Fruit Sunburst Recipes

LOUISIANA SUNBURST SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the cranberries overnight in the port. Or for at least 6 hours.
• To toast the almonds: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scatter almonds on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake them 5 - 7 minutes or until just starting to turn golden and are fragrant. Watch them closely, as they can burn easily.
• In a large mixing bowl, or wooden salad bowl, add the oil, water, vinegar, Tabasco, cinnamon and sugar. Whisk until emulsified. Add the lettuce and toss. Season with salt and pepper. You can also add the vinaigrette ingredients to a mason jar and shake the jar to emulsify.
• Place the greens on serving plates and garnish with the crumbled cheese, cranberries, and almonds. Serve immediately.

LOUISIANA SUNBURST SALAD (CREOLE)

Steps:

• Soak cranberries overnight in the port wine.
• The next morning, in a large mixing bowl, add oil, water, vinegar, Tabasco, cinnamon & sugar, & whisk until emulsified.
• Add the lettuces & toss, then season with salt & pepper.
• Divide the greens among 4 plates & garnish each with crumbled cheese, cranberries & almonds.

SUNBURST FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving juices. Measure 3/4 cup pineapple juice (add juice from oranges if there is not enough) into small saucepan. Stir in cornstarch and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until thickened. Cool. Place fruit in large bowl. Drizzle with pineapple dressing and toss lightly.

APRICOT SUNBURST

Steps:

• 1. Place the apricots in a medium saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and cook at a bare simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Drain the apricots, reserving the cooking liquid, and puree them in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. You should have about 1 cup of puree.
• 2. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 10-inch savarin mold and sprinkle it generously with sugar. Combine the pureed apricots, 1/4 cup of the sugar, and the lime juice, lime zest, salt, pistachios, pecans, and cherries in a large bowl.
• 3. Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip on high speed until they form soft peaks. With the mixer on, add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a slow stream. Continue to beat until the egg whites hold very stiff peaks. Carefully fold the whites into the apricot mixture. Scrape the mixture into the prepared savarin mold, and place it in the oven. Bake until firm, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
• 4. While the soufflé is cooling, make the sauce: Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Place 3/4 cup of the reserved apricot cooking liquid in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the liquid, lower the heat, and simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the mint.
• 5. Place a serving dish upside down on top of the mold, invert the two together, and gently shake to release the soufflé. Fill the center with fresh fruit, and spoon the sauce around the base.

SUNBURST CHERRY BLOSSOM PIE

Steps:

• For the Pie Crust:
• Place flour, salt and shortening in a bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender until pea-sized pieces form. Add water and toss with a fork until mixture holds together. Refrigerate until chilled. Cut in half and roll out bottom crust to fit 9-inch pie pan. Roll top crust and cut spokes with serrated cutting wheel. Fold spokes to center and set aside.. Extra trim from crust may be use for cutting cherry blossoms.
• For the Cherry Blossoms:
• Roll out excess trimmings from crust. Cut of circles of pie dough to desired size with round cookie cutter. With knife, cut petals. Place dried cheery or half of thawed cherry in center of each blossom and bake on cookie sheet in a preheated 425 degrees F oven. Sprinkle with baking glitter, if desired.
• For the Filling:
• Drain cherries. Place in a glass mixing bowl and microwave until at least room temperature. Pour melted butter over cherries. Mix sugar, vanilla bean seeds and tapioca and add to bowl. Combine cherry juice concentrate, almond extract and food coloring. Pour over cherries and mix gently. Place in pie shell Unfold top crust and cover the filling. Crimp to seal edges. Brush with cream and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake at 425 degrees F for 50 minutes. Cover crust with foil when desired color appears. Remove pie from oven. Decorate with cherry blossoms and glaze.
• For the Glaze:
• Mix together powdered sugar and cream until a thin stream appears when the spoon is lifted from the bowl. Drizzle glaze over pie while still hot.