Angel Florentine Recipes

FLORENTINES (ITALY)

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Put the sugar, cream, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
• Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4 inches between each cookie since they spread.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown color throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
• Optional chocolate topping: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
• For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
• For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.

ANGEL HAIR PASTA WITH GARLIC AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Boil pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta. Make sure to salt the water.
• While waiting for water to boil and pasta to cook, add olive oil and butter to a large sauté pan. (You want the pan to be large enough that you will be able to add the pasta once it finishes cooking.)
• Once butter has melted, add garlic, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Sauté, stirring constantly, until it starts to turn golden brown. Do not overcook the garlic. Once it starts to turn a light brown or golden, remove from heat.
• Once pasta is done, drain and quickly add it to the garlic, olive oil, butter mixture. Toss until evenly coated.
• Add grated Parmesan and squeeze of lemon, if desired. Toss again. At this point, taste it and decide if you need to add more salt. You can also drizzle with a little more olive oil if desired.
• Salt to taste if needed and serve immediately. I like to reserve a spoonful of the sautéed garlic to put in the center of the serving dish with a little more Parmesan cheese...as pictured.
• Enjoy!

FLORENTINES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and whisk in the flour then add the cherries, flaked almonds, pistachios and orange zest.
• Scoop 10 flat tbsp of the mixture onto the baking sheets, leaving room for them to spread. You will need to do these in batches. Bake for 10 mins until golden. Leave to cool for 2 mins until firm enough to lift onto a wire rack. Cool completely. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a simmering saucepan of water or in the microwave in 30 second bursts. Turn the florentines over on the wire rack. Spoon chocolate onto the base of each florentine and gently spread to the edges. When the chocolate is firm enough to hold its shape, use a fork to draw wavy lines across the chocolate. Leave to set and then store in an airtight container.

GRILLED ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the Citrus Compote: Zest 1 grapefruit and set aside for the Grapefruit Whipped Cream. Cut off the top and bottom of an orange and place it on the counter flat side down. Cut the outer peel and pith off. Cut into chunks, removing as much pith as possible. Repeat with the remaining citrus fruits (including the zested grapefruit). Add the citrus chunks to a medium saucepot with 1/2 cup of water, the sugar and a handful of mint. Bring to low boil over medium heat and cook, occasionally stir gently making sure not to break up the fruit too much, until slightly syrupy and the sugar is dissolved, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, discard the mint and reserve, it will thicken slightly as it cools.
• For the Grapefruit Whipped Cream: Add the cream and zest to a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a bowl with a hand mixer and whip on medium-high speed until peaks are medium-stiff. Refrigerate.
• For the Angel Food Cake: Preheat your outdoor grill to medium heat. Slice the angel food cake in half along the equator. Place each half on the grill and toast on both sides until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
• Place the bottom of the grilled angel food cake on a platter and spoon about half of the whipped cream over top. Use a slotted spoon to spoon some of the citrus compote over the whipped cream (don't use too much syrup or the whipped cream will be too runny). Place the top half of the cake on top (like a whipped cream sandwich). Spoon the other half of the whipped cream over top and spoon more of the citrus compote on. Garnish with mint leaves. Slice and serve like a layer cake.

ANGEL FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Break pasta into thirds and cook.
• Cook spinach, drain and add onion.
• Add cheese, eggs, pimento (if using) and half the butter to the spinach.
• Drain the pasta and add to the rest.
• Place in a greased (or silpat) 2 quart baking dish.
• Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
• While baking, cook the mushrooms in the other half of the butter until tender in a sauce pan large enough for the sauce.
• Add sauce and heat through.
• Serve as an accompaniment to the baked pasta.

ANGEL HAIR FLORENTINE

Steps:

• In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, brown chicken slightly and wilt the spinach.
• Add soup, milk and seasonings. Heat stirring constantly, until well blended and hot. Cook pasta according to package directions. Serve the spinach cream sauce over the hot pasta. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy completely!

ANGEL HAIR FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Combine egg, sour cream, heavy cream, Parmesan, onion, salt, and pepper. Add spinach and blend well. Add cheeses and mix well. Fold in pasta. Put in oven-proof casserole, sprinkle with more Parmesan, cover with tin foil, and bake at 350° for 45 minutes to 1 hour or more, until set. Remove tin foil last 10 minutes of cooking.