Italian Apricot Fool Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9- to 10-inch shallow pie plate.
• Combine the egg yolks and 1/3 cup of the sugar in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until ribbons form when you lift the beater just slightly out of the batter, about 3 minutes. Add the flour, heavy cream and vanilla extract. Reduce the speed to low and beat until thoroughly blended, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Slide the prepared pie plate into the oven to preheat for 4 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and salt in a small bowl for 30 seconds; add to the batter and beat with the mixer on low speed until just incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Combine the apricots, lemon zest and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl, and gently stir until the apricots are thoroughly coated. Remove the pie plate from the oven, pour in the apricots in a decorative pattern, and top with the batter.
• Bake until set in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve warm with a small dollop of the whipped cream, if using.
• Add the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip just until soft peaks form.

Steps:

• Put the apricot halves in a saucepan with the lemon zest and juice and the sugar. Shake the pan to combine, then simmer, uncovered, over a medium heat until the apricots are soft. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
• Tip the contents of the pan into a blender or food processor and whizz to a purée. Decant into a bowl, stir in the liqueur and leave to cool - about 20-30 minutes.
• Soften the mascarpone in its tub by whisking it vigorously with a fork. Whip the cream in a bowl - you want it softly whipped not stiff. Fold in the mascarpone with a large metal spoon, then lightly swirl in the apricot purée to make a pattern.
• Spoon the mixture into six wine glasses. (At this point, they'll keep in the fridge for up to a day.) To serve, crumble over the amaretti, with a few on the side for dunking.

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Place sugar in a small saucer. Dip cut side of apricots in sugar to coat and transfer to a small broilerproof baking dish. Broil, rotating once, until apricots are caramelized and juicy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove apricots from oven. Let cool slightly and top with ricotta and pistachios. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In large skillet, cook pancetta until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in pan., Add 1 tablespoon butter to drippings; heat over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until tender. Transfer onion to a large bowl., Heat remaining butter in pan. Add mushrooms; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until tender. Stir in spinach; cook 30-45 seconds or until wilted., Add bread cubes, mushroom mixture, pancetta and almonds if desired to onion; toss to combine. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., In a large bowl, beat eggs, cream, salt and pepper until blended. Beat in mascarpone cheese just until blended; pour over bread. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Asiago cheese; spoon preserves over top. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with basil. Let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting.

Steps:

• Place the apricots, orange juice, sugar and cinnamon sticks in a pan, cover and cook gently for about 15 mins, until the apricots are very soft. Remove the cinnamon sticks and set aside to cool.
• Spoon the yogurt into a bowl and stir in the lemon zest. Fold in most of the cooled apricots, spoon into 4 serving glasses and top with the remaining fruit and any juices.

Steps:

• Remove the pits from the apricots and stew them gently with the water and sugar until tender.
• Puree the cooked fruit.
• Cool.
• Stir the liqueur into the cold apricot puree and adjust the sweetness to your liking.
• Layer alternative spoonfuls of apricot mixture and sour cream into six indidual serving glasses.
• Chill before serving.

Steps:

• Place the apricots in a food processor and puree.
• Strain the puree through a sieve to remove bits of skin. Return the apricots to the food processor with the nectar or juice and cream and process about 30 seconds, until smooth.
• Spoon the mixture into four goblets and chill them at least two hours before serving.
• Dust each serving lightly with cinnamon.