Sparkling Parfaits Recipes

STRAWBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Hull and quarter 1 quart strawberries. Toss with 1 teaspoon sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle a layer of gingersnap crumbs or graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of parfait glasses. Top with the berries. Mix 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, then spoon over the berries.

PEAR AND SWEET WINE GELATIN PARFAITS

Steps:

• Place Jell-O in large bowl. Bring 1 cup Muscat and 1/2 cup water to boil in medium saucepan. Pour over Jell-O in bowl; stir until dissolved, about 2 minutes. Cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally. Stir in seltzer (mixture will be foamy). Refrigerate until Jell-O is set, at least 6 hours or overnight. Mix chopped pears and remaining 1/4 cup Muscat in small bowl. Spoon half of Jell-O into 4 wine goblets or parfait glasses, dividing equally. Top with pear mixture, then remaining Jell-O. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.

CHAMPAGNE PARFAITS WITH PEARS AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon Champagne in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until soft, about 10 minutes. Combine remaining Champagne and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer just until pears are tender, turning pears often, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, place pears on plate and cool. Boil poaching liquid until reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot poaching liquid; return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until candy thermometer registers 175°F., about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved. Chill custard until thickened but not set, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Set aside 4 raspberries for garnish. Combine remaining raspberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Coarsely chop pears. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into custard. Place 1/4 cup raspberries in each of four 12- to 16-ounce goblets or balloon-shaped wineglasses. Spoon half of pears over raspberries, dividing equally. Spoon 1/2 cup custard over each. Repeat layering with remaining raspberries, pears and custard. Cover loosely with foil; chill until custard is set, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Garnish parfaits with reserved raspberries, mint and rose petals, if desired.

CHAMPAGNE PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Stir in champagne and chill 40 to 50 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
• Reserve 1 cup of gelatin mixture and spoon remaining mixture evenly into 8 champagne flutes.
• Place 1 strawberry in each glass.
• In a small bowl, beat the reserved 1 cup gelatin mixture until fluffy and doubled in volume.
• Spoon evenly into glasses.
• Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or until set.

SORBET-MELON PARFAITS

Steps:

• Arrange melon balls among four wine glasses or goblets.
• Scoop about 1/4 cup sorbet atop melon.
• Pour about 2 tablespoons sparkling wine over sorbet and melon.
• If desired, garnish with mint sprigs. S.
• Serve immediately.
• Food exchanges: 1/2 fruit.