using, and the sliced almonds. Cut into slices and serve immediately.

VANILLA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line 1 quart (9x4 inch) loaf pan with plastic wrap and place it in your freezer to chill while you make the egg-and-cream mixture.
• In a bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer on high until doubled in volume and holds soft peaks when the beaters are turned off and lifted up.
• Set aside at room temperature, away from the stove's heat.
• Bring about 3 inches water to a boil in a large saucepan set over high heat; decrease heat so the water simmers gently.
• Clean and dry the beaters for your mixer; place the egg yolks and ¼ cup of sugar in a bowl that will fit snugly over the pan with the simmering water.
• Beat away from the heat at medium speed until thick and pale yellow; about 1 minute.
• Set the bowl over the saucepan and continue beating until the mixture will make little mounds when the beaters are turned off, lifted up, and any mixture on them is allowed to dribble back into the pan, about 2 more minutes.
• Beat in the vanilla, then remove bowl from the saucepan (do not turn off the heat under the pan) and set aside at room temperature for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, clean and dry the beaters again; place the egg whites, salt, and the remaining ½ cup sugar in another bowl and fit it snugly over the saucepan with the simmering water.
• Beat at medium speed for 1 minute, until frothy.
• Add in the cream of tartar and continue beating at medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, until smooth, shiny, and satiny, about 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and continue beating off the heat until room temperature, about 1 more minute.
• Fold about half of the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth, then fold in the remaining egg white mixture.
• Fold in the whipped cream gently, just to incorporate it without losing much of the volume.
• Take the prepared loaf pan out of the freezer and pour this mixture into it.
• Spread the mixture gently to the corners with a rubber spatula.
• Return to you freezer and chill until cold and thick, about 6-8 hours.
• Once the semifreddo is set, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap to ward off freezer odors, can be stored this way for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, turn the loaf pan upside down on a serving platter; hold the plastic wrap at the sides and lift off the pan, wiggling it from side to side.
• Pull the plastic off the semifreddo and cut into slices about 1 inch thick.

PISTACHIO SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Pulse 1 cup pistachios with 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until very finely ground. Add remaining 1/2 cup pistachios and pulse until just coarsely ground.
• Beat egg whites in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Beat in remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, a little at a time, then increase speed to high and beat until meringue just holds stiff, glossy peaks.
• Beat cream with almond extract in a wide bowl with mixer at high speed until it just holds soft peaks.
• Fold meringue into cream gently but thoroughly, then fold in nut mixture in same manner. Spoon into a 2-quart dish and freeze, covered, until firm enough to scoop, about 4 hours. Let soften slightly before serving.

COFFEE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Oil and line a 1-litre loaf tin with cling film. Put the coffee, Tia Maria or brandy, egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and stir to dissolve the coffee. Put the egg whites in a large bowl and pour the cream in another.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff with an electric whisk, then quickly beat the egg yolk mixture until thick and leaving a trail. Now beat the cream until it holds its shape. If you beat everything in this order, you don't need to wash the whisks in between.
• Fold the cream into the coffee mixture, then carefully fold in the whites. Fold through the Toblerone and tip into the loaf tin. Lightly cover the surface with cling film. When frozen, overwrap in foil and freeze. Will keep for up to 6 weeks. You can make the chocolate curls (see video link, above, for instructions) and keep them in a airtight container or freeze.
• To serve, unwrap and turn onto a platter. Strip off the cling film and serve topped with the chocolate curls.

RASPBERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line bottom and sides of a 9x5 loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Spread out 1 cup raspberries on bottom of pan and put in freezer.
• Place yolks in top of a double boiler. Whisk in grand marnier, milk and 2 tsp vanilla until combined. Slowly whisk in sugar.
• Place over a saucepan of simmering water. Continuously whisk yolk mixture until pale yellow in colour, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Refrigerate uncovered, until cold.
• In a large mixing bowl whip 2 cups of cream until soft peaks form.
• Stir a third of cream into cold egg mixture.
• Fold in remaining cream until no yellow streaks remain.
• Fold in 3 ounces of chocolate and remaining raspberries.
• Remove loaf pan from freezer. Pour berry mixture into pan and smooth out. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Freeze until firm.
• Chocolate sauce can be made at time of serving of in advance and just warmed before serving.
• To make sauce combine remaining 1 cup of cream with vanilla and raspberry jam. Microwave until boiling and pour over remaining 6oz chocolate. Stir until melted.
• To serve, remove pan from freezer and invert dessert onto a platter. Remove plastic and stand at room temperature 10 mnutes to soften. Slice into 1" slices with hot knife and top with warm chocolate raspberry sauce.