Sweet • Sour • Savory

Food blog on scandinavian style food done right.

Meats,Desserts

Strawberry Tart with Chocolate Crust

Cake, DessertsTove Balle-PedersenComment
Strawberry Tart with Chocolate Crust

Strawberry Tart with Chocolate Crust

Is anything better than strawberries with chocolate? It would be strawberries with cream and a sprinkle of sugar. (This is the way you eat fresh strawberries at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament in London) 

This is my take on strawberries with chocolate and strawberries with cream. The perfect concoction, the dessert of the summer. 

Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 40 g almonds

  • 45 g cocoa powder, unsweetened

  • 110 g all-purpose flour

  • 75 g sugar

  • 1 pinch salt

  • ¾ stick (85 g) butter, cold and salted

  • ½ teaspoon vanilla paste

  • 1 egg

Custard:

  • 3 egg yolks

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 250 ml milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

  • heavy whipping cream, whipped

Topping:

  • strawberries

  • 1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

Crust:

Chop the almonds in the food processor until it’s a coarse flour. Add, cocoa, sugar, flour and salt. Add diced cold butter, and blend until fully combined. Add vanilla paste and egg, and blend until just combined. Don't knead the dough, it will make the crust shrink when baked.

Form a disc or flat square of the dough and wrap it in plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

Spray a 14-inch rectangular removable-bottom tart pan with nonstick spray.

Flour your work surface generously, place the cold dough on top and flour the dough. Roll it out into a 7-by-16-inch rectangle, so it fits the tart pan.

Transfer the dough to the pie pan, cut of the overhanging dough for the crust to fit perfect in the pan. 

If the dough sticks, use at bench scraper or a spatula to get it off your work surface. If the dough get to soft, put it into the freezer for a few minutes. 

Prick dough all over with a fork. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃)

Line crust with parchment paper. Fill with pie weights or dried beans, and bake the crust until edges are set, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment paper and weights, and bake the crust for another 10 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Custard:

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale in color. Whisk in the cornstarch and vanilla paste.

Heat the milk to a slow boil, set aside. 

While whisking vigorously drizzle the warm milk into the egg yolk mixture, just a tiny bit at a time at first. Once you’ve added about ¼ of the milk, you can add the rest in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly.

Pour the mixture back in the saucepan and reheat it over medium heat. Whisk constantly until it thickens. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar or press some plastic wrap against the custard so it won't form a pudding skin. Chill the custard completely in the refrigerator.

When the custard is cold, whip the heavy whipping cream. Fold the whipped cream in the custard a little at a time till you get the desired taste and texture. 

Assembly of the tart:

Spoon custard into cooled crust and spread into an even layer. Arrange strawberries over filling in a decorative pattern. Place honey in a small bowl and heat in the microwave until melted, about 10 seconds. Use a pastry brush to brush glaze over strawberries. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Enjoy!

 

The Danish version:

Jordbærtærte med Chokoladebund

Ingredienser:

Bund:

  • 40 g mandler

  • 45 g kakaopulver, usødet

  • 110 g hvedemel

  • 75 g sukker

  • 1 knsp salt

  • 85 g smør, koldt og saltet, i små tern

  • ½ tsk vanille pasta eller kornene fra ½ vanillestang

  • 1 æg

Creme:

  • 3 æggeblommer

  • 2 spsk sukker

  • 1 spsk maizena

  • 2,5 dl mælk

  • 1 tsk vanille pasta eller kornene fra 1 vanillestang

  • piskefløde, pisket

Topping:

  • jordbær

  • 1 spsk honning

Fremgangsmåde:

Bund:

Hak mandlerne til manelmel i foodprocessoren. Tilsæt kakao, sukker, mel og salt. Kom smørret i, og blend indtil det er en ensartet blanding. Tilsæt vanillie og æg, og blend indtil det kun lige har samle sig. Hvis du ælter dejen for meget, vil den krympe, når den bages

Form dejen til en flad firkant og pak den ind i plastikfilm, og lad den hvile i køleskabet i minimum en time. 

Smør en rektangulær tærtebund. 

Rul dejen ud på et meldækket bord så den er lidt større end tærteformen. Løft dejen forsigtigt over i formen, og skær evt overskydende dej af, så dejen passer perfekt i formen.

Prik i dejen med en gaffel, og sæt dejen i fryseren i ca 30 minutter.

Opvarm ovnen til 190℃.

