Truffle Pistachio Hearts Food

TRUFFLE AND PISTACHIO SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Put the ground pork into a large bowl. Add the wine, garlic, pepper, curing salt, pistachios, and truffles, if using. Mix well with your hands. Divide the mixture in half. Form and press each half into a sausage about 8-inches long and 2-inches in diameter. Take care to press the mixture firmly enough to eliminate air bubbles, which would result in unsightly holes in the sausages. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, twisting the ends to enclose the sausages, and then roll each of them in aluminum foil, twisting the ends of the foil. Refrigerate for at least 3 days to cure. (Freeze 1 of the sausages, if desired, and thaw it slowly in the refrigerator before cooking.)
• The very important part of poaching these sausages is to do it at a low temperature for a long time. This makes a big difference in the taste and juiciness of the meat. Bring a pot of water to between 150 and 160 degrees F. Lower the wrapped sausages into the pot, and place a heavy lid that is a little smaller than the top of the pot on top of the sausages to weigh them down in the pot and keep them immersed in the water. Cook in the same temperature range, checking the pot occasionally, for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature of the sausages is close to the same temperature as the water, about 150 degrees F. To keep warm, let the sausages sit in the 150 to 160 degrees F water until serving time.
• Note: Morton Tender Quick Curing Salt is a curing agent composed of 99 percent salt, 1/2 percent sodium nitrate, and 1/2 percent sodium nitrite. If you use regular salt the sausages will be fine to eat but will be gray in color rather than the appealing pink color achieved with the curing agent.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat the sweetened condensed milk, pistachio butter and 1 pound white chocolate chips in a double boiler over medium-low heat until the chocolate is melted. Stir; the mixture will have a slight marshmallow texture. Remove from the heat, then cover and refrigerate until chilled, 2 hours.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• Melt the remaining 1/2 pound white chocolate together with the coconut oil over a double boiler on medium-low heat until smooth. Set aside.
• Roll the chilled truffle batter into teaspoon-sized balls. Using a fork, dip each ball into the melted white chocolate coating, and let the excess chocolate drip off. Immediately sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and place on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make more truffles.
• Allow the chocolate exterior to set completely, about 30 minutes. If short on time, chill for 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE, PISTACHIO, AND TAHINI TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Heat tahini, chocolate, honey, salt, cinnamon, and orange zest in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water (bottom of bowl should not touch water), stirring occasionally, or microwave in short bursts, stirring in between bursts, until melted and smooth.
• Carefully pour tahini mixture into a glass or metal tall-sided baking pan (an 8x8" pan works well). Chill until truffle base is firm, 60-70 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely chop pistachios by hand or with a food processor. Mix pistachios and sesame seeds in a medium bowl.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Scoop tahini mixture by the tablespoonful and quickly roll into 1" balls between the palms of your hands. Toss in pistachio-sesame mixture until coated. Using a spoon, gently transfer to prepared sheet.
• Do Ahead
• Truffles can be made 5 days ahead; cover and chill. Let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

GLUTEN-FREE PISTACHIO TRUFFLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the truffle filling:
• In a small saucepan, heat cream and brown rice syrup over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Immediately remove the pot from heat and add chocolate. Let stand for 3 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Add cognac and stir to combine.
• Transfer truffle filling to a medium bowl and let stand at room temperature until the texture thickens and resembles peanut butter, whisking occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• Make the cookies:
• Arrange the racks in the upper and lower rungs in the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse 3 tablespoons pistachios until very finely ground and powdery. Set ground pistachios aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine remaining 1 cup pistachios, sugar, cornstarch, and salt; pulse until very finely ground. Add the egg white, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and pulse until well combined.
• Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto two parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Use a finger dipped in water to gently flatten the pistachio rounds until they are about 1 inch in diameter. Bake until the cookies are set and edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Let the cookies to cool completely, then freeze cookies for 1 hour.
• Assemble the cookies:
• Once the cookies have been frozen, spoon 1/2 teaspoon truffle filling on the flat side of each cookie. Use a butter knife or small offset spatula to shape the filling to a domed point. Freeze cookies until the filling is set, about 15 minutes more. Place cookies on a wire rack placed over a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.
• In a heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water, combine the 6 ounces of chocolate and the coconut oil. Stir until mixture is smooth; remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Finish the cookies:
• Working with one cookie at a time, spoon the chocolate shell over the cookies to completely enclose the filling. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with a pinch of reserve ground pistachio while the glaze is still wet. Let cool completely before serving.
• Make ahead: The cookies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

TRUFFLE PISTACHIO HEARTS

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips, cream and butter in microwave-safe bowl or large measuring cup. Microwave on high power for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until chocolate is melted. Beat with wire whip until smooth and fluffy. Mix in chopped pistachios. Turn into 8 inch square or 6"x 10" pan (or dish) lined with sheet of foil. Chill until firm. Lift chocolate from pan, holding onto foil for easy handling. Cut out heart shapes with small heart cutter, or cut shapes with tip of knife, using a hand-drawn cardboard heart as a pattern. They may soften when being handled, but will firm up again.
• For decoration, dip sides of hearts in extra ground pistachios, cocoa or chocolate sprinkles, then place on platter.
• Any extra trimmings may be rolled into little bite-size balls; roll in ground pistachios, cocoa or chocolate sprinkles and place in candy cups.