Simple Vanilla Creme Brulee With Berry Coulis Food

VANILLA CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Put the cream, milk and vanilla pod into a pan and heat to boiling point. Cover and leave to infuse for 10 mins. Whisk the egg yolks and 3 tbsp of sugar together until pale and thick. Add the vanilla extract and pour the boiling cream onto the mixture. Stir well, then pour into two ramekins. Place the ramekins in a bain marie and cook in the oven for about 20 mins or until just set. Leave to cool.
• Heat the grill. Sprinkle the cold brûlée with a thin, even layer of sugar, and caramelise under the very hot grill (or use a blowtorch). Repeat several times until you have a golden crackling topping. Leave to cool and serve within 2 hrs with warm Almond puff pastry sticks (see below).

BERRY COULIS

Steps:

• Combine the berries, sugar, lemon juice, salt and 1 tablespoon water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the berries begin to give off their juice, 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust the heat so the sauce is simmering rapidly and cook until the berries have broken down, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing on the solids to extract as much of the sauce as possible. Serve the sauce cold or at room temperature.

CRèME BRûLéE WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place cream in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Whisk yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in medium metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bowl to touch water). Whisk vigorously until yolk mixture is pale yellow and hot to touch, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture; discard vanilla bean.
• Divide cream mixture among six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Arrange dishes in 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of dishes. Bake custards until almost set in center and light golden on top, about 35 minutes. Remove custards from water; refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat broiler. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar atop each custard. Place dishes on small baking sheet. Broil until sugar just starts to caramelize, rotating sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate custards until topping hardens, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, toss berries, brown sugar, and raspberry liqueur, if desired, in large bowl. Spoon berry mixture atop custards and serve immediately.

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MIXED BERRY COULIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter and flour 4 (4-ounce) ramekins. Combine chocolate and butter in a double boiler and melt. Stir in cocoa powder. In a bowl beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and gradually add sugar. Beat whites until stiff and glossy, but not dry. Whisk 1/4 of egg white mixture into chocolate, to temper. Fold in remaining whites. Fill ramekins 2/3 full and bake until top is slightly firm but still soft in the very center, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Combine raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat until fruit is softened. Remove from heat and puree in food processor until smooth. Strain through a sieve and stir in liqueur or orange juice. Chill.
• Yield: 4 servings

(VANILLA) CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F (bake at 325°F).
• Heat the heavy cream, milk, sugar, Grand Marnier, and extracts in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Mix until ingredients are blended and set aside.
• Whisk egg yolks and a tsp of sugar in a heatproof mixing bowl and beat until pale yellow in color and until all the sugar has dissolved.
• Temper about 1/2 cup of the cream mixture into the egg mixture and whisk vigorously to incorporate well.
• Add the remainder of the cream mixture to the bowl and whisk again.
• Strain the brulee base through a fine mesh sieve.
• Pour the base into 6 ramekins, and place them in a roasting pan. Fill hot water into the pan to come half way up on the sides of the ramekins.
• Place pan in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 30 minutes, turning the pan around after 15 minutes to ensure even cooking.
• To test for doneness, jiggle the pan slightly to see if the custard is set.
• Once it is set, remove from the oven and let it cool at room temperature before chilling in the refrigerator for 2 hours to completely cool.
• Once the creme brulee has cooled, sprinkle evenly 1 Tablespoon of sugar on top of each ramekin.
• Using a blowtorch, caramelize the sugar to form a candy coating. Be sure to keep the blowtorch moving in a circular motion to prevent the sugar from burning!
• If you don't have a blowtorch, you can broil it under the oven but I can't assure you the same results as the blowtorch.
• Serve after the caramelized sugar cools and hardens.

EASY CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
• Whisk the cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Mix it all up until it gets nice and creamy.
• Pour this mixture into 4 ramekins (those little ceramic dishes).
• Place the ramekins in a baking pan. Fill the baking pan with hot water, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Place the pan with the ramekins in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour or so. After 45 minutes or so check them every ten minutes. You'll know they're done when you can stick a knife in one and it comes out clean.
• Remove the ramekins from the baking pan, set them on the counter, and let them cool for 15 minutes or so.
• Sprinkle a thin layer of the light brown sugar on the top of each. Make sure it's a THIN layer, but also make sure it completely covers the custard. Now torch it! Or, if you don't have a torch, you can put them under the broiler for a minute or so.

VANILLA CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a food processor or blender combine vanilla bean with sugar until combined (30 sec.). Set aside.
• In a saucepan on medium heat combine cream, half and half and vanilla sugar until it simmers. DO NOT BOIL.
• In a large bowl whisk together egg yolks, egg, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.
• Spoon a little of the hot cream into the egg mixture and then combine all the egg mixture with the cream mixture.
• Using a strainer (to remove vanilla pieces) strain into 6 ramekin or custard dishes and arrange in a large baking pan.
• Add hot water to the pan, about half way up dishes.
• Bake for 33-45 minutes or until set.
• Remove ramekins from pan and chill completely.
• Caramelize each custard by burning sugar on top or putting under broiler.