Sweet Corn White Chocolate Strawberry And Pickled Jalapeño Eclairs Recipes

STRAWBERRIES AND JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Toss strawberries in sugar and refrigerate, covered, for at least 30 minutes but preferably overnight.
• Soak jalapenos in 1 cup water with 2 tablespoons lemon juice for 30 minutes (15 minutes if you want more bite); drain.
• Add jalapenos and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice or the optional orange liqueur to the strawberries, toss and let stand 15 minutes.
• Toss in lemon zest right before serving. Spoon over ice cream and serve.
• Keep refrigerated in an airtight container (but allow to come closer to room temperature before serving).

ECLAIRS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
• In a saucepan add water, butter, shortening, powdered milk, and salt and bring to a boil. When boiling, add the pastry flour and mix well. Pour these ingredients into a standing mixer with a whisk attachment and add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix until all ingredients are combined well. Remove the batter from the mixer and pour into a pastry bag. Using a small tip, pipe the batter out about 2 inches long onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes.
• In a small saucepan mix together the milk, 1/4 cup sugar, the butter and vanilla bean scrapings and bring it to a boil. In a medium bowl whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with the cornstarch. Add the eggs and yolks and mix until well combined. Temper the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture and add combined mixture back into the hot milk. Bring the pastry cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and strain it through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap that touches the cream itself. Refrigerate until ready to use. Pastry cream will stay fresh covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week. Yield: approximately 4 cups
• Place the filling into a pastry bag and using a small tip, fill the center of the Eclair.

PICKLED CORN AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, 2 teaspoons salt and the bay leaves in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook, stirring to dissolve the sugar, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut the corn crosswise into 1-to-2-inch pieces with a serrated knife. Add to the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes; transfer to a colander using a slotted spoon and rinse under cold water until cool. Add the bell pepper and celery to the boiling water and cook 2 minutes; drain and rinse under cold water until cool.
• Pack the vegetables and jalapenos into a 1-quart jar, then pour in the brine. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 1 week.

CHEATER ECLAIRS WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM

Steps:

• Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven to 315 degrees F. Have a cooling rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet ready.
• Combine the strawberries and sugar in a large bowl and toss well. Set aside to macerate at room temperature.
• Separate a biscuit and stretch it slightly into an oblong shape. Starting on the short end, tuck and roll into a 5-inch-long log. Repeat with the remaining biscuits. Working in 2 batches, fry the biscuits until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per batch. Drain on the cooling rack.
• Drain the berries, reserving the liquid in the bowl (you should have about 3 tablespoons of liquid). Whisk the cream and vanilla in an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Add the reserved berry liquid and whip to soft peaks. Set aside.
• To assemble, split the fried biscuits into 2 pieces lengthwise with a serrated knife. Set the bottom halves on a platter and top the halves with the strawberries. Top with the whipped cream.
• Place the fudge sauce in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until in 15-second increments, stirring in between, until the sauce is warm and becomes thin. Dip the tops of the other halves in the warm fudge sauce. The sauce should be loose enough to coat the tops easily; if it's not, reheat it and, if necessary, thin it out with a little canola or vegetable oi). Set the dipped tops over the whipped cream.