Star Anise Blackberries With Lemon Sorbet Food

LEMON SORBET

Steps:

• Line ice cream dishes with fresh berries. Top berries with small scoops of lemon sorbet. Top sorbet with remaining berries. Sprinkle shredded fresh mint leaves over the sorbet and berry cups.

ANISE-LEMON BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Thinly slice a baguette; arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush with softened butter and sprinkle with salt and sugar. Bake at 425 degrees F until lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Simmer 1/4 cup water, some thin strips of lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds and 2 tablespoons sugar in a saucepan until syrupy. Spread lemon curd on the toast rounds. Top with the candied zest and anise seeds.

RHUBARB & STAR ANISE SORBET

Steps:

• Put the rhubarb in a saucepan and add the sugar, 75ml water and the liquid glucose. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add to the pan (with the pod) along with the star anise.
• Place over a medium-high heat and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat slightly and cook for 15 mins until the sugar has dissolved and the fruit is soft and starting to break down. Remove from the heat and fish out the vanilla pod and star anise. Purée in a blender.
• Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, removing any remaining stringy bits of rhubarb. Transfer to a jug and stir in the lemon juice and vodka, if using. Cover and put in the fridge until fully chilled before churning in an ice cream machine, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Scrape the sorbet into an airtight container and freeze for at least 3 hrs before serving. Will keep, frozen, for up to 1 month.

LEMON SORBET

Steps:

• In a saucepan, stir together the diced lemon peel, 1 cup of water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool.
• In a pitcher or bowl, stir together the lemon syrup with peel, lemon juice and mineral water. Pour into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Garnish each serving with a twist of lemon peel.
• If you do not have an ice cream maker, you may freeze it in a tall canister. Freeze for 1 1/2 hours. Remove and stir with a whisk. Return to the freezer and stir about once every hour for about 4 hours. The more times you stir, the more air will be incorporated, resulting in a lighter finished product.