Chocolate-Orange Shells

Chocolate-Orange Shells

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

Next up, a very summery dessert that’s great for hot days when you want to cool down, but want a bit of a “Wow” factor for the guests you’re serving. You could also make this with orange, lemon or lime sherbet (or a combination).

Ingredients

4 large California oranges3 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
Chocolate ice cream
8” x 12” wooden board, 1/2” thick
Heavy duty aluminum foil

Cocoa powder (optional garnish)

Instructions

Fire up your barbecue to its highest temperature, 600-700 degrees F is best. Cover the wooden board with two layers of aluminum foil and set aside. Cut the oranges in half, horizontally, and then remove the juice and pulp and place the shells in a medium saucepan of simmering water for 5 minutes. Remove the orange shells and drain thoroughly.

In a large saucepan, pour 3 cups of brown sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Bring the sugar water to a rolling boil, then turn to low and add the orange halves. Simmer them for about 30 minutes, turning each half over several times.

Using tongs, remove the shells from the syrup and cool them cut side down on aluminum foil or on waxed paper. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the shells while they cool. With a hand mixer whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, adding cream of tartar and confectioner’s sugar as you whip the egg whites.  

Fill the orange shells with chocolate ice cream (or your other favorite flavor) and cover with the meringue. Place the shells on the aluminum-covered board and place it in the center of the hot barbecue. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the meringue is just starting to brown. Remove the board from heat and serve immediately.

For garnish you may sprinkle the top of the meringue with cocoa powder.

Creamy Cheesecake with Pomegranate Topping

Creamy Cheesecake with Pomegranate Topping

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Cool the heat from your chile-spiked dish with a slice of this rich cheesecake. Fresh pomegranates in the topping make this a beautiful, unforgettable dessert. Recipe courtesy of Pomegranates.org, where you’ll find many more recipes featuring pomegranates.

Ingredients

Crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 9, 5 X 2.5 crackers)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened


Filling:

2 8-ounce containers whipped cream cheese
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest

Topping:

Seeds from 2 pomegranates
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a 9-1/2 inch springform pan, place crust ingredients and with fingers, blend well. Press mixture evenly over bottom and 3/4 inch up side of pan.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat filling ingredients on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until cheesecake is just set in center. (Cake will continue to set as it cools.) Transfer cake in pan to a rack and cool, about 3 hours.

Place juice in a 1-cup liquid measure and add water. Sprinkle gelatin over pomegranate juice and let stand 1 minute to soften gelatin. Remove the seeds from the pomegranates.

Transfer gelatin mixture to a small saucepan. Add sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture into a bowl and set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water, stirring mixture gently until it is cold and slightly thickened but not set. Stir in pomegranate seeds and spoon topping onto chilled cheesecake. Chill cake until topping is set, about 1 hour. Remove side of pan and serve chilled.

Heat scale: mild

papaya

Moko Jumbie Papaya Pepper Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Named after the zombie-like stilt character that prowls around during Carnival celebrations, this sauce features two ingredients common to Trinidadian commercial sauces, papaya and mustard. The sauce can be used as a condiment or as a marinade for meat, poultry, and fish.


1 small, green papaya, unpeeled
2 quarts water
5 Congo peppers (or habaneros), seeds and stems removed, chopped
1 large onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons dried mustard
1 tablespoon salt (or less, to taste)
3 cups vinegar (or 1 1/2 cups vinegar mixed with 1 1/2 cups water)
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon Curry Paste

Instructions

Boil the papaya in the water in a large pot for 10 minutes, then remove 
and cool. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds, and chop it into 1-inch cubes.
Combine the papaya with the remaining ingredients in a sauce pan. Bring
to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat, cool the mixture, puree it in a food processor,
and bottle it. The sauce will last for weeks in the refrigerator.
tamales

Tamales y Mas Tamales

Mark Masker Recipes Leave a Comment

Tamales can be filled with almost anything from meat or poultry to fruits and nuts. To create variations on this traditional recipe, simply replace the pork with the ingredients of choice. Tamales are traditionally served covered with red or green chile sauce–but use both for red and green “Christmas” tamales.

Mole Poblano

Mole Poblano de la Noche Buena

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Use this sauce to accompany a variety of poultry dishes. Serve it in the traditional way, over a turkey breast, garnished with sesame seeds, or substitute sliced turkey, left over from your holiday feast. It also makes an excellent sauce for shredded turkey or chicken enchiladas.