Spiced Honey Semifreddo With Dried Fruit And Almonds Recipes

SPICED HONEY FRUIT SALAD WITH PECANS

Steps:

• For the spicy roasted pecans: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and coat with cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, cayenne, ginger and egg white. Whisk until foamy. Fold in the pecans until fully incorporated.
• Transfer the pecans to the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake until fragrant, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• For the fruit salad: Cut a slit into the habanero. Combine the honey and orange juice in a small saucepot and add the habanero and cinnamon. Heat until just simmering, about 40 seconds. Let stand for 10 minutes, then remove the habanero.
• To serve: Toss the cantaloupe, grapes, kiwis and apples with the honey syrup, then coarsely crumble the pecans on top.

HONEY-SPICED ALMONDS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• 2. Heat a large sauté pan on high, and add olive oil. Add almonds to pan, toast for 1 minute stirring often, and reduce heat to low. Continue to stir until the almonds are light golden brown, 6-7 minutes. Add honey and spices, salt and sesame seeds and stir to coat evenly.
• 3. Spread nuts out evenly on to a large sheet tray and place in the oven until honey is dry, 10-15 minutes. Allow nuts to cool before serving.

SPICED HONEY SEMIFREDDO WITH DRIED FRUIT AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a saucepan and bring just to a boil over medium-high heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until the sugar starts to dissolve and the yolks turn light yellow, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the hot milk, adding it in a thin stream at first so as not to cook the yolks, and then more quickly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, without boiling, until the mixture thickly coats the back of a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and amaretto. Refrigerate until cool (or chill in a water bath).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes.
• When the custard is cold, whip the cream to stiff peaks and fold into the custard along with the toasted almonds. Scrape the mixture into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, cover and freeze until firm.
• Meanwhile, put the figs, dates, honey, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan and set it over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes until the fruit is soft. Let cool slightly, then remove the cinnamon stick.
• To serve, dip the bottom of the loaf pan in a bowl of hot water for 5 seconds. Put a platter on top and then invert quickly; lift off the loaf pan. Cut the semifreddo into slices and put the slices on plates. Spoon the spiced honey and dried fruit over and crumble amaretto cookies over the top for crunch.

GRILLED STONE FRUIT WITH FARMER'S CHEESE AND SPICED HONEY ALMONDS

Steps:

• For the spiced honey almonds: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
• Spread the almonds on the prepared baking sheet, then transfer to the oven and toast lightly, 8 minutes.
• Combine the honey, sugar, allspice, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar melts.
• Put the toasted almonds in a small bowl and toss with half of the honey mixture until evenly coated; reserve the remaining spiced syrup. Using a heat-proof spatula (the mixture will be hot), spread the coated almonds in an even layer on the baking sheet. Set aside until hardened, 15 minutes to 1 hour--the almonds will remain slightly sticky. Once hardened, coarsely chop or use whole.
• For the grilled stone fruit: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Brush the cut sides of the fruit with a bit of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the fruit, cut-side down, to mark and caramelize slightly, about 2 minutes. Brush the tops with a bit more oil, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and then flip and grill on the reverse side just to soften slightly, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Transfer the grilled fruit to a platter, cut-side up. Dollop the farmer's cheese around the fruit, drizzle some of the reserved spiced syrup over everything, and scatter the almonds on top. Serve immediately.

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH DRIED FRUIT AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Make a quick vinaigrette by whisking together the vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper (or throw the ingredients into a small jar with a lid, cover, and shake). Pour the vinaigrette over the watercress and toss to coat. Garnish with the toasted slivered almonds and dried cranberries.

RATATOUILLE WITH FETA, GREEN OLIVES, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put the almonds into a large skillet over medium heat. Gently toast the nuts, being careful not to let them burn, for about 3 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, 1 chopped garlic clove, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 3 minutes and transfer to a plate to cool. Crush the almonds roughly and put them into a bowl along with the feta cheese, olives, and 1/3 of the basil leaves. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes into the skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, remaining garlic, and 1/3 of the basil leaves and cook until the onions start to soften, about 5 minutes. Put in the eggplant and cook until it is soft, about 10 minutes, adding more olive oil if necessary. Add the zucchini, fresh tomatoes, and capers; season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until these vegetables are soft but still whole. Add the canned tomatoes, vinegar, and remaining basil leaves. Continue to cook for another 15 minutes; remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• To serve, put the ratatouille into a bowl or platter and top with the feta, olive, and almond mixture.

SPICED DRIED FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit plus the cinnamon, cloves, honey, saffron, vanilla and lemon zest into a sauce pan. Add cold water to just barely cover the fruit.
• Place on stove on a low-medium heat and slowly bring to simmering point. Cook for 15 minutes, gently stirring once during this time. Remove from heat.
• Cool to desired serving temperature - remove cinnamon & cloves (if you can find them). Just before serving stir in the almonds, pistachios and a few drops of orange flower water (or to taste).
• Note: if you prefer you can place the cinnamon & cloves into a muslin bag to make removal easier.

HONEY & SPICE ROASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Arrange almonds in a single layer in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once., In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, salt and cayenne; set aside. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add roasted almonds and honey; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining sugar; cook 1 minute longer or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; add reserved sugar mixture and toss to coat., Immediately spread onto waxed paper; cool completely. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.