Wine Gelatin Dessert Food

STRAWBERRIES AND WINE FLOWER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Spray the inside of a 9-inch springform pan that is at least 2 1/2 inches tall evenly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Microwave the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 45 seconds. Set aside. Put the shortbread cookies into a food processor and process until the cookies are broken down to fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse until just combined and the mixture resembles wet sand. Do not overmix or the cookies will become pasty.
• Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared springform pan, then freeze while you make the cheesecake mixture.
• Combine 1 package of gelatin with 2 tablespoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to soften, about 5 minutes. Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla and salt and beat on medium-high speed until incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Microwave the gelatin, stirring as needed, until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the gelatin to the cream cheese mixture and beat on medium-high speed to combine, about 30 seconds. Pour the cream cheese-gelatin mixture into the springform pan and smooth out the top. Tap the pan a few times on a flat tabletop to release any air bubbles in the cheesecake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Once the cheesecake is set, prepare the white wine gelatin. Pour the white cranberry juice into a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the remaining 3 packages of gelatin. Let sit until the gelatin is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and heat over low heat, whisking occasionally, just until the gelatin and sugar dissolve, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into a large bowl and stir in the white wine. Use a spoon to scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Refrigerate, stirring every 10 minutes, until the gelatin just begins to thicken and is the consistency of thin fruit jelly, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, trim away the green tops from the strawberries. The trimmed strawberries should be no longer than 1 1/2 inches tall (1 inch is ideal). Slice the strawberries into 1/4-inch-thick pieces, saving any small end pieces for another use.
• Starting from the outside edge of the cheesecake, shingle the strawberries (pointed side outward and upward) in a circular pattern, leaning the tips of the strawberries against the edge of the pan, about 26 strawberry slices total. Continue this pattern, working inward and making 3 additional concentric circles with the strawberries overlapping each other, leaving at least 2 1/2 inches of empty space in the center of the cheesecake. (You may have strawberries left over.) Arrange the mandarin oranges in the center (rounded side outward and upward) so that the cheesecake is completely covered.
• Use a large spoon to stir the gelatin until mostly smooth. Gently spoon the mixture evenly on top of the fruit, then use the back of an offset spatula to smooth out the top as much as possible. (For a really smooth top, dip the offset spatula into boiling water, wipe it dry and smooth out the top further.) Refrigerate the cheesecake until the gelatin is completely set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Use an offset spatula to carefully loosen the sides of the cheesecake from the pan, then open the clasp and remove the outer ring. Cut into slices and serve immediately.

BLACKBERRY-RED WINE GELATIN

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Add 1/2 cup water and the apple juice to a medium bowl; sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften about 5 minutes. Combine wine and sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Reserve 8 blackberries for garnish; add remaining blackberries to the saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Slowly stir hot wine mixture into gelatin mixture. Transfer bowl to ice-water bath, and stir gently until cool, about 5 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a 9-by-5-by-2 1/2-inch nonreactive metal loaf pan. Refrigerate, covered, until set, about 45 minutes, or up to overnight. To unmold, set pan in warm water until gelatin loosens, about 2 seconds; invert onto a cutting board. Use a knife to break seal along edges if necessary. Cut gelatin into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Divide among 4 small bowls. Garnish each with 2 blackberries and mint leaves.

WINE GELATIN DESSERT

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin into water in a small bowl.
• Add sugar and salt.
• Heat wine and pour into gelatin.
• Stir until solids are dissolved.
• Add orange juice and lemon juice.
• Pour into 4 stemmed glasses.
• Chill until firm.
• Top with a dollop of whipped cream before serving.

DESSERT WINE GELEES WITH CITRUS FRUIT

Steps:

• Combine 5 tablespoons cold water and gelatin in a bowl. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Combine sugar, 1/2 cup water, and wines in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until sugar has dissolved. Add gelatin mixture, and whisk until melted. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat, and pour through a fine sieve into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Let cool completely.
• Cut peel and pith from citrus. Cut each segment from membranes, then cut horizontally into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick slices (you will need 1 cup). Arrange in a single layer over gelatin mixture. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
• To unmold, run a knife around edge of dish. Using an offset spatula, gently coax gelatin from sides. Invert and turn out onto a cutting board. Trim edges, and cut into 1 1/4-inch squares. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, uncovered, up to 1 day.

JELLIED CHAMPAGNE DESSERT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1 cup cold grape juice; let stand 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in sugar. Remove from heat; stir in remaining grape juice. Cool to room temperature., Transfer gelatin mixture to a large bowl. Slowly stir in champagne. Pour half of champagne mixture into eight champagne or parfait glasses. Add 1 strawberry to each glass. Refrigerate glasses and remaining gelatin mixture until almost set, about 1 hour. , Place reserved gelatin mixture in a blender; cover and process until foamy. Pour into glasses. Chill until set, about 3 hours.

WHITE WINE JELLY

Steps:

• Put 1/2 cup water into a sml saucepan, add gelatin & allow to soak for a few minutes.
• Place saucepan over a low heat & stir till the gelatin dissolves. Stir in the lemon juice & sugar.
• Continue stirring till the sugar dissolves & remove the pan from the heat.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup of water & the wine. Refrigerate till the mixture develops a syrup consistency.
• Add fruits, mix gently & spoon the jelly into a 1 qt mold or smaller molds of choice.
• Refrigerate & chill thoroughly till well-set. Unmold & serve.
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS: For brunch, serve w/scones, bagels or English muffins. As a salad course, serve atop greens & use a poppy seed or other complimentary dressing. As a dessert, serve w/cheese & crackers -- or -- baguette slices topped w/cheese of choice & the jelly as a dessert bruschetta. A sml dish of choc mints would make a nice combo w/either choice.
• NOTE: IMO, the fruits used are suggestions & others can be subbed. I will prob use a combo of green & red grapes in place of the cherries. Kiwi segments could also be used.

WINE GELATIN WITH CUSTARD

Steps:

• WINE GELATIN: In a 2-quart bowl add 1 cup cold water.
• Sprinkle gelatin over water and stir to soften and slightly dissolve gelatin.
• To a measuring cup, add lemon juice and enough water to make 2 cups and add sugar, and heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Pour mixture over gelatin.
• Add port wine.
• If you want a little more color, add a drop of red food coloring.
• Stir to mix well and pour into and 8x8-inch glass baking dish.
• Cover and chill.
• Before serving, cut into 3/4-inch cubes by cutting it as a checkerboard.
• Using a spatula, release cubes from sides and bottom of glass dish.
• NOTE: Amount of sugar for gelatin mixture will be determined by the sweetness of wine.
• CUSTARD: In saucepan, mix sugar and flour together, stirring to mix well.
• Stir milk and eggs together.
• Gradually pour egg mixture into sugar mixture, stirring well.
• Heat mixture over medium-high heat, constantly stirring with a whisk until it thickens enough to coat a spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Cool slightly or chill.
• TO SERVE: Spoon cubes of Wine Gelatin in stemmed glasses.
• Spoon Custard on top and sprinkle with nutmeg.