Strawberry Panachee Food

STRAWBERRY PANACHEE

Steps:

• Cut off the bottom and top of each berry, ending up with about 1 1/4 cups of tops and bottoms. Slice the centers of the berries and set aside.
• Process the tops and bottoms of the berries with the jam, in a small food processor, until pureed. Mix the sliced berry centers into the puree. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• When ready to serve, coarsely crush the cookies in a plastic zip type bag. Divide the crumbs among four glass bowls or goblets. Spoon about 1/2 of the berry mixture over the crumbs in each bowl/goblet. Stir the creme fraiche well and spoon about 1/3 cup of it (in total) on top of the berries. Then add the remaining berry mixture to each bowl/goblet. Garnish with a dollop of the remaining creme fraiche and a sprig of fresh mint.

STRAWBERRY PANACHEE

Steps:

• Cut off the bottom and top of each berry (you should have about 1 1/4 cups). Slice the centers of the berries and set aside. Push the berry tops and bottoms and the jam through a food mill or process in a mini food processor until pureed. Mix the sliced berries into the puree. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• At serving time, put the cookies in a plastic bag and crush them coarsely with a rolling pin. Divide the crumbs among four bowls or goblets. Spoon about half of the berry mixture on top of the cookies. Stir the crème fraîche or sour cream to loosen it and spoon on top of the berries. Top with the remaining berry mixture. Garnish each dessert with a mint sprig, and, if you like, pass some crème fraîche or sour cream.

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY GANACHE

Steps:

• Combine cream and jam in heavy large saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until jam melts and mixture comes to boil. Add chocolate, remove from heat and whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Refrigerate ganache just until thick enough to spread, whisking occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

STRAWBERRY PUREE

Steps:

• Wash, dry, and stem berries.
• Place in food processor or blender.
• Process until liquid with pulp.
• If desired or needed, sweeten with sugar or honey.
• Use as a topping or in recipes calling for puree.
• Note: 1 pint berries will yield about 1 1/2 cups puree.
• Frozen berries can be used the same way, thaw for about 15 minutes before processing.
• Note: 1 pound package of frozen berries will yield about 2 cups puree.