New England Cooks

Past Shows

Chef Michelle Lunde, Delicate Decadence, Barre, Vermont - "Let Them Eat Cake"

 

Chocolate Cherry Inferno - 5:18 in Video

Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle Lunde, Delicate Decadence, Barre, Vermont.

Basic Ingredients

  • 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 3 oz. unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 5 oz. granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 teaspoon Kirschvasser cherry liqueur
  • Handful of dried tart cherries—soaked in the Kirschvasser

Port Wine Pink Peppercorn Reduction Ingredients

  • Bottle of Warre’s or Taylor Fladgate Porto
  • Tablespoon peppercorns, cracked
  • Lemon juice

Port Wine Pink Peppercorn Reduction Directions

In small sauce pot reduce half to 3/4 bottle of port to half. Add peppercorns & continue to reduce to syrup. Add lemon to taste. Drizzle plate with reduction around the inferno.

Basic Directions

Over double boiler melt chocolate and butter (be careful not to let it get too hot). In medium bowl combine cornstarch and sugar, when melted add the butter and chocolate mixture with a whip. Crack all the eggs together and whip into the warm chocolate mixture. Add Kirschvasser. Chill about an hour.

In flexiform heart-shaped pan, scoop 2 oz. of the chocolate mixture. Next, push a couple of the Kirschvasser-soaked cherries halfway into the mix. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until the outside is firm and leaving the inside still a bit molten. Serve dusted with confectionery sugar and port wine pink peppercorn sauce. Can be made 1-2 days in advance.

Chantilly Cream - 45:00 in Video

Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle Lunde, Delicate Decadence, Barre, Vermont.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Lemon zest (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in mixer and whip until stiff peak. Assemble fanned or standing on dessert plate. Garnish with toasted almonds and fresh raspberries.

Pear Almond Napoleon - 28:50 in Video

Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle Lunde, Delicate Decadence, Barre, Vermont.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of Merlot, Beaujolais or Cabernet
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/3 vanilla bean, split & scrapped
  • 1 star anise (optional)
  • 1 fresh lemon, peeled & juiced
  • 1/2 orange, peeled & juiced
  • 2 Anjou pears, peeled & cored

Directions

Place all ingredients into a medium saucepa, making sure the pears are covered with liquid. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and poach until tender. Let cool. Cut pears in half lengthwise & use half per portion. Makes 4 portions.

Puff Pastry Hearts - 5:18 in Video

Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle Lunde, Delicate Decadence, Barre, Vermont.

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed but still cold
  • Heart-shaped cookie cutter
  • 2 heavy, same shaped cookie sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Granulated sugar

Directions

Cut three hearts for each Napoleon. Place 2 hearts for each portion on parchment lined pan, cover with a second piece of parchment paper and the second heavy cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees until golden brown. When cool, remove the flat puff hearts and place the remaining puff hearts onto the sheet and sprinkle liberally with sugar. Bake at same temperature without 2nd parchment & pan. Allow to rise and caramelize. Remove and cool.

     

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