Showing posts with label caramel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caramel. Show all posts

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Recipe #22: Bellini Squares

I love peaches. They're not only tasty fresh, but good in almost any form -- frozen, fruit cup, even grilled are delicious. But my love for peaches grew even more the first time I tried a bellini -- a drink made of champagne and peach puree. Though they're not practical all the time (doesn't really go so well with pizza) and are more of what I think of as a brunching drink, you could certainly enjoy one alongside these squares.



Ingredients
5 peaches
1 tbsp sugar
2 tablespoons champagne*
1 pkg prepared sugar cookie dough*
1 jar caramel or butterscotch sauce*
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Tools
food processor
very well-greased 9x12 baking pan*

Using a rolling pin and your hands, spread cookie dough inside 9x12 pan.



Bake as directed on package. Allow to cool for 20 minutes when finished.



After cookie has cooled, dice two peaches and place in food processor with sugar. Pules 3-4 times, then add champagne (this will bubble and fizz at first, wait a second until bubbles go away) and puree. Spread mixture evenly over cookie.



Slice remaining three peaches into 16 pieces each (half, then quarter, then slice into 4) and place on top of peach puree in any pattern. Top with drizzled caramel mixture and nuts.



Chill for 30 minutes to set caramel, and cut into squares.




Comments:
-Champagne: If you can't find actual champagne, or don't want to pay for it, feel free to use any kind of sparkling wine in its place. If you don't drink, or want to share this dessert with tots, you can even use Martinelli's Sparkling Cider instead.

-Sugar cookie dough: I used to 'tube' variety for this, and I only used one. If you wanted a thicker cookie, you could use two, but baking times would vary. I wouldn't recommend using the breakapart dough for this, as the texture seems different than the tube variety (at least to me), and the taste of those is almost playdough-like (I mean, not that I'd know what playdough tastes like).

-Caramel or butterscotch sauce: Instead of using the jarred kind, I actually made my own for this recipe. The reason I recommend the jarred type -- and the kind I'm talking can usually be found with other sundae toppings at the grocery store -- is because of how finicky sugar can be when making caramel. You heat it too little, you end up with a gummy mess; you heat it too much, and you end up with brittle. Using the jarred type ensures you'll have a smooth, sticky caramel. BUT, If you know how to make your own (better than I can, obviously), feel free!

-Baking pan: I used a baking dish, the type you'd make brownies in, for this recipe, but I'd bet you could even use a cookie sheet. Lining the sheet with parchment paper would make it even easier.

-Peach puree: I hesitate to call this jelly or jam, but the texture of this once it's all done in the food processor, is that of marmalade. If you have extra and don't want as thick of a layer as I used, you could certainly save some and put it on toast as a breakfast treat or even top ice cream with it. : )

Enjoy!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Recipe #13: Chocolate Bark

There is no simpler dessert than this one. I actually am planning on making it for our Christmas party because it makes a lot with very minimal effort. Someone brought something similar to this to work last year, and with one bite, I fell in love. When you make this recipe, please keep in mind that it's got to be reasonably quick so the chocolate melts the right way. Please note -- wherever you see a (*) next to an ingredient or tool, there is a comment about it below the recipe. Enjoy!

Chocolate Bark

Ingredients
1 10-ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 8-ounce Hershey bar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup salted butter (room temperature)
Saltines crackers*
1 cup crushed walnuts or almonds

Tools
jelly roll pan or a cookie sheet with sides
aluminum foil or parchment paper
small sauce pan

Line jelly roll with foil or parchment, and cover with straight rows of saltines crackers. Crackers must lay flat in plan.



In small saucepan over high heat, combine butter and sugar. Stir frequently. When mixture reaches a dark brown color and is bubbling, it's finished.



Take mixture and pour it evenly over the crackers. Use a rubber spatula to spread mixture so it covers the crackers completely.



Quickly, pour the chocolate chips over the crackers and caramel. Break apart the Hershey bar and spread pieces all over the pan.



After 5 minutes, use the rubber spatula to spread the chocolate over the mix evenly, sprinkle with nuts.





Refrigerate for two hours. Break apart into smaller pieces, serve.



*Comments:
-Saltines: The amount you use will depend on the dimensions of your pan. My pan was 18x12, and I used 48 crackers.

Enjoy!