Sweet Vanilla Risotto With Calvados And Caramelised Apples Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise down the center, and use a paring knife to scrape the seeds and pulp into the butter. To make sure not to lose any of the seeds, run your vanilla-coated knife through the butter. Add the vanilla pod to the pan, and cook the butter and vanilla over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the butter browns and smells nutty. Remove from the heat, and discard the vanilla pod.
• Cut the apples in half through the core, and carefully remove the core and seeds with a paring knife (or, for a more dramatic presentation, leave the core and stems intact). Toss the apples in a large bowl with the sugars, brown butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, Calvados, and salt. Arrange the apples, cut side up, in a roasting pan. Top each half with the remaining sugar mixture from the mixing bowl.
• Bake the apples about 40 minutes, basting them with the pan juices every 10 minutes, until the flesh has pulled away from the skin and the apples are tender and carmelized.
• Arrange the warm apples on a large platter, and pour all the remaining juices over them. Serve with cinnamon ice cream and glasses of Calvados.
• Cinnamon Ice Cream
• Place the milk, cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground cinnamon in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and let the flavors infuse about 30 minutes.
• Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Whisk a few tablespoons of the warm cream mixture into the yolks to temper them. Slowly, add another 1/4 cup or so of the warm cream, whisking to incorporate. At this point, you can add the rest of the cream mixture in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the pot and return to the stove.
• Cook the custard over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring with a rubber spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan. The custard will thicken, and when it's done will coat the back of the spatula. Strain it and chill at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. The base should be very cold before you churn it. Process in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Note
• I like to leave some of the cores and stems intact-the apples are a little harder to eat, but so beautiful that way.

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine flour, milk and egg. Process just until blended. Pour into a pitcher and stir in 2 tablespoons melted butter and the Calvados.
• Place a crepe pan or small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush with butter. Allow pan to heat for about a minute; if it is not hot enough batter will not spread thinly. Ladle a scant 1/4-cup batter into pan and quickly swirl so batter forms a thin pancake. Return pan to heat and watch for tiny bubbles to form on surface and edges of pancake. Flip pancake; it should be light golden brown. Allow to cook about 30 seconds longer, then transfer to a plate lined with parchment paper. Continue making pancakes, layering each one with parchment. Crepes may be covered and stored at room temperature for up to a day.
• Peel, core and cut each apple in two. Cut the two pieces into four wedges, and cut each wedge crosswise. Place in a saucepan and add lemon juice, butter and sugar. Place over medium heat and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Cover and continue to cook and stir for another 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• In a small saucepan combine the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes, then add cream and Calvados. Continue to simmer until thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To assemble, place a room-temperature crepe on a plate. Spoon warm apple filling into center, and fold edges over it. Drizzle warm sauce on top. Repeat with remaining crepes, and serve.

Steps:

• Make topping:
• Peel, core, and quarter apples.
• In a well-seasoned 10 1/4 by 2-inch cast-iron skillet or a 10- by 2-inch non-stick skillet melt butter over moderately low heat just until melted (butter should not separate). Stir in sugar until combined well. Arrange apple quarters decoratively, cut sides up, in skillet and sprinkle walnuts evenly in between apples. Cook mixture, undisturbed, 25 to 35 minutes, or until apples are tender in centers and sugar is a golden caramel.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Make cake batter while topping is cooking:
• Peel apple and chop fine.
• In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
• In another bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and ginger and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream and with mixer on low speed beat in flour mixture gradually until just combined. Fold chopped apple into batter.
• Remove skillet from heat and spoon batter evenly over topping. With a metal spatula spread batter (being careful not to disturb topping), leaving a 1/4-inch border of cooked apples uncovered. If using a non-stick skillet with a plastic handle, wrap handle in a double thickness of foil. Put skillet in a shallow baking pan and bake cake in middle of oven 25 to 35 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering and cake is golden brown. Cool cake in skillet on a rack 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge of skillet and carefully invert cake onto a plate.
• Serve cake warm or at room temperature with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
• To make Calvados caramel sauce:
• In a dry heavy saucepan (about 2 quarts) cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, until melted and cook without stirring, swirling pan, until a golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and carefully add water and brandy down side of pan (caramel will bubble and steam). Return pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved. Stir in butter. Sauce may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat sauce to warm before serving.
• Makes about 1 1/4 cups.