Jet Chef

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today is Banana Creme Pie Day!

Today is Banana Creme Pie Day! I love that creamy, fluffy, banana-y goodness of Banana Creme Pie! Here is a fantastic recipe from Epicurious.

(image from www.kraftfoods.com)

Banana Cream Pie
Bon Appétit February 2003

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

Crust
2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup mashed banana
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 large egg yolks
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 pounds total), peeled, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Preparation:

For crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and mashed banana in large bowl to blend. Add unsalted butter and stir to moisten evenly. Press onto bottom and up sides of 10-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Bake crust until set and pale golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely.

For filling:
Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in whipping cream and whole milk, then egg yolks. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add vanilla bean. Whisk over medium-high heat until custard thickens and boils, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in unsalted butter and vanilla extract. Discard vanilla bean. Transfer custard to large bowl; cool completely, whisking occasionally, about 1 hour.

Stir custard to loosen, if necessary. Spread 1 cup custard over bottom of prepared crust. Top with half of sliced bananas, then 1 cup custard, covering bananas completely. Repeat layering with remaining bananas and remaining custard. Chill banana cream pie until filling is set and crust softens slightly, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. Cut pie into wedges and serve.

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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Today is National Chocolate Souffle Day!

Today is National Chocolate Souffle Day! I have never attempted a souffle, as I always imagined them to be difficult...and of course, have always heard the horror stories of the souffles that did not quite, well, rise to the occasion!

(image from www.Epicurious.com, photo by: Romulo Yanes)

This recipe, from Epicurious, appears easy enough...we will soon see if my Chocolate Souffle rises to the celebration of National Chocolate Souffle Day!

Chocolate Soufflé
Gourmet February 2002

Yield: Makes 2 to 4 servings
Active time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar plus additional for sprinkling
5 oz bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
3 large egg yolks at room temperature

6 large egg whites
Accompaniment: lightly sweetened whipped cream
Special equipment: a 5 1/2- to 6-cup glass or ceramic soufflé dish

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter soufflé dish and sprinkle with sugar, knocking out excess.

Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove bowl from heat and stir in yolks (mixture will stiffen).

Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add 1/3 cup sugar, a little at a time, continuing to beat at medium speed, then beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir about 1 cup whites into chocolate mixture to lighten, then add mixture to remaining whites, folding gently but thoroughly.

Spoon into soufflé dish and run the end of your thumb around inside edge of soufflé dish (this will help soufflé rise evenly). Bake in middle of oven until puffed and crusted on top but still jiggly in center, 24 to 26 minutes. Serve immediately.

Cooks'note:•Soufflé can be assembled up to 30 minutes before baking. Keep, covered with an inverted large bowl (do not let bowl touch soufflé), at room temperature.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Today is National Kahlua Day!

Today is National Kahlua Day! I recently had a killer Kahlua drink, a Raspberry Russian. Here is how to make them, courtesy of YouTube!

I also enjoy Mexican coffee, which is coffee spiked with Kahlua, of course. So, when I saw this recipe on Epicurious, I knew exactly how I was going to celebrate National Kahlua Day!

(image from www.pernod-ricard-usa.com)

Mexican Coffee Pudding with Kahlúa Whipped Cream
Bon Appétit February 2009

Yield: Makes 6 servings
Active time: 20 minutes
Total time: 4 hours (includes chilling time)

Mexican coffee is spiked with Kahlúa, but in these simple puddings, the liqueur is on top, whipped into cream.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus additional for sprinkling
2 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided
1 tablespoon Kahlúa or other coffee-flavored liqueur

Preparation:

Whisk first 3 ingredients and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk in milk and 1 cup cream. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Divide among 6 small bowls. Cover and chill until cold, about 4 hours.

Whisk 1/4 cup cream and Kahlúa in small bowl until peaks form. Spoon atop puddings; sprinkle with cinnamon.