Sparkling Parfaits Food

CHAMPAGNE PARFAITS WITH PEARS AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon Champagne in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until soft, about 10 minutes. Combine remaining Champagne and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer just until pears are tender, turning pears often, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, place pears on plate and cool. Boil poaching liquid until reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot poaching liquid; return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until candy thermometer registers 175°F., about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved. Chill custard until thickened but not set, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Set aside 4 raspberries for garnish. Combine remaining raspberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Coarsely chop pears. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into custard. Place 1/4 cup raspberries in each of four 12- to 16-ounce goblets or balloon-shaped wineglasses. Spoon half of pears over raspberries, dividing equally. Spoon 1/2 cup custard over each. Repeat layering with remaining raspberries, pears and custard. Cover loosely with foil; chill until custard is set, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Garnish parfaits with reserved raspberries, mint and rose petals, if desired.

STRAWBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Hull and quarter 1 quart strawberries. Toss with 1 teaspoon sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle a layer of gingersnap crumbs or graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of parfait glasses. Top with the berries. Mix 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, then spoon over the berries.

RASPBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and jam until smooth. Fold in 1/4 cup whipped topping., Place 2 tablespoons raspberries in each of two small parfait glasses or dessert dishes; layer with cream cheese mixture and remaining berries. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate until serving.

TIRAMISU PARFAITS

Steps:

• To make the tiramisu filling: In the bowl of a tabletop mixer, with whip attachment, beat cream and sugar until fluffy and soft peaks form. Reserve 1 cup and refrigerate to use later as garnish. Add cheese to remaining cream on low speed, gradually increasing to high speed for 30 seconds or until thoroughly incorporated. Whisk yolk in bowl over pot of simmering water until warm and pale yellow in color. Add the Marsala and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• To make the coffee syrup: In a medium sauce pot combine all ingredients except Marsala and vanilla. Reduce syrup to 1 cup. Let cool. Add Marsala and vanilla, to taste.
• To assemble: Break the ladyfingers in half and dip into coffee syrup. Count 5 seconds and remove from liquid to drain on baking tray. Repeat until all cookies have been dipped. Place 2 pieces of soaked ladyfingers into sides of 2-ounce Sherry glasses. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of syrup over ladyfingers and let absorb. Spoon tiramisu cream filling into each glass. Sprinkle tops with cocoa powder. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

RASPBERRY PARFAIT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together jam and water, set aside.
• Cut the pound cake into thin slices about 1/8-inch thick. Take one of the wine glasses that you will use to serve the dessert in and cut out a circle from each slice of cake by pressing the rim of the glass into the cake. When you're done, wash the glass.
• In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with a whisk or electric mixer until it just begins to hold soft peaks when you pull the beaters out. Sprinkle in the sugar and continue beating to soft peaks.
• Drop a couple of large spoonfuls of the cream into 2 wine glasses then press in a cake round followed by a thin layer of raspberry sauce. Repeat until you've almost filled the glass. End with a layer of cake, then cream and then drizzled berry sauce over the top.