Tarragon Ice Recipes

Steps:

• Make honeydew ice:
• Bring water and sugar to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Transfer 1/2 cup hot syrup to a bowl and stir in tarragon, then cool. Chill remaining syrup.
• Pour tarragon syrup through a very fine sieve into a metal bowl, discarding solids. Purée honeydew in a blender and stir into strained tarragon syrup. Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Make plum soup:
• Dice enough of plums to measure 1/2 cup and reserve. Coarsely chop remaining plums and purée in 2 batches with 1 cup chilled syrup (total) in a blender. Pour purée through very fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding solids.
• Stir in diced plums, lime juice, and chilled syrup to taste.
• Serve soup immediately, topped with scoops of honeydew ice.

Steps:

• Combine tarragon with milk and heavy cream and bring just to a simmer. Cover and let set for 1 hour. Combine yolks with the sugar and whisk until pale. Bring the cream back to a simmer and slowly pour the cream mixture into the yolks while stirring. Return the mixture to the pan and cook over low heat and continue stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Strain, pour into a container and chill in an ice bath. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Romove from refrigerator and stir in apricot puree. Process in a an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.

Steps:

• Rinse a chilled cocktail coupe with absinthe, then garnish the glass with a tarragon sprig.
• Add the gin, Demerara Sugar Syrup, lemon juice, Green Chartreuse and remaining tarragon sprig to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the tarragon, add large ice cubes and shake vigorously. Double-strain into the prepared glass and serve.
• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

Steps:

• To make the crust, combine flour, butter, shortening, salt and sugar in a food processor. Pulse together just until the mixture is crumbly and butter is broken into small pieces. Pour 1/3 cup ice water into the machine, and pulse 3 or 4 times. Squeeze a little dough in your hand to see whether it clumps together and is evenly moist. If not, add another tablespoon of water, and pulse 1 or 2 times more. Don't overmix so that the dough forms a ball.
• Turn out dough on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Lift ends of plastic to gather dough together inside. Press into a large disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• To make the filling, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrot, celery, leeks and tarragon, and cook, stirring, just until slightly softened but not browned (reduce the heat if necessary to prevent browning), about 3 minutes. Transfer cooked vegetables to a bowl, wipe out the skillet, and place it back on the stove.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook, whisking, until the mixture bubbles and smells cooked. Do not let it brown. Whisk in 2 cups broth, and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in cream, and cook 2 or 3 minutes, just until thickened. Add salt and pepper. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in remaining broth.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add cooked vegetables and peas, chicken and sauce to 8-inch deep pie dish or other baking dish, mix gently, and taste for seasoning.
• Flour a work surface. Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll out the dough, turning and flouring often, and cut a shape approximately the size of your baking dish plus 1 1/2 inches overlap all around.
• Roll dough up onto the rolling pin, and unroll over dish, so it rests evenly on top of filling. Fold the edges under and crimp. Poke tip of knife through crust to create 3 vent holes near the center. Whisk the egg with a teaspoon of cold water. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the entire crust with egg wash. Place on cookie sheet, and place in oven.
• Bake 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 degrees. Bake 25 to 30 minutes more, until crust is golden and filling is bubbling through vents. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine water and sugar. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Cool about 30 minutes. In a 2 quart square baking dish, combine sugar mixture, lemon juice and tarragon. Cover and freeze 7 hours or till nearly firm.
• Break the frozen mix into small chunks. Move to a chilled large bowl. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy but not melted. Return mix to the 2 quart dish and cover, freeze at least 3 hours or until firm.
• To serve, let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Using a large spoon, scrape across the surface and spoon into pretty dishes.
• Makes 6 cups.