Berriesbasilandbalsamic Recipes

BERRY BALSAMIC MARINADE AND SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor add wine, vinegar, strawberry preserves, garlic, Splenda, coffee, salt, pepper, pitted cherries and blueberries. Puree.
• Place meat in a large zip lock bag and pour in marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or over night for steak and for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours for chicken.
• Remove meat and pour marinade into a small saucepan. Add finely chopped shallot and set aside.
• Preheat broiler or prepare grill. Broil or grill meat until cooked to desired doneness.
• While meat is grilling bring sauce to a boil and then simmer. Stir in butter.
• If using London Broil, thinly slice crosswise, against the grain. Add any juices on the cutting board to the sauce. Serve with sauce. If using chicken or other steak cuts - serve with sauce.

THE BASIL BERRY COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Coarsely chop 2 basil leaves and the strawberries, and then muddle in the bottom of a glass. Place the muddled ingredients to a champagne flute, and top with lambrusco. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf.

BERRY-BASIL LIMEADE JAM

Steps:

• Rinse nine 1-cup plastic or freezer-safe containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly., In a small bowl, thoroughly crush strawberries, 1 cup at a time, to measure exactly 5 cups; transfer to a 6-qt. stockpot. Stir in pectin, lime juice and butter. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil and stir 1 minute. Immediately stir in basil and lime zest., Immediately fill all containers to within 1/2 in. of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours., Jam is now ready to use. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 12 months. Thaw frozen jam in refrigerator before serving.

FRESH STRAWBERRIES WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR AND BASIL

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, vinegar, honey, and pepper. Add basil and strawberries; toss to coat. Cover and chill at least 10 minutes and up to 1 1/2 hours. Serve chilled.

BLUEBERRY BABKA BRAID

Steps:

• Combine milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add remaining sugar, butter, and eggs to the milk mixture. Stir until mostly combined, but it won't be smooth.
• Measure flour, cardamom, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer. Pour in wet ingredients and attach dough hook. Mix until dough comes together in a shaggy mass. Cover the stand mixer with a clean dish towel and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
• Uncover the dough and knead on medium speed until smooth, about 5 minutes. Continue to knead on low speed until dough is soft, elastic, and shiny, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the blueberry filling. Combine blueberries, sugar, and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a low boil. Smash the blueberries with a potato masher. Continue to simmer until the mixture has thickened enough to spread, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in extracts. Chill until completely cool.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Punch down and divide into 2 pieces. Roll 1 piece into a 9x18-inch rectangle, squaring off with a bench scraper as you roll to make it is as even as possible. Spread 1/2 of the blueberry filling over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border. Roll up the dough into a tight roll, starting from the long edge closest to you. Pinch seams to seal. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• Place logs side by side on a lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
• Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to each log in half, lengthwise, so you have 4 filled strips of dough on the baking sheet.
• Place 2 strips across each other to form a plus sign. Arrange the remaining 2 strips to form an interlocking cross. Fold the end of the strip closest to you over the strip to its right. Repeat 3 more times, moving clockwise. Fold remaining strips over to the left, moving counterclockwise. Repeat folding step until only short ends remain; join ends and tuck them carefully under the braid.
• Cover the braid and place in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) towards the end of the second rise.
• Beat egg with a pinch of salt and brush some over the braid. Sprinkle with pearl sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

VERY BERRY MELBA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine ice cream, orange juice concentrate and cinnamon. Cover and freeze for 2-3 hours or until firm. , Meanwhile, combine berries and lemon juice in a saucepan; cover and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine sugar and cornstarch; stir into pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Cool; cover and refrigerate. , To serve, spoon ice cream into a bowl or parfait glass; top with the berry sauce.