Vanilla Ice Cream With Amaretti And Plum Sauce Food

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH PLUM COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Meanwhile, pit each plum, and cut it into 8 to 12 chunks.
• When sugar mixture boils, add plums, and return to a boil. Cook 2 minutes. Cover; reduce heat, and simmer until plums begin to break down, about 7 minutes. Remove lid; simmer until mixture is saucy, about 10 minutes more.
• Transfer plums to a large bowl using a slotted spoon (so excess syrup can drip back into pan). Cook syrup over high heat until it is very bubbly and has the consistency of warm jelly, about 10 minutes. Pour syrup over plums, and let cool slightly.
• Divide compote among six dessert bowls. Top each serving with a large scoop of ice cream. Drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with thyme leaves or sprigs.

VANILLA ICE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt ice-cream gently in a medium saucepan over low heat.
• Blend cornstarch and water together, and whisk into the melted ice cream, until mixture boils and thickens.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, cool.
• Whisk in the liqueur and half the cream, then fold in the remaining cream.
• Can be re-warmed, gently, in the microwave.

SPICY OVEN-ROASTED PLUMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a shallow baking dish with cooking spray.
• Place the plums, cut-side up, in a single layer in the baking dish.
• Whisk together the orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, and cardamom in a bowl; drizzle over the plums.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until plums are hot and the sauce is bubbly. Top with toasted almonds, if desired (see Cook's Note).

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH AMARETTI AND PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small metal bowl stir together the ice cream and the amaretti until the mixture is combined well and freeze the mixture, its surface covered with plastic wrap, for 30 minutes. In a small saucepan combine the plums, the sugar to taste, and the lemon juice and simmer the mixture, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the plums are very tender. Force the mixture through a sieve or the medium disk of a food mill set over a bowl, discarding the skins, let the sauce cool, and stir in the rum. Divide the ice-cream mixture between 2 bowls and pour the sauce over it.

STREUSEL-ROASTED PLUMS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar and wine. Bring just to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves and syrup is smooth; remove skillet from heat.
• Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons brown sugar, flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Cut in with back of fork until streusel begins to hold together. Mix in nuts.
• Cut very thin slice off rounded side of each plum half (to create flat surface). Lightly press 1 tablespoon streusel onto cut side of each plum half. Place plums, streusel side up, in syrup in skillet. Roast plums until just tender, about 20 minutes. Remove skillet from oven and preheat broiler. Broil plums until streusel is crisp and golden, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Place 2 plum halves in each of 6 large goblets. Top with ice cream, then spoon over syrup from skillet.

PLUM ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over low heat combine water and 2 tablespoons sugar, swirling occasionally until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Adjust heat so liquid barely shimmers.
• Add plums to pan and cook for 3-5 minutes (or until tender). Cool completely.
• In a saucepan bring cream, milk and vanilla beans to a simmer. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla beans into the cream mixture, discarding pods. Return mixture to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Beat egg yolks and 2/3 cup sugar until pale yellow and then beat in hot milk mixture. Return all to saucepan and cook stirring over medium low heat until mixture thickens (6-8 minutes). DO NOT BOIL. Strain mixture into a bowl. Cool completely in a refrigerator (at least 4 hours), stirring occasionally.
• Pit cooled plums but do not peel. Puree plums with liquid in a food processor or blender until smooth. Fold plum mixture into custard.
• Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.
• Freeze in a covered container for several hours.