Strawberry Rhubarb Zinfandel Crepes Food

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick on a floured surface and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Crimp the edge decoratively and prick the bottom with a fork. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Line the shell with waxed paper and fill the paper with raw rice. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the rice and paper carefully and brush the shell with the egg wash. Bake the shell for 15 minutes more, or until golden. Let it cool on a rack. The shell can be made 1 day ahead and stored, covered loosely, in a cool, dry place.
• In a large bowl let the rhubarb macerate with 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar for 1 hour. In a saucepan combine the rhubarb mixture with the cinnamon and cloves and bring to a bowl. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is almost tender. Add the strawberries and simmer, stirring, until the rhubarb is tender.
• In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and the liqueur and add to the rhubarb mixture, stirring. Cook over moderately low heat until thickened. Transfer the filling to a bowl and let it cool. Chill, covered, overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat until the whites hold soft peaks. Beat in the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, a little at a time, and beat until the whites hold stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla and transfer 1/3 of the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip.
• Spoon the filling into the shell and spread the remaining meringue over it, smoothing the top. With the tip of a small knife, score the top, forming a latticework pattern. With the pastry bag, pip meringue over the top of the pie, following the lattice design.
• Sift the confectioners? sugar over the pie and bake it on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven to 10 minutes. Put the pie under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat until golden.
• In a bowl, blend the flour, butter, shortening, and salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add the water, tossing with a fork and adding more water if necessary to form a soft by not sticky dough. Form the dough into a ball, dust it with flour, and chill, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour. The dough can be made 2 days ahead and kept refrigerated, wrapped in plastic wrap. It can be frozen for 1 month, wrapped in plastic wrap and foil.
• Yield: dough for 1 single-crust 9-inch pie.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the fruit, toss the rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest together in a large bowl. In a measuring cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the orange juice and then mix it into the fruit. Pour the mixture into an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• For the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt and oatmeal. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter and mix until the dry ingredients are moist and the mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it completely, and bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream.

STRAWBERRY CREPES

Steps:

• Combine the flour, egg and egg yolk. Add salt and combine with the milk until the mixture is smooth. Allow to stand 4 hours, covered and refrigerated.
• Place 1 tablespoon of butter in a hot pan and when melted and slightly brown, add to the pancake batter. Stir in the butter and then place a ladle full of the pancake batter into the hot pan moving it around the pan until the mixture sets. Place back onto the heat and wait until small bubbles appear on the surface, then flip the crepe over. Cook for a few seconds on the other side and remove from the pan with a spatula. Add sugar to a separate frypan and then add the strawberries and the remaining butter. Stir together until the sugar and butter form a fudge and add the strawberry syrup and combine. Place this mixture in the center of each crepe and roll up. Place the filled crepes back into the pan. Add the Pernod and set alight. Then add the Grand Marnier and the cognac. Place the crepes onto a heated serving dish, stir the cream into the sauce and then spoon over the crepes to coat.
• Recommended drink: a good Brut Champagne

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB "NOTHING" SOUP: ZUPA NIC

Steps:

• Cut rhubarb into 1/2-inch pieces and macerate in 1/2 cup sugar for 1 hour. Meanwhile, puree strawberries with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. In a saucepan, cook rhubarb and orange juice, covered, until mushy. Remove from heat and stir in strawberry puree.
• For the syrup: Bring ingredients to a boil. Set aside to cool.
• For the anglaise: In a saucepan, bring the milk cream and vanilla bean to a scald. In the meantime, in a bowl, whisk together the yolks and sugar. While whisking the yolks, drizzle in the hot milk. Return to the pan and cook, stirring until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain and chill in an ice bath. Add the lemon syrup to the buttermilk. Mix into creme anglaise.
• Drizzle the anglaise mixture on top of the strawberry rhubarb nothing. (Soup may be served hot or cold.)