Startini Dream Recipes

Steps:

• Crust Preparation:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine shortening, flour and salt. Cut shortening into dry ingredients until pea-sized balls form. Add cold water and toss with fork until mixture holds together. Cover and chill. Roll out dough and place in 9-inch pie plate. Place parchment paper over crust and line with pie beads. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove paper and pie beads and continue to bake until crust is golden brown. Remove pie from oven and place paper and beads back in crust to keep crust from shrinking as it cools.
• Filling Preparation:
• Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in bowl. Set aside. In saucepan, place egg yolks, milk and vanilla bean (sliced lengthwise), mix well. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove vanilla bean and extract seeds, placing seeds and pod back into mixture. When mixture is hot (not boiling), sift in dry ingredients. Continue to cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and bubbles. Lower heat slightly and continue to cook and stir for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and remove vanilla bean pods. Add butter and chocolate. Stir until melted. Add 1 1/2 cups coconut. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.
• White Chocolate Mousse Preparation:
• Place 3/4 cup whipping cream in saucepan. Heat until steaming (approximately 165 degrees F). Pour over white chocolate. Whisk until all chocolate is melted. Cool to approximately 130 degrees F. Place whipping cream mixture in mixing bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until cream starts to thicken. Increase speed to high and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Add a large spoonful of whipping cream to chocolate. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream.
• Assembly:
• Place chilled filling into baked pie shell and top with mousse. Decorate with toasted coconut. Serve.

Steps:

• Gold leaf, for garnish
• Pour vodka and pomegranate juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass rimmed with gold sugar and top with a splash of chilled Champagne. Float gold leaf and serve.

Steps:

• Combine in a pitcher and serve over ice or shake with ice to serve chilled.