Chocolate Silk Napoleon With Vanilla Anglaise And Caramel Dipped Pecans Recipes

CHOCOLATE SILK NAPOLEON WITH VANILLA ANGLAISE AND CARAMEL DIPPED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lay 2 sheets of the phyllo on a flat surface and brush each with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over each. Top each with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter, and sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of pecans.
• Cut out 6 (5-inch) triangles from each sheet and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another sheet of parchment on top of the triangles and top the parchment with another sheet pan. Bake until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a baking rack.
• When the phyllo has cooled make 4 (3-layer) napoleons starting with a layer of phyllo then a layer of Chocolate Silk then another phyllo and end with a layer of phyllo. Spoon some of the Vanilla Anglaise onto a large dessert plate. Place the napoleon on top and garnish with Caramelized Pecans.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bring milk and cream with 1/2 of the sugar to a boil.
• Place chocolate in a large bowl and pour the hot milk mixture over. Let sit for 1 minute then whisk until smooth.
• Whisk the yolks, remaining sugar, vanilla, and salt together. Sift in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Combine milk and egg mixture, and whisk in the butter. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
• Pour into a half sheet pan and bake, covered with aluminum foil, until just set. Refrigerate until cold. Cut into 8 (5-inch) triangles.
• Heat milk, cream, vanilla bean in a medium saucepan. Whisk together sugar and eggs to the ribbon stage. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and return mixture to the pan. Cook over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
• Strain the mixture into a bowl set into a larger bowl of ice water and stir until cold.
• Caramelized Pecans: 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup water 8 whole pecans 1 pound butter in its wrapper
• Place sugar and water in a small saucepan and cook to the mixture reaches the hard crack stage (300 degrees F) on a candy thermometer.
• Skewer the pecans onto a wooden skewer and dip into the caramel. Place the skewers into the butter sideways and let the caramel drip onto a plate. Let the caramel harden and snip off with scissors leaving a 1-inch piece of caramel hanging from the pecan.

KELLY'S FRENCH SILK CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• In microwave, melt chocolate, set aside to cool.
• In medium bowl, cream butter, gradually add sugar, cream well.
• Mix in melted, cooled chocolate and vanilla.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating 5 minutes each, and scraping sides of bowl often to incorporate all sugar.
• (Beat until no longer any grains of sugar).
• Spoon and smooth into pie crust.
• Chill until set, about 1 hour.
• Serve topped with Cool Whip, chocolate shavings and a maraschino cherry.
• *Double this recipe for a 9-inch deep dish pie.
• Variations: add, in addition to vanilla, 1 teaspoons peppermint extract, tint Cool Whip pink for Valentines day, green for St Patty's day.
• Top with crushed peppermint sticks/candy canes just before serving for Christmas.

CHOCOLATE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• On a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll out Puff Pastry to a 12-inch square, about 1/8 inch thick. Using a pastry cutter or pizza wheel, cut square into three 12-by-4-inch strips. Transfer dough and parchment to a large baking sheet; prick all over with a fork. Cover with plastic wrap; chill in the refrigerator or freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Transfer sheet to oven; bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until pastry is puffed and golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Set another baking sheet directly on pastry strips and continue baking until pastry is light golden in the center, 6 to 8 minutes more. Remove top baking sheet; bake until pastry is baked through and golden brown, 6 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon milk. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the consistency of sour cream. Transfer a quarter of the glaze to a small bowl; whisk in cocoa. Transfer chocolate glaze to a paper cornet; set aside.
• Pour white glaze onto one of the pastry strips; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Cut the tip of the paper cornet, and pipe lines of chocolate glaze crosswise over the white glaze, about 1/2 inch apart. Drag the tip of a wooden skewer down the length of the glazed strip, in alternating directions, to create a decorative pattern.
• Fit a pastry bag with a 5/8-inch plain tip (such as an Ateco #808) and fill with half of the Chocolate Pastry Cream. Pipe an even layer onto another pastry strip. Top with the remaining pastry strip, pressing gently to secure. Fill the pastry bag with remaining pastry cream, and pipe evenly onto the strip. Place the glazed pastry on top. Once assembled, the Napoleon is best eaten the same day; slice with a serrated knife.
• A pastry strip is spread with an even layer of white glaze. After piping lines of chocolate glaze on top, a wooden skewer is used to create a decorative finish.
• The other pastry strips are layered with Chocolate Pastry Cream before being topped with the glazed strip.