Berries In A Nest Recipes

BIRDS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Place a very large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the oil and garlic clove into the skillet and gently infuse the garlic flavor into the oil. In the meantime, using a round cookie cutter or an empty can, cut out the center of all 6 slices of bread. Add the prepared bread slices to the garlic infused oil. Crack the eggs 1 at a time and drop them into their "nests" or, the center of each slice of bread. Drain and slice red pepper. Add a strip or 2 of red pepper to each nest. Season the birds in their nests with salt and pepper and sprinkle a little cheese into each nest. Gently turn the birds in their nests and turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in their nests 5 minutes more, then transfer to a platter and serve.

MERINGUES WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add cream of tartar and salt; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla., Drop meringue into two mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape into 3-1/2-in. cups with the back of a spoon. , Bake at 225° until set and dry, 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1 hour. Remove to wire racks to cool. , In a small bowl, combine berries and, if desired, sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Combine sour cream and extract; spoon into meringue shells. Top with berries. ,

BERRY & YOGURT PHYLLO NESTS

Steps:

• Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; spritz with butter-flavored spray. Top with a another sheet of phyllo; spritz with spray. Cut into six squares. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap to avoid drying out.) Repeat with remaining phyllo., Stack three squares of layered phyllo in each of six muffin cups coated with cooking spray, rotating squares so corners do not overlap. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon sugar into each cup. Spritz with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, orange zest and juice, and remaining sugar. Spoon yogurt mixture into cups; top with berries. Garnish with mint if desired.

GRAPEFRUIT MERINGUE NESTS WITH MIXED BERRIES

Steps:

• PREPARE MERINGUE NESTS:
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• In large bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks from.
• Sprinkle in sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until sugar dissovles and meringue stands in stiff, glossy peaks when beaters are lifted.
• With large rubber spatula, gently fold grapefruit peel into meringue until well combined.
• Divide mixture into 8 even mounds (heaping 1/4 cup measuring cup) on prepared sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
• Pressing back of spoon into center of each meringue, form mounds into 3 inch round nests.
• Bake 2 hours or until firm.
• Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven 1 hour or overnight to dry.
• When dry, carefully remove from parchment.
• Meringues can be stored in tightly sealed container at room temp up to 2 weeks.
• PREPARE BERRIES:.
• In large bowl, combine blueberries, raspberries, and half of strawberries.
• In 12 inch skillet, combine sugar and grapefruit juice.
• Heat to boiling on medium, stirring occasionally.
• Boil 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture is clear pink.
• Add the first half of strawberries and cook 1-3 minutes or until berries release their juices and have softened slightly.
• Pour mixture over un-cooked berries in large bowl.
• Stir gently until well combined.
• Place meringue nexts on serving plates.
• Divid berries among nests and drizzle grapefruit syrup all around.
• Serve immediately.

SUMMER BERRY MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 110C/fan 90C/gas ¼. Tip the egg whites and lemon juice into the clean bowl of a food mixer. Whisk until the whites double in volume and hold a peak when the whisk is drawn through them. Keep the whisk running and add the sugar a tbsp at a time, incorporating completely before adding the next. Whisk until all the sugar has been added and the whites are glossy.
• Place a square of baking parchment on a large baking sheet. Pencil nine circles, about 7cm each, onto the parchment. Spoon the meringue into a large piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle and pipe concentric rounds to fit each drawn circle, piping two or more rings around the edge to form a nest. Bake for 2 hrs until they are crisp and lift off the paper easily. Leave to cool completely.
• Whisk the crème fraîche until stiff, then fold in the yogurt. Set 2 strawberries and 9 raspberries aside and roughly chop the rest. Tip the chopped berries, mint and ginger into a bowl. Sprinkle with a little icing sugar and use a wooden spoon to mash to a rough purée. Gently fold the berries into the yogurt mix, adding icing sugar to taste.
• To assemble, cut the remaining strawberries into 9 slices and place a slice inside each meringue case. Generously share the rippled cream between the cases, then top with a raspberry and a mint sprig. Dust with a little icing sugar just before serving. ( Meringues keep in an airtight container for 2 days.)