Cider Poached Apples With Candied Walnuts Rum Cream And Cider Syrup Recipes

MAPLE-POACHED APPLES WITH CINNAMON- GLAZED PECANS AND CIDER GRANITE

Steps:

• To make the granite, pour the cider into a large metal pan and place in the freezer until firm throughout but not frozen solid, about 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the pecans, preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the egg whites and water until frothy. Place the pecans in the egg-white mixture and stir to coat. Drain well. Place the pecans in the cinnamon sugar and toss to coat well. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until the pecans begin to dry out, about 45 minutes, stirring twice. Set aside; you will not need all the pecans for this recipe.
• To make the apples, combine the maple syrup, water and rum in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a simmer and add the apples. Cover and poach until the apples are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the apples and set aside. Bring the poaching liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 30 minutes.
• To serve, coat the bottom of 4 plates with the syrup mixture. Place 1 apple and a scoop of the granite on each plate. Scatter some cinnamon pecans over the plate and serve immediately.

CIDER-POACHED APPLES WITH CANDIED WALNUTS, RUM CREAM, AND CIDER SYRUP

Steps:

• Poach apples:
• Peel top third of each apple and rub peeled part with lemon half. Put apples in a wide 5-quart heavy pot and add cider and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, covered, over medium heat (this will take 25 to 30 minutes). Remove from heat and cool apples in cider, covered, about 1 hour.
• Make candied walnuts:
• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in lower third.
• Stir together all ingredients with a pinch of salt, then spread on a small baking sheet into a 10-inch round. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a rack and loosen nuts, then cool (nuts will crisp as they cool).
• Whip cream and assemble dessert:
• Beat cream with sugar, rum, and vanilla using an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks.
• Drain apples, reserving poaching liquid for another use. Put an apple on each plate and sprinkle with candied walnuts. Dollop cream next to each apple and drizzle (bottled) boiled cider all over.