Kom et stykke bagepapir ovenpå dejen og hæld Keramiske blindbagningskugler, eller tørrede bønner, ovenpå, så du kan bage bunden blindt. Bag bunden i 20 minutter, fjern så bagepapir og fyld. Bag bunden i yderligere 10 minutter. Lad bunden køle helt af, inden den fyldes. Du kan evt, pensle bunden indvendigt med lidt smeltet chokolade. 

Creme:

Æggeblommerne røres hvide sammen med sukkeret. Rør mizen og vanillien i æggeblandingen.  Mælken koges op og hældes i lidt ad ganged ned i æggemassen, mens der piskes.  Når al mælken er kommet i, hældes det hele tillage i gryden og koges op under konstant omrøring. Cremen tykner i denne proces. Dæk cremen med et stykke film, så den ikke trækker skind.  Der må ikke røres i cremen mens den afkøles.  Når kagecremen er helt afkølet, blandes den med flødeskum, så cremen får en passende konsistens og smag.

Assembly of the tart:

Fordel kagecremen i tærtebunden og læg jordbær ovenpå. Pensel jordbærrene med lidt opvarmet honning, for at give dem mere glans. Server straks, eller opbevar tærten på køl, indtil den skal serveres. 

Velbekomme!

Plums in Madeira

DessertsTove Balle-Pedersen2 Comments
Plums in Madeira served over vanilla ice cream

Plums in Madeira served over vanilla ice cream

Plums in Madeira is a classic danish dessert from the 70's and 80's, serves over ice cream or with whipped cream.

My parents made these to preserve the huge amounts of plums (Rivers' Early) they had in their yard.

This year I found some plums, at the local farmers marked, that looked and tasted like my childhood plums.

My hobby had never had these plums and thought that I had another crazy idea. But after tasting the syrup I poured over the plums, he knew we had a winner on our hands.

Now we just have to wait, and wait a month or two, before we can taste the lovely treat. 

June 8th 2014: We finally had a chance to taste the plums in Madeira, and they are to die for. The liquid is like liquid gold, and you can almost drink it from the jar. We have to make more this year !!!!

This recipe is an old classic from "Den grønne syltebog" from 1939 by "Tørsleffs Husmoder Service".

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg plums
  • 2 dl water
  • 650 g sugar
  •  2 dl madeira
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Directions:

Clean and pit the plums. Save the pits, crack them and put the little nut inside the plum.

Put the plums in cleaned, scalded jars. 

Cook the water and sugar until all the sugar is dissolved. Remove the the foam before adding the madeira and vanilla. 

Pour the madeira syrup over the plums.  

Stir the plums in madeira once every day for 3-4 days, the seal the jar. 

After 2-3 months the plums are sweet, soft and ready to eat. 

Enjoy!

 

 

Sous-Vide Duck Breast

Christmas, Dinner, Meats, Poultry, sous videTove Balle-Pedersen1 Comment
Sous-Vide Duck Breast with Citrus Salad with Liquorice-vinaigrette 

Sous-Vide Duck Breast with Citrus Salad with Liquorice-vinaigrette 

I really like the meat from a duck, especially the breasts. If you cook it to long it will dry out, but served medium-rare to medium is the most tender juicy piece of meat you can get. Since I got my Anova sous-vide cooker I have been longing to cook the duck breast sous-vide. Today was the day.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Duck Breasts
  • Salt

Directions:

Wash you hands very thoroughly, when handling the duck. You don't want to cross-contaminate other foods or the duck. So keep your work station clean and tidy all the time. 

Refrigerate duck breasts on paper towel-lined plate overnight. This will allow some of the juices to evaporate, and you get a firmer breast in the end.

Have the vacuum bags pre-sealed in one end (doh!). Fold the rim out, so you don't get any grease or water on the place you need to seal the bags. Have the salt and pepper you want to use in small bowls, so you don't get any "duck" in the salt you're not using. 

Take the duck breasts out and score the skin in a harlequin pattern with a sharp knife. Season them with salt and pepper. Place them in the vacuum bags, vacuum and seal them. (I seal them twice just to be on the safe side.)

Place them in 135℉ (57℃) water bath for at least 45 minutes and up to 3 hours. I stopped after 2 hours, no need to go the limit with this delicate meat. Remove duck from bags and dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Place breasts skin side-down in heavy-bottomed non-stick or cast iron skillet and set over high heat until sizzling, about 2 minutes, then reduce heat to medium and cook  until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Make sure that you get good contact between skillet and the skin. You won't need any oil, the fat from the duck will render and give you plenty of fat for the searing. Flip  the breasts and cook the other side until slightly seared.

