Cider And Calvados Gelees With Champagne Grapes Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over water to soften 1 minute. In a saucepan combine cider and sugar and bring to a rolling boil. Boil mixture, skimming froth, until reduced to 2 cups. Stir in brandy and lemon juice and pour through a sieve lined with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth or paper towel into a bowl. Stir gelatin mixture into hot cider mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Stir mixture well and divide among four 1/2-cup molds. Chill gelées until firm, at least 3 hours, and up to 2 days.
• To unmold gelées, dip bottoms of molds, 1 at a time, into a bowl of hot water 3 seconds. Run a thin knife around edges of molds and invert gelées onto 4 small dessert plates.
• Serve gelées with small bunches of grapes alongside.

Steps:

• Fill a medium saucepan with 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons water and agar agar powder; whisk to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat; add sugar and remove from heat. Add calvados and pour mixture into a 13-by-13-inch nonstick baking dish. Refrigerate until set before cutting into cubes.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine grapes and 2 cups water; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Press through a strainer; reserve juice and discard skins and seeds. , Pour juice through a double layer of cheesecloth into a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and remaining water. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Discard cloves and cinnamon sticks.

Steps:

• In a saucepan stir together the cider, the brown sugar, the allspice, the nutmeg, the cloves, the cinnamon pieces, and the apple, simmer the mixture, covered, for 10 minutes, and stir in the Calvados. Heat the mixture over moderate heat until it is hot and discard the allspice, the cloves, and the cinnamon. Divide the mulled cider among heated mugs and garnish each drink with a few of the apple slices.