Flaming Wild Berry Mini Bundts With Spiced Peach Creme Anglaise Recipes

Steps:

• For the meringue: Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 200 degrees F.
• Beat the cream of tartar, salt and egg whites in a very clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 minute more. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar about 1/4 cup at a time and beat until shiny stiff peaks form, 5 to 10 additional minutes.
• Invert a large baking sheet and top it with a large piece of parchment. Spoon leveled 1/3-cup portions of meringue onto the parchment, leaving ample space between each portion. Use a small offset spatula to smooth each portion of meringue into a 5-inch round.
• Use a 3-tablespoon ice cream scoop to scoop 4 leveled mounds of meringue around the perimeter of each 5-inch round. Use the offset spatula to lightly smooth out the mounds so they touch each other and mimic the look of snow drifts. If needed, use the back of a spoon to create a large divot in the center of the meringue so there is enough room to pour in the creme anglaise later.
• Fit a large pastry bag with a 1/4-inch round tip and scoop the remaining meringue into the bag.
• Invert a second large baking sheet and top it with a piece of parchment. Spread out half of the black sanding sugar onto one corner of the parchment. Pipe one 2 1/2-inch-long by 1 1/2-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mound of meringue for the black swan's body, two 2-inch-long by 1-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds for the black swan's wings and one 3-inch S-shaped swan neck with head directly onto the black sanding sugar. Use a wooden toothpick to pull out the top of the head to create a beak. Sprinkle the meringue pieces with the remaining black sanding sugar. Use a pastry brush to brush away the excess sanding sugar, but reserve to use later.
• On the remainder of the parchment, pipe five 2 1/2-inch-long by 1 1/2-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds of meringue for the white swans' bodies, ten 2-inch-long by 1-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds for the white swans' wings and eight 3-inch S-shaped swan necks with heads (you will have extra heads/necks, in case of breakage). Again, use a wooden toothpick to pull out the top of each head to create a beak. These do not spread much while baking, but leave at least 1/4 inch of space between each piece of meringue.
• Bake both baking sheets of meringue until dry and crisp, 3 to 4 hours. Cool completely on the baking sheets.
• For the creme anglaise: Whisk together the milk, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
• Whisk together the granulated sugar and egg yolks in a medium bowl until well combined, then whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk, then pour the mixture back into the saucepan and continue cooking at a slow simmer, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens to the consistency of thin gravy, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain the sauce into a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
• For the whipped cream: Put the heavy cream in a medium bowl and whisk vigorously to stiff peaks.
• To assemble: Use a small offset spatula to gently loosen the meringue pieces from the parchment. Transfer the 6 lakes onto individual plates. Spoon 2 leveled tablespoons of the whipped cream onto each swan base. Gently insert a swan head/neck toward the tip of each base, then press 1 set of wings onto the sides of the whipped cream. Repeat this process to build 5 additional meringue swans. There should be 5 white swans and 1 black swan. For the black swan, sprinkle a thick layer of the excess black sanding sugar all over the whipped cream before inserting the head/neck and wings.
• Pour the chilled creme anglaise into the center of each lake, then top each with a swan. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.
• The meringues can be baked up to 1 day in advance (avoid baking in humid weather); keep them overnight in the oven with the oven turned off. The crème anglaise can be made up to 2 days in advance and kept refrigerated. Whip the cream and assemble the swans just before serving.

Steps:

• For the creme anglaise: Combine the milk, chicory, cloves and cinnamon in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, refrigerate and leave to infuse for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Make an ice bath by setting a medium bowl or large measuring cup into a large bowl of ice.
• Strain the milk mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean, small saucepan; discard the solids. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until very pale and thick. Very gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the eggs. When full incorporated, transfer back to the saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and add the brandy and orange zest. Switch to a wooden spoon and cook, stirring, until the mixture coats the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Strain into the bowl set in the ice bath. Add water to the ice to cool the sauce down faster. Stir the sauce until cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For the beignets: Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a potato masher or large fork. Add the banana liqueur, vanilla extract, granulated sugar and muscovado sugar, and mix well. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and pour in the milk. Mix until smooth and thick, like waffle batter, adding a little more milk as needed. Set aside to rest for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• In a heavy pot set over medium heat, heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees F. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoonfuls into the oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once when the edges are firm. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a 200-degree oven for up to 2 hours.
• Plate the beignets atop a pool of creme anglaise. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Steps:

• Peel and core apples and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. In a heavy saucepan simmer apples, sugar, Calavdos, and clove for 5 minutes, or until apples are tender but still hold their shape. Stir in raisins.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Butter bread on 1 side. Cut out 4 bread rounds to fit in bottoms of four 1/2 to 3/4-cup charlotte molds or ramekins. Cut 4 rounds the same size as tops of molds or ramekins. Cut remaining 4 bread slices into 1-inch strips. Put bottom rounds, buttered side down, in molds. Arrange strips vertically, buttered sides against inside of molds, slightly overlapping. Press them gently to adhere and trim any overhang flush with rims. Divide apple mixture among molds and top with remaining rounds, buttered sides up, pressing gently. Charlottes may be prepared up to this point 3 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
• Bake charlottes on a baking sheet in upper third of oven 20 minutes, or until bread is golden.
• Spoon a few tablespoons creme anglaise (recipe follows) onto each of 4 dessert plates and invert apple charlottes onto sauce

Steps:

• Crush cardamom seeds with the back of a heavy knife and combine, outer shells and all, with cream in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. In top of a double boiler whisk yolks with sugar until sugar dissolves. Cook eggs over simmering water, whisking constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and gradually strain cream into yolks, whisking. Pour sauce back into top of double boiler and cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes until thickened. Temperature of sauce should not exceed 165 degrees F or it will curdle. Remove sauce from heat and continue to stir for 3 minutes to cool. Strain into a clean bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring frequently. Cover and chill.
• In food processor combine banana and sugar and puree. Scrape puree into a bowl and gently fold in whipped cream. Cover and chill 1 to 2 hours. To serve, mound mousse in centers of 4 dessert plates. Pour some cardamom sauce around and serve immediately, garnished with mint.

Steps:

• Put chopped almonds in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to toast, about 3 minutes.
• Add milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks, and whisk well to combine. Cook, whisking almost constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let it boil.
• While sauce is still hot, strain it through a sieve and let cool a bit. To serve, put a cup of strawberries in each dish, drizzle with warm sauce and garnish with slivered almonds. Sauce will keep, tightly covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Pour milk in a large pan, and cook on high heat. When milk starts boiling, remove from heat. Put a large empty bowl and another one filled with ice the refrigerator. Pour egg yolks and sugar into an electric mixer and mix until it becomes thick and white. Leave aside. Put milk back on heat and bring to boil. Pour a little milk into egg and sugar mix whipping constantly. Pour into milk pan and cook at low temperature stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until firm consistency (about 5 minutes). Do not bring to boil. To check if creme is ready, rub your finger on the back of the spoon and if it leaves a trace, the creme is cooked. Add the pistachio paste. Put the bowl on ice to stop the cooking process. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.