Le Cirque 2000 Clown Hats
Ingredients
Clown Hats
- 10 1/2 ounces white chocolate
- 8 cone shaped paper cups
- M & M's Milk Chocolate Mini Baking Bits
Raisin Creme Brulee
- Scant 2/3 cup golden raisins (raisins need to be hydrated for at least 24 hours before using)
- Water as needed
- 1/2 cup dark rum or flavored liqueur
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 scant cup granulated sugar
Puff Pastry Circles
- 20 ounces puff pastry (store-bought)
- Generous 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons water
To finish desserts
- 8 scoops vanilla ice cream
- Raspberry Sauce
- Mango Sauce
Caramelized Banana Sauté
- Large ripe banana
- 1/2 cup dark rum or Grand Marnier
- Scant 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed (optional)
Raspberry Sauce
- 3 cups raspberries
- Scant 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- A few drops lemon juice
Mango Sauce
- 3 cups mango
- Scant 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- For the Clown Hats: Melt white chocolate in microwave. Fill each cup all the
way to the top with melted chocolate. Invert the paper cup over the bowl of chocolate
and allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Place the paper cups
upside down on a wire rack placed over a parchment paper covered baking sheet and
allow the chocolate to set. When use a sharp paring knife to gently trim the chocolate
off the bottom (opening) of each hat. Then peel off the paper cone. To adhere the
M&Ms baking bits to the hats, heat the tip of a paring knife in boiling water.
Dry it off and gently press it against the chocolate hat to melt the spot for the
candy. Immediately press an M&M into the chocolate hat. Use as many as you like
to decorate hat.
- For the Raisin Creme Brulee: Hydrate the raisins by placing the raisins in a
mixing bowl or glass jar and add water so that it covers the raisins by at least
1/2 inch. Stir in the rum or flavored alcohol. Cover with plastic wrap and place
in the refrigerator for 24 hours. It is even better to allow the raisins to hydrate
for 2 to 3 days; they will become very plump as they absorb the liquid. You can
keep them in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
- When you are ready to use them, strain the amount that you need through a fine-mesh
sieve before adding them to the recipe.
- Heat the oven to 320 degrees F.
- Sprinkle the hydrated raisins over the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with 2-inch-high
sides. Pour the heavy cream and milk into a nonreactive 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan
and set over medium heat.
- Use a sharp paring knife to slice the vanilla bean in
half again, this time lengthwise. Separate the seeds from the outside skin by scraping
the bean with the knife. Place the skin and seeds in the heating cream. Scald the
cream by heating it until bubbles start to form around the edge of the pan. Remove
from heat.
- Place the whole eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in a large mixing bowl and
whisk until well incorporated. Continue to whisk as you slowly pour the hot cream
into the egg mixture. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and homogenous in color.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the vanilla bean pieces and
any overcooked eggs. Your next step will be made easier if you strain the mixture
into a large measuring cup with a spout.
- Place the cake pan on a baking sheet with
1-inch high sides. Fill the cake pan with the custard and set the baking sheet in
the oven. Use hot water from the tap and pour enough water onto the baking sheet
to reach halfway up the side of the pan. If you are using a convection oven, a water
bath is not needed because the even circulation of the air insulates the custard
from the direct heat of the oven. If using a convection oven, preheat to 200 degrees
F. Baking time is about the same for either oven, about 50 minutes. When baked correctly,
the custard should tremble slightly when gently shaken. If you detect any liquid
under the skin, the custard is under-baked. Put it back in the oven and shake it
every 5 minutes until it is ready.
- Remove the mold from the oven and the water bath
and place on a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours before
serving; it will finish setting in the refrigerator. Let the water bath cool before
removing it from the oven.
- For the Puff Pastry: Heat the oven to 360 degrees F. Place the puff pastry on
a lightly floured work surface. Lightly dust the top of the puff pastry with flour.
Use a rolling pin to roll the puff pastry into a rectangle 1/4-inch. Use a 4-inch
fluted cutter to cut 8 circles from the puff pastry. Remove the scraps and space
the circles 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet.
- Combine the corn syrup and water in a small mixing bowl and mix well. Use a pastry
brush to coat the top of each circle a nice, shiny glaze; it will also enhance the
flavor of the baked puff pastry. Place the puff pastry circles in the oven until
well risen and evenly browned 20 to 25 minutes. To keep the circles from rising
unevenly, I place six 3-inch-high timbale molds (one in each corner and two in the
center) on the baking sheet with the circles. Then, I place a wire rack on top of
the molds. As the puff pastry rises, the rack will keep it level. You can also place
another sheet of parchment paper directly on top of the puff pastry circles and
bake. The slight weight of the parchment paper will keep the puff pastry even as
it bakes and rises.
- Remove the baked puff pastry circles from the oven and place
on a wire rack to cool.
- For assembling the clown hats, use a paring knife to carefully cut a small circle
from the top of each puff pastry shell. Set the top aside to use later. Use your
finger to remove the doughy inside from the shell. Fill the shell with a large scoop
of vanilla ice cream and reposition the puff pastry circle. Place the clown hat
on top of the puff pastry. Decorate the plate with fruit sauces.
- For the Caramelized Banana Sauté : Peel and dice the banana into 1/4-inch cubes.
Place them in a small mixing bowl with the rum or Grand Marnier and about 1/3 of
the sugar and let macerate for 10 minutes.
- Heat a medium-size heavy-bottom frying
pan over medium-high heat. If it starts to smoke, the pan is too hot and you need
to run it under cool water, dry it, and start again. When warm, sprinkle the remaining
sugar into the pan. Try to keep the sugar in an even layer to allow it to caramelize
at the same time. As soon as you see the sugar begin to melt. Start moving the pan
over the burner to keep the sugar from burning. Tilt the pan from side to side so
that the melted sugar runs over the unmelted sugar. Cook until all of sugar is light
golden brown. I usually add the butter at this stage because it makes the caramel
smoother.
- Add the banana mixture and spread it evenly in the pan. Let cook over
medium-high heat until most of the liquid has evaporated and the bananas are soft
but not mushy. If the bananas are still firm when most of the liquid has evaporated,
add a few tablespoons of water and continue cooking until they are ready. Remove
from the heat and pour the caramelized bananas onto a plate. Cover with plastic
wrap and set aside.
- For the Raspberry Sauce: Puree the raspberries in a blender or food processor
until completely smooth.
- Add the sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, incorporating it
well after each addition and making sure any lumps are dissolved.
- Add lemon juice and blend again.
- Strain the sweetened puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean
bowl. This will separate the pulp from the fruit puree and remove any small seeds.
Stir the puree until completely smooth.
- For the Mango Sauce: Peel and remove pits of mangos. Chop into medium-size pieces.
- Puree the fruit until completely smooth.
- Add sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, incorporating
it well after each addition and making sure any lumps are dissolved.
- Strain the sweetened puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
- Stir the puree until completely smooth.
Yield: 8 servings
Posted by GayleL at Recipe Goldmine 7/22/01 8:27:31 pm.
Source: Foodtv.com - Recipe courtesy Jacques Torres, Executive Pastry Chef Le
Cirque 2000 New York City