Whitechocolateglazedapricottarts Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE CANVAS AND CHOCOLATE PAINTS

Steps:

• You can make this "canvas" any size you would like.
• There are two options for making a chocolate canvas. The first one requires a plastic deli tray, on which you pour a 1/4-inch-thick layer of white chocolate (remember, the chocolate canvas will assume any pattern that exists on the tray). Allow it to set, and when it hardens, the chocolate will retract from the sides of the tray. To unmold the canvas, simply overturn the tray, being careful to support the chocolate.
• The second way is to use an offset spatula to spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of tempered chocolate onto a sheet of parchment paper, being sure to spread it all the way to the edges. Lift the chocolate-covered paper by its corners and move it to a clean space on your work surface. Let the chocolate harden slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. The chocolate will be firm enough to cut but it will not be hard. Use the tip of a sharp paring knife or X-Acto knife to cut a square or rectangular "canvas".
• Paints: Mix cocoa butter with food coloring until it has the viscosity of cooking oil.
• How to Temper Chocolate(From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres):
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

WHITE CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine chocolate and half-and-half in top of a double broiler. Place over simmering water until chocolate is almost melted. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and stir until smooth. Cool glaze 10 to 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

WHITE CHOCOLATE GLAZED APRICOT TARTS

Steps:

• To make the filling, put the apricot pieces in a medium sized bown. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the apricots along with the white wine and the cointreau. Cover and set aside to soak for at least 30 minutes up to an hour.
• Transfer the apricots and their soaking water to a saucepan and add the cinnamon stick and white and brown sugars. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the mixture has a thick and jam like consistency, anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Set aside to cool. Remove cinnamon stick.
• Pre-heat the oven to 205*C/425*F. Unroll the puff pastry. Cut out five or six 4 inch circles from it with a sharp cutter. Take a smaller 3 inch cuter and make another light indentation in the centre of the circle. (there should be a 1/2 inch border all around) Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the border with the demerara sugar and then dust with cinnamon lightly.
• Spoon heaping TBS of the filling into the centre of the pastry, spreading it right up to the border indentation. Do not be tempted to overfill as the mixture will spread upon heating in the oven. Sprinkle the toasted almonds over top of each.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the pre-heated oven until the filling is bubbly and the pastry is lightly browned and crisp. Remove from the oven and immediately remove from the pan with a spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until quite soft and melted. Take a fork and drizzle the white chocolate decoratively across the tarts. Let cool completely before serving.

BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter two 10-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Chop chocolate.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.
• Combine chopped chocolate with 1/2 cup cream in a heavy, medium saucepan over low heat; stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Mix in remaining 1/2 cup cream, 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla. Remove from the heat.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with white chocolate mixture.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Continue beating until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold egg whites into the cake batter in two additions. Divide batter among the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in the cake pans for 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto a wire rack, peel off parchment paper, and let cool completely, about 15 more minutes.

GLAZED APRICOT TART WITH FRANGIPANE (MINI TARTS - TARTLETS)

Steps:

• To Prepare Crust:.
• In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixture until smooth.
• Add one egg, beating until smooth. Gradually add 1/4 cup ground almonds and the flour, beating at low speed until just combined (dough will be sticky).
• Cover and chill dough for 1 hour. Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls; press into bottom and two-thirds up sides of each cup of a miniature muffin pan, or 1 large tart tin.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• To Make Filling:.
• In a medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, melted butter, cream, 2 eggs, the vanilla, the almond extract, 1/2 cup ground almonds, and the lemon zest. Whisk to combine.
• Spoon filling mixture into each crust.
• Pit and slice apricots. Arrange apricot slices over the top of each tart.
• To make glaze, mix apricot jam with a little water, brush over tops of fruit.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Dust tops with icing sugar while still warm.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the milk, water and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let set for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. , Fold in whipped topping. Spoon about 1/3 cup into each tart shell. Refrigerate until serving.

WHITE-CHOCOLATE-GLAZED COOKIES

Steps:

• Knead dough briefly to soften. Fill a cookie press with dough, and fit with disk to make shapes. Squeeze cookies directly onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until firm, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Let cool completely before dipping in the white chocolate. Apply small or crushed candies while glaze is wet. Let white-chocolate-glazed cookies set in refrigerator, and keep chilled until ready to serve.