Brick Red Raspberry Hearts Recipes

ELMO'S HEARTY OATMEAL HEARTS

Steps:

• Step 1: Sweeten the Mix Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl cream the butter with the granulated and brown sugars. Add the eggs and stir. Little Hands Tip: After you've gotten the batter started, let your child have a try with the spoon. Take turns mixing until the ingredients are blended together.
• Step 2: Get Spicy Add the cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar and vanilla to the mixture. Then stir in the oats. Little Hands Tips: Let your child help measure out dry ingredients like sugar and oats and put them into the bowl. Talk as you measure together. For example, ask: "If we have one cup of oats, how many more do we need to make two?"
• Step 3: Red, Healthy Cranberries Mix in the all-purpose and whole wheat flours. Then add the cranberries. Little Hands Tip: Talk about how cranberries are a kind of fruit that is good for our bodies. Cranberries are filled with Vitamin C that helps us stay healthy. What other fruits are red?
• Step 4: Give It Some Love Put a spoon of batter down on the cookie tray, put the cookie cutter around it and press the dough into the shape (you can flour the cutter to keep it from sticking.) No cookie cutter? No problem! These can be made as traditional round cookies, too. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
• Step 5: Share with Someone Special! While you eat these sweet treats with your little sweetheart, talk together about the people you love and care about.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY HEARTS

Steps:

• Put the chocolate and coconut oil in a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water to melt.
• While the chocolate is melting, cut the strawberries in half from top to bottom. Slice a little "v" shape into the middle of each half, in order to turn them into hearts. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to dry for 5 minutes.
• Pierce each strawberry half on a slight diagonal with a wooden skewer or long toothpick (to look like an arrow going through). Dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate, covering them entirely. Refrigerate until set, 30 minutes to 1 hour.

PROSCIUTTO CHIPS TOPPED WITH FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• For Prosciutto Chips: Place onion in a saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the butter and allow onions to caramelize for about 10 to 18 minutes, stirring often.
• Place a 10-inch saute pan on medium heat. When the pan is hot, drizzle in the vegetable oil. Cut your prosciutto slices into pieces, the size of a troika chip. Fry until crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.
• For Fried Artichoke Hearts: Place oil in a deep saucepan. Heat to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the artichoke hearts into quarters. Dust artichoke hearts in your all-purpose flour. Place artichoke heart into your preheated oil and fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.
• To assemble, place a artichoke heart on top of a piece of prosciutto, garnish with a couple pieces of caramelized onion, and serve. See Cook's Note.

TENDER ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• Remove the tough outer leaves of the artichoke and carve away the rough outer skin around the base and stem of the vegetable with a paring knife. Halve them and remove the chokes.
• Slice the artichokes and rub each slice with lemon. Soak them in a bowl of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Heat up 3 inches of extra-virgin olive oil in a pot with high sides to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the artichokes from the water and shake and pat off as much water as possible before dredging each slice into the beaten egg, and then into the flour. Fry immediately in batches in the hot oil until golden brown.
• Remove the artichoke slices from the oil, and place them on paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Season with salt immediately. Serve.

RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOW HEARTS

Steps:

• Process the freeze-dried raspberries in a coffee grinder or spice grinder until finely ground. Sift the mixture into a small bowl to remove any raspberry seeds. Set aside.
• Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin on top and whisk to combine. Set aside to bloom.
• Line an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan with plastic wrap. Sift the cornstarch and confectioners' sugar together into a medium bowl. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the mixture over the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Set the pan and remaining cornstarch mixture aside.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Combine 3/4 cup of water, the granulated sugar and the corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Gently stir until the sugar crystals are all moistened. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan (or use an instant-read thermometer that measures at least up to 240 degrees F) and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F.
• As the sugar cooks, begin beating the egg whites on low speed. When the sugar syrup reaches 215 degrees F increase the speed to medium. (The goal is for the egg whites to reach stiff peaks right as the syrup reaches 240 degrees F.)
• Pour the hot syrup in a slow, steady stream along the edge of the bowl (not directly onto the whisk) as you continue to beat the egg whites. Place the gelatin in the saucepan over low heat and heat just until melted. Beat the gelatin into the meringue. Continue beating until the outside of the bowl is just slightly warm to the touch, about 5 more minutes.
• Turn off the mixer and add the red food coloring if using; beat just until combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and whisk in 2 tablespoons of the freeze-dried raspberry powder by hand. Reserve the remaining powder.
• Coat a rubber spatula with cooking spray or vegetable oil. Pour the warm marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and use the spatula to spread it in an even layer. Sprinkle another 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch mixture on top. Cover and let rest at room temperature until set, about 4 hours.
• Once set, remove the marshmallow by lifting the plastic wrap out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares. Cut a heart shape out of paper or thin cardboard that's small enough to fit in the middle of the marshmallows. Place the remaining raspberry powder in a small sieve. One at a time, place the heart on top of a marshmallow and dust with raspberry powder. Remove the heart. Repeat until all the marshmallows are decorated.
• Store for up to 1 week in an airtight container, dusting the marshmallows with more of the cornstarch mixture to keep them from sticking together.

RASPBERRY MERINGUE HEARTS

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in chopped almonds and vanilla. , Preheat oven to 300°. Drop meringue into 6 mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into 4-in. hearts with the back of a spoon, building up the edges slightly. Bake for 35 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in the oven for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. , For filling, place raspberries in a food processor. Cover and process until blended. Strain and discard seeds. In a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch, pureed raspberries and jam until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Cool. , To serve, spoon sauce into meringue hearts. Place scoop of sorbet on top. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Garnish with fresh raspberries if desired.