Mixed Berries With Lemon Verbena Cream Recipes

LEMON VERBENA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap the outside of the pan with a double thickness of foil. Put a kettle of water on to boil for the water bath.
• To make crust: Pulse vanilla wafers in a food processor into fine crumbs. Add oil and pulse to blend. Press crumb mixture evenly into bottom of prepared pan. (Rinse and dry the workbowl.)
• To make filling: Process cottage cheese in food processor until very smooth and silky, stopping to scrape down the sides once or twice. Add cream cheese and process until smooth. Add 1 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla and salt; process until well blended. Add eggs and pulse several times just until mixed in. Sprinkle in lemon verbena (or lemon balm); mix with a rubber spatula. (Do not process.) Scrape the filling into the crust-lined pan.
• Place the cheesecake in a shallow roasting pan and pour in enough boiling water to come 1 inch up the outside of the springform pan. Bake until the edges are set but the center quivers slightly, 50 to 55 minutes. Turn off the oven. Let the cheesecake cool in the oven, with the door ajar, for 1 hour.
• Remove foil from pan. Cover cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
• To make topping: About 1/2 hour before serving, rinse strawberries. Set aside 3 whole berries for garnish; hull remaining berries and slice into a bowl. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar and toss to coat. Let stand until strawberries are juicy, 20 to 30 minutes.
• To serve, place cheesecake on a serving platter and run a knife around the inside edge of the pan; remove pan rim. Make 3 lengthwise cuts in each whole berry; press lightly and arrange fanned berries in the center of the cheesecake. Garnish with a sprig of lemon verbena (or lemon balm). Cut cheesecake into slices and place on dessert plates. Top each serving with strawberries and juice and garnish with another lemon verbena (or lemon balm) sprig.

MIXED BERRIES WITH LEMON VERBENA CREAM

Steps:

• Mix 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon lemon verbena in small saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and cool completely. Strain syrup into bowl.
• Mix 2 tablespoons cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons lemon verbena in small saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and let cool 30 minutes. Strain into small bowl; chill.
• Stir in remaining 1 cup chilled cream.
• Whip verbena cream in medium bowl until peaks form. Divide whipped verbena cream among 4 small bowls. Toss berries and verbena syrup in large bowl. Divide berries among 4 plates. Sprinkle with sugar and serve with whipped verbena cream. (Verbena syrup and verbena cream can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

MIXED BERRIES WITH LIMONCELLO

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss to combine. Serve in individual serving dishes.

MIXED BERRIES WITH MASCARPONE-LIMONCELLO CREAM

Steps:

• Combine whipping cream, mascarpone, 3 tablespoons sugar, and limoncello in large bowl. Beat until soft peaks form.
• Combine all berries, raspberry preserves, lemon peel, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in another large bowl; toss gently. Divide berry mixture among 8 coupes. Top with mascarpone cream.

SUMMER BERRIES WITH LEMON CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Place creme fraiche in a medium-size non-reactive bowl. Add sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice and whisk well to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until very cold, 1 hour or longer. (Lemon Creme Fraiche can be prepared 2 days ahead; keep covered and refrigerated.).
• Rinse berries and gently pat dry. If using strawberries, rinse first then hull and halve (or quarter, if large) lengthwise. Place berries in a large bowl and gently toss to combine.
• Divide berries among four wide-mouthed wine glasses, martini glasses or dessert bowls. Drizzle each serving with about 1/4 cup of Lemon Creme.

STONE FRUIT TRIFLE WITH LEMON BALM (OR VERBENA OR MINT) CREAM

Steps:

• Peel peaches and remove pit. Slice into a bowl. Slice apricots and plums and add to bowl. Toss with anisette and 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Whip mascarpone and yogurt together with lemon verbena and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Layer fruit in a glass bowl or individual wine glasses and top with cream. Garnish with a sprig of lemon balm.