Gale Gands Minted Raspberries Recipes

NOT YOUR USUAL LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Bring about 1-inch of water to a simmer in a large saucepan. In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar together until very light yellow and fluffy. Whisk in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Rest the mixing bowl in the saucepan with the bowl's base above the simmering water (pour out some of the water if necessary.) Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is thick and custard like, about 15 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the butter. Let cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Squeeze a dab of meringue on each of 8 plates and press one phyllo triangle down on it. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of lemon curd in the center, then pipe on some meringue. If possible, brown the meringue with a blowtorch. Place another phyllo triangle on top and repeat, topping off with a final phyllo triangle. Garnish with a mint sprig, a dusting of powdered sugar, and raspberry puree, if desired.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer) and a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the brown sugar and continue whipping until stiff and glossy, about 30 seconds more. Gently spoon meringue into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on the pan and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and then place another sheet of phyllo on top. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sugar, lay another sheet of phyllo on top, and brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Repeat on another sheet pan with remaining 3 sheets of phyllo, butter, and sugar. You should have 2 stacks of phyllo dough, each 3 sheets thick. With the tip of a sharp knife, cut each stack into 12 triangles. Cover both stacks with parchment paper. Place one of the pans on top of the other to weight it down. Then place another empty sheet pan on the very top (this is to keep the phyllo from buckling during baking). Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the phyllo is golden brown. Remove the whole stack of sheet pans and let cool (do not unstack the pans).

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY POT PIES

Steps:

• Crust: Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix. Stir the remaining ingredients together, then add to the butter mixture and mix. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour. Meanwhile, sprinkle a work surface with cocoa. Roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thick, then cut rounds to fit the tops of the pies.
• Filling: Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the egg yolks, the whole eggs, and the sugar in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and whip until fluffy and light. Stir the melted chocolate into the egg mixture. Stir in the melted butter.
• Use a ladle or pitcher to divide the filling among 10 to 12 ramekins. Gently push 3 raspberries down into each one. Arrange the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake the pie filling for 6 minutes. Remove the pies but leave the oven on. Top each pie with a round of chocolate crust and bake another 8 to 10 minutes, until crisp. Let cool slightly and serve with whipped cream. Or let cool completely and rewarm before serving. Serve the same day.

ANGEL FOOD CAKES WITH BERRIES IN ORANGE LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and continue whipping until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add 1 cup of the sugar and continue whipping until stiff and the sugar has dissolved, about 30 seconds. Sift the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the presifted cake flour 3 times, to aerate the mixture. Fold into the egg whites, then fold in the vanilla.
• Spoon the batter into ungreased extra-large muffin tins. Bake until light golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool the cakes by turning the muffin tin upside down and suspending it with small ramekins placed in the corners until they cool to room temperature. Run a butter knife around the cakes to loosen, then knock the cakes out onto a plate, or work them out with your fingers. The outside of the cake will remain in the pan leaving the cake whiter and more angelic looking.
• Make the macerated fruit by lightly tossing together the fruit, liqueur, lemon juice, and mint and let macerate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Hollow out the center of the large cup cakes. Fill the cavity with some fruit then turn them over onto dessert plates. Spoon the macerated berries and juices over the cakes and sprinkle with powdered sugar.