Drunken Cherries With Mascarpone Cream Recipes

CREPES WITH MASCARPONE AND CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the mascarpone, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Set aside. If making more than 2 hours ahead reserve in the refrigerator but let come to room temperature before serving. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cherries, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, lemon zest and juice and a splash of water. Cook until the cherries have let off their juice and the flavor has concentrated, about 10 to 12 minutes. When done the cherries should be very sweet and the juice should be syrupy.
• To assemble:
• Schmear some of the mascarpone/chocolate mixture, about 1/4-inch thick, onto the lower half of a crepe. Fold the top half over the bottom to create a perfect half circle and press to secure. Fold the crepe in half again, to create a loose triangle. Repeat this process with remaining 7 crepes. To serve, arrange 2 triangles on each serving plate and spoon the stewed cherries over the tops.
• Batter: In a mixing bowl, add the flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the eggs, milk, club soda and 3 tablespoons of melted butter into the center of the well and whisk together until just combined. The mixture should be like VERY loose pancake batter. If the mixture is a little thick, whisk in a little more milk. Let the batter sit for at least 30 minutes before using.
• Crepes:
• Melt about a 1/2 teaspoon of butter in a small nonstick saute pan. The butter should coat the bottom of the pan, if there is a lot of excess, wipe it out with a paper towel. Keep the paper towel handy in case you need it again (you will).
• Put the pan over medium heat. Fill a 2-ounce ladle, almost to the top, with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, tipping and rolling the pan, as you ladle the batter, to evenly cover the bottom. This will take a little practice, even when you are an experienced crepe maker the first couple always get wasted. Accept it and move on.
• When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, turn the crepe over and cook it for about 1 minute on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan to a plate and let cool. Stack the crepes as they are cooked between parchment paper squares. Repeat this process, until all the batter is used, wiping the pan with your paper towel or melting a little more butter to the pan, as needed.

MACERATED SOUR CHERRIES AND MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, mix cherries, lemon verbena, sugar, mace and wine. Cover tightly, and macerate at least 24 hours.
• Strain and set aside cherries, reserving juice. Remove lemon verbena leaves from strainer, and add to juice.
• Put juice in blender, and blend it fine. Strain through medium strainer, pressing to extract all liquid. Pour juice over cherries, reserving 1/4 cup.
• In small bowl, soften cheese with spatula; slowly stir in reserved juice until mixture is smooth.
• Combine cream and sugar in another bowl, and beat until soft peaks form. Fold cream into mascarpone.
• To serve, divide mascarpone into 4 bowls. Pour cherries and juice over cheese. Top each serving with pinch of mace.

LEMON-ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Spread almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until fragrant and lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Let cool in sheet on a wire rack, then, using your hands, coarsely crush nuts. In a large bowl, stir together sugar, butter, lemon zest and juice, and extracts. Stir in almonds, egg, and egg white. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir flour mixture into egg mixture just until combined. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Using moistened hands, halve dough and place on two rimmed baking sheets. Form into two 1 1/2-by-16-inch logs (remoisten hands as needed). Bake until pale golden, about 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. With a large metal spatula, carefully loosen logs from sheets, then let cool on sheets on wire racks, 15 minutes.
• With a serrated knife, cut logs into 1/3-inch slices on the diagonal and arrange, cut side down, on clean baking sheets. Bake until biscotti are pale golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer biscotti to a wire rack and let cool completely. (Store biscotti in an airtight container, up to 1 month.)

DRUNKEN CHERRIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine all ingredients; stir until well mixed and sugar is dissolved.
• Ladle mixture into one 24 oz. (1-1/2 pints) glass jar; store, tightly covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 week.

DRUNKEN CHERRIES WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together brandy and 1/4 cup sugar until sugar is mostly dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, fennel seeds, and pepper; whisk to combine. Add lemon zest and cherries and stir until combined. Refrigerate, covered, 24 hours (or up to 3 days), stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl, whisk mascarpone until loose and shiny, about 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream and 2 teaspoons sugar on high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Whisk in vanilla. Fold mascarpone into whipped cream until well combined. Divide cherries and liquid among 4 plates. Serve with mascarpone cream and biscotti.