Chocolate Shooting Stars With Strawberry Coulis Recipes

Steps:

• Make crusts:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grind biscotti and almonds in processor until finely ground. Add butter and process until well blended. Divide mixture equally among eight 4 1/2-inch diameter tartlet pans with removable bottoms (about 1/3 cup mixture for each). Press mixture onto bottoms and up sides of pans. Bake until crusts are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer pans to racks; cool completely.
• Make filling:
• Bring 1/2 cup whipping cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped white chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Cool mixture to room temperature. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth. Gradually add white chocolate mixture and beat until well blended. Beat remaining 3/4 cup whipping cream, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture in 2 additions. Divide filling among prepared tartlet crusts (about 1/2 filing for each). Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Make coulis:
• Combine strawberries, water, 3 tablespoons sugar and lemon juice in blender. Purée until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (Tartlets and coulis can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Remove tartlets from pans. Place 1 tartlet on each of 8 plates. Spoon strawberry coulis alongside and serve.

Steps:

• To temper the chocolate, place it over simmering water, melting it to 115 to 120 degrees F on a chocolate thermometer. Turn off the heat, remove the bowl from the simmering water, and let cool, stirring until it reaches 82 to 86 degrees F. It will begin to set a little around the edges at this point. Return the bowl to the hot (now turned off) water for a few seconds at a time, until it reaches 88 to 91 degrees F. Do not let it go over 91 degrees F, or it will go out of temper.
• Fit a pastry bag with a small tip that has a 1/8-inch opening. Fill the bag with tempered chocolate and, onto a silpat, or parchment lined baking sheet, pipe small disks about 3/4-inch in diameter. Shake on the sprinkles and allow them to set up at room temperature. Store in an airtight container.