Merlotpoachedfigswithvanillafrozenyogurt Recipes

VANILLA POACHED PEACHES WITH WHIPPED MINTED YOGURT

Steps:

• Make the peaches: Place the water, sugar, and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the vanilla bean and scrape the inside of the bean into the liquid. Add as many peaches to the pan as it will hold without piling or crowding, and poach over a low simmer for about 8 minutes or until the fruit is soft. Remove the peaches and finish poaching the remainder of the fruits. When done, place the peaches in a glass baking dish, cut side down. Pour the vanilla syrup over the peaches, and refrigerate until chilled, for up to 8 hours.
• For the yogurt: Place the water and sugar in a small saucepan, stir and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Add the mint leaves and simmer for 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Strain and chill the syrup.
• In a bowl, whip the syrup and cream with a hand-held mixer until stiff. In another bowl, whip the yogurt until smooth and fold it into the cream mixture.
• To serve the peaches: Place 2 peach halves in a shallow bowl, and dollop with some of the minted yogurt cream. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and raspberries.

CUMIN-ROASTED CARROTS WITH GREEK YOGURT

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the carrots on a baking sheet and drizzle with the oil. Sprinkle with the cumin and salt and toss well. Spread out in a single layer on the baking sheet and roast until tender, about 40 minutes, shaking pan halfway through the cooking time.
• 2. Place the carrots on a platter, sprinkle with the parsley and top with the yogurt.

ALMOST-FAMOUS FROZEN YOGURT

Steps:

• Whisk both yogurts, the sugar and corn syrup in a bowl until combined. Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• For a soft consistency, serve right out of the ice cream maker. For a firmer texture, transfer the frozen yogurt to a covered container and freeze for up to 2 hours. Serve with assorted toppings.

WINE-POACHED FIGS

Steps:

• Trim and halve the figs, place in a saucepan with the wine, sugar, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the wine is reduced by half and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the thyme sprigs. Serve on top of an assertive cheese, such as Manchego, blue, Taleggio, or a triple cream spread over bread slices.

WARM STRAWBERRY SALAD WITH VANILLA FROZEN YOGURT

Steps:

• Make the Frozen Yogurt: In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt, simple syrup, and vanilla. Chill 30 minutes; then freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions
• Cram the frozen yogurt into the milk container, packing it well to get rid of all the air pockets. Freeze for at least 6 hours.
• Make the Strawberry Salad: puree the raspberries and sugar in a blender. Strain out the seeds and taste the puree for sweetness, adding more sugar if necessary. Divide the puree on among the plates, spreading evenly to coat the bottom of each plate. Using 4 berries per plate, carefully fan them on top of each plate, starting at the edge and spiraling in to the center. (It can be made up to this point up to 8 hours in advance. Just tightly cover each plate with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.)
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bake the strawberries until just warm, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, microwave them for 1 minute.
• Take the frozen yogurt out of the freezer and lay it on its side. With a serrated knife, leaving the frozen yogurt in its container, cut a 1 1/2-inch think slice off the end. Remove the container band around the slice. Cut the slice on the diagonal into 4 triangles. Place a triangle of frozen yogurt in the center of each plate (it will start to melt immediately). Cut the honeycomb, if using, into 4 pieces and place on top of the frozen yogurt. Serve immediately.

FIGS COOKED IN MERLOT

Steps:

• Place figs in saucepan wide enough so each has room to cook without touching. Add wine, sugar and raspberries if using. Cook, covered, over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove figs and place three on each of 4 dessert plates. Cut them in half vertically, and let cool.
• Continue heating sauce until it boils and begins to thicken. When it forms a light syrup, pour over figs and serve.