Slice the breasts thinly and serve with your favorite sides. One of my favorites is caramelized potatoespicked red cabbage or Citrus Salad with Liquorice-vinaigrette.

Enjoy!

 

 

Sports Cake - Sportskage

Cake, DessertsTove Balle-Pedersen2 Comments
Sports Cake - Sportskage

Sports Cake - Sportskage

Sports cake, it's a contradicting name. There is nothing sporty about this cake, there's a lot of whipped cream, and you need to go to the gym after eating a piece of this. 

The sports cake is a classic cake made by the Danish "Conditori La Glace." La Glace first made this cake for the premiere of the political play "Sports Men" in november 1891. And this is why it's called Sports cake. 

The cake is a kind of layer cake, with a thin macaroon bottom with a filling of whipped cream mixed with crushed praline (hazelnut and hard caramel) and topped of with whipped cream and caramelized cream puffs. Even though it’s just whipped cream on whipped cream, it's really yummy and not overly sweet. So if you ever find you self in Copenhagen, Denmark, you have to visit La Glace, It's a little slice of old-school Denmark at its best.

It might be a huge feat to take on La Glace, but I'm making it for one of my Danish friends birthday, and when we both live in California, I can't just order a cake for her. 

The recipe is kinda secret, but La Glace publish it  in a pamphlet, when the cake turned 100 years in 1991. And a popular Danish food program showed their version on TV a few years ago. 

Here is my version inspired by "Spise med Price."

Makes 1 cake.

Ingredients:

Cake:

  • 250 g marzipan (almond paste)
  • 370 g sugar
  • 3 egg whites

Praline:

  • 100 g hazelnuts
  • 300 g sugar

Cream puffs:

  • 100 g butter, salted
  • 200 ml water
  • 125 g all-purpose flour
  • a pinch salt
  • 1 pinch baking powder
  • 3 large eggs

Caramel for dipping the cream puffs:

  • sugar

Filling & frosting:

  • 1½ liters heavy whipping cream (use an organic with only cream in it like Clover)

Directions:

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175℃)

Mix marzipan, sugar and egg whites, and spread the dough onto a 9 inch circle on a parchment  paper or in a 9 inch springform pan, well greased. Bake it for about 30 minutes.

Praline:

Roast the hazelnuts on a dry skillet, until golden brown and most of the skin loosens. Rub the skin of the nuts between some kitchen towels.

Melt the sugar in a large skillet, and add the hazelnuts, when it's golden brown. Stir until the nuts are covered in caramel. Pour the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet to cool.

Cream puffs:

Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃).

Put water and butter in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. In a bowl sift flour, baking powder and salt. When the butter is all melted add all the flour at once, and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. Lower the heat and keep stirring until a dough is formed and it pulls away from the sides of the pan and is slightly shiny. 

Keep beating the dough with the wooden spoon until slightly cooled, about 2 minutes.  

Beat all the eggs in a bowl. Add a little of the beaten eggs, incorporating it thoroughly before adding more. Add the egg in small amounts until you have a thick paste but not runny at all.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Fill a large pastry bag fitted with an open tip, with the cream puff dough. Pipe quarter-size circular mounds about 2 inches apart, onto the parchment paper. To get the best tops on the cream puffs stop pressing on the pastry bag before you lift it, make a small circular move with your wrist as you lift the tip of the puff. If you have small tips on the puffs anyway, dab the tops of each puff with a fingertip dipped in water to smoothen the tops. 

Caramelized puffs.

Caramelized puffs.

Bake the puffs for 15-18 minutes, until they are puffed up and golden brown.

DO NOT open the oven while baking cream puffs, it will cause them to deflate.

Let the puffs cool on a wire rack.

When cooled, melt sugar in a small saucepan, till you have a light brown caramel. Dip the puffs in the melted sugar, and let them dry on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Be careful, the sugar is very very hot.

Filling:

The dome made, started piping.

The dome made, started piping.

Chop up the praline, you can use a food processor, but you don't want it to turn into a flour. You need some crunchy parts in the filling.

Whip 1 liter whipping cream, until it can hold a peak. Mix in the praline.

Whip the rest of the cream, a little softer than the other cream, this is used for piping.

Put the cake on a cake stand, and put the praline filled cream onto it like a dome.  

Pipe the regular whipped cream to cover the cake part, using a