Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise For Pear Tart Food

VANILLA-BEAN CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Beat yolks, sugar, and salt with a mixer on high speed until pale yellow and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, scrape vanilla seeds into a medium saucepan, and add pod, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
• Reduce mixer speed to low; gradually mix half the hot milk mixture into yolk mixture until just combined. Pour yolk-milk mixture into saucepan with remaining milk mixture. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat back of spoon and hold a line drawn by your finger, 5 to 7 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Place bowl in ice-water bath, and let stand, stirring occasionally, until chilled.

VANILLA BEAN CREME ANGLAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make an ice-water bath: Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Place milk, heavy cream, and vanilla bean and seed scrapings in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low. Whisk about 1/3 cup of the milk mixture into the egg-yolk mixture to temper it. Return this mixture to the saucepan.
• Fill a large bowl or the sink with ice and water. Cook creme anglaise over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. Discard vanilla bean, and strain the creme anglaise into a medium metal bowl. Place the bowl over the ice bath to chill until ready to serve. Store in an airtight plastic container, refrigerated, up to 4 days.

PEAR TART WITH VANILLA CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until light golden and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely, then finely grind in a food processor. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add almonds, egg, cream, and extract; beat until well combined, about 2 minutes.
• Using a small offset spatula, spread filling in cooled tart shell. Arrange pear slices, overlapping them slightly, on top of filling. Generously sprinkle with sugar; place tart on a baking sheet. Bake until filling is slightly puffed and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature with creme anglaise on the side.

CREME ANGLAISE (VANILLA CUSTARD SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a 2-quart heavy saucepan bring 2 cups of the milk, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the scraped vanilla bean to a boil over medium heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Slowly pour 1 cup of the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly, into the egg yolk-sugar mixture. (Do not pour the entire yolk-sugar mixture into the boiling milk mixture, as it will curdle the eggs.) Whisk in the remaining milk. Pour the milk-yolk mixture into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Do not boil.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the rum. Strain the mixture through a fine wire sieve into a heat--proof bowl. Place the sauce in an ice bath. When cool, transfer the sauce to a bowl. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator, until ready to use. Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days if well sealed.

VANILLA-BEAN CREME ANGLAISE FOR PEAR TART

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt on high speed until pale yellow and very thick. Set aside.
• Scrape the vanilla seeds into a small saucepan, and add bean, milk, and cream. Bring just to a boil. Remove from heat.
• On low speed, gradually pour half the hot milk mixture into yolk mixture, then pour yolk mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat back of spoon and hold a line drawn by your finger, about 5 minutes. Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Place bowl in prepared ice bath, stirring occasionally, until chilled. Use immediately, or refrigerate, covered, up to 3 days. Gently whisk before using.

CRANBERRY-POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• Place pears in a saucepan large enough to hold them snugly. Add enough water to barely cover them (about 4 cups). Add sugar, cinnamon, citrus peels, honey, and lemon juice. Using the tip of a paring knife, scrape vanilla seeds into pan, and toss in pod. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat, and simmer gently until pears are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add fresh cranberries, and simmer until cranberries are soft but not mushy, about 3 minutes more.
• Use a spoon to transfer pears to a dish. Spoon cranberries and syrup around pears. Add tea bag and dried cranberries if using. Let cool for 15 minutes. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Before serving, remove vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, citrus peels, and tea bag. Transfer pears to plates with some of the cranberries, syrup, and a dollop of yogurt, creme fraiche, or cheese.

VANILLA BEAN WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Chill the bowl and whisk attachment of an electric mixer. Place cream in a medium bowl. Cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape seeds into cream. Add bean to cream; whisk to combine. Cover mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Strain cream mixture through a fine mesh sieve into chilled bowl of an electric mixer. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with chilled whisk attachment; beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
• With the mixer running, sprinkle in sugar. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until soft peaks form. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate, up to 2 hours.