Orange Cream Meringues With Chocolate Sauce Recipes

TRAY-BAKED MERINGUE WITH PEARS, CREAM, TOASTED HAZELNUTS AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper.
• Put your egg whites into a squeaky clean bowl, making sure there are absolutely no little pieces of egg shell or egg yolk in them. Whisk on medium until the whites form firm peaks. With your mixer still running, gradually add the sugar and the pinch of salt. Turn the mixer up to the highest setting and whisk for about 7 or 8 minutes, until the meringue mixture is white and glossy. To test whether it's done you can pinch some between your fingers - if it feels completely smooth it's ready; if it's slightly granular it needs a little more whisking.
• Dot each corner of the waxed paper with a blob of meringue, then turn it over and stick it to the baking sheet. Spoon the meringue out onto the paper. Using the back of a spoon, shape and swirl it into a rectangle. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour or until crisp on the outside and a little soft and sticky inside. At the same time, bake the hazelnuts on a separate sheet in the oven for 1 hour or until golden brown.
• Drain the cans of pears, reserving the syrup from 1 can. Cut each pear half into 3 slices. Pour the pear syrup into a saucepan with the ginger, if using, and warm gently over a medium heat until it starts to simmer. Take off the heat and snap the chocolate into the saucepan, stirring with a spoon until it's all melted.
• Take the meringue and hazelnuts out of the oven and leave to cool. Place the meringue on a nice rustic board or platter. Whip the cream with the sifted icing sugar and the vanilla seeds until it forms smooth, soft peaks. Smash the toasted hazelnuts (in a kitchen towel) and sprinkle half of them over the top of the meringue. Spoon half the whipped cream over the top and drizzle with some of the chocolate sauce (if the sauce has firmed up, melt it slightly by holding the saucepan over a large pan of boiling water). Divide most of the pear pieces evenly over the top. Pile over the rest of the whipped cream and pears. Drizzle with some more chocolate sauce, then sprinkle over the remaining toasted hazelnuts with some grated orange zest. Serve straightaway. If you're making this in advance, get everything ready and assemble at the last minute.

FROZEN RASPBERRY ZABAGLIONE ON MERINGUES WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• For Zabaglione:
• Puree raspberries and juices in blender. Strain puree into bowl, pressing hard on fruit to release all pulp and juices. Mix 2 tablespoons corn syrup into puree. Cover and refrigerate while preparing zabaglione.
• Combine 8 egg yolks, sugar, Grand Marnier and orange juice concentrate in large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat yolk mixture 1 minute. Set bowl over large saucepan of simmering water and beat yolk mixture at high speed until very thick and thermometer registers 160°F, about 12 minutes.
• Place bowl over larger bowl filled with ice and water and cool zabaglione, whisking occasionally, about 15 minutes. Fold in 3/4 cup raspberry puree. Transfer to covered container and freeze. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.)
• For Sauce:
• Stir chopped chocolate, corn syrup, 1 tablespoon water and 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons raspberry puree in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and sauce is smooth. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be made 2 days ahead.)
• For Meringues:
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line large baking sheet with foil; grease foil lightly. Using electric mixer, beat 3 egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until meringue is stiff and shiny. Fold in half of toasted almonds.
• Drop meringue in 8 mounds onto prepared sheet. using back of spoon, make indentation in each mound. Sprinkle meringues with remaining toasted almonds. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven, leave oven door closed and let meringues dry in oven overnight.
• Place meringues on platter and fill each with large scoop of zabaglione. Wrap meringues tightly and freeze at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Rewarm chocolate sauce over low heat. Place each filled meringue on plate. Spoon warm chocolate sauce over and serve immediately.

CINNAMON COCOA MERINGUES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CINNAMON CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce:
• In a small heavy saucepan combine the cream and the brown sugar, bring the mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking occasionally, and boil it, whisking, until the brown sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolates, and whisk the mixture until they are melted. Whisk in the butter and the cinnamon, whisking until the sauce is smooth, and let the sauce cool slightly. The sauce may be made 1 week in advance and kept covered and chilled. Reheat the sauce over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is warm. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
• Make the meringues:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until they are foamy, add the cream of tartar, and beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks. Sift the cocoa powder and the cinnamon over the meringue and fold them in gently but thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip and pipe it into 5-inch rounds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake the meringues in the middle of a preheated 250°F. oven for 1 1/2 hours and let them cool on the sheets. The meringues may be made 10 days in advance and kept, separated with sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container. Arrange 1 meringue on each of 2 plates and top each meringue with a scoop of the ice cream and some of the cinnamon chocolate sauce.