Raspberry Velvet Melange Recipes

RASPBERRY VELVET

Steps:

• Push the raspberries and preserves through a food mill, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer set over a stainless steel bowl to eliminate any remaining seeds. Or puree the berries with the preserves in a food processor, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Add the water and mix well. (You should have about 2 cups.)
• Place the bowl in the freezer and freeze, stirring every hour or so, until it is half frozen and velvety.
• Meanwhile, pour the lime juice into one small saucer and put the sugar in another. Dip the rims of four stemmed glasses (preferably tulip champagne glasses) into the lime juice and then into the sugar, to create a border. Place the glasses in the freezer or refrigerator until serving time.
• At serving time, divide the raspberry velvet among the prepared glasses and decorate each with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

RASPBERRY VELVET TART

Steps:

• For Crust:.
• Mix flours and sugar in large bowl.
• Add butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Beat yolk with cream to blend.
• Pour over flour mixture and stir until dough comes together, adding water to bind dough, if necessary.
• Gather dough into ball, flatten into disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Let dough soften slightly before continuing.).
• Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch-thick round.
• Roll dough up on rolling pin and transfer to 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom.
• Trim and finish edges; refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line pastry with foil or parchment and fill with beans or pie weights.
• Bake 15 minutes; remove beans and foil and continue baking crust until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Cool crust completely on wire rack.
• For Filling:.
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth.
• Mix in cream and butter; remove from over water.
• Distribute raspberries evenly over bottom of prepared crust, reserving a few for garnish.
• Pour chocolate mixture over, filling crust completely.
• Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.
• Arrange leaves and reserved berries decoratively atop tart.
• Sift powdered sugar lightly over and serve.
• For White Chocolate Leaves:.
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth.
• Spread in thin layer over veined undersides of leaves, being careful not to drip on edges.
• Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Gently peel off leaves, starting at stem end.
• (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover airtight and refrigerate.).

RED VELVET CAKE WITH RASPBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray and line bottoms of pans with wax paper or parchment paper.
• Measure out 3 cups cake flour by spooning into measuring cup and leveling with a knife.
• Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Set aside.
• In another bowl, beat granulated sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed for 4 minutes or until well blended.
• Add egg whites to sugar mixture, beat at medium speed for 5 minutes or until fluffy.
• Combine buttermilk, food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
• Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until moistened.
• Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Tap pans sharply on counter to remove any large air bubbles.
• Bake at 350°F for 28 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (do not overbake).
• Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• For frosting: Combine cream cheese and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl.
• Beat with a mixer at high speed for 3 minutes or until fluffy.
• Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed just until blended.
• To assemble cake: Place 1 cake layer on plate; spread with jam; top with second cake layer.
• Spread frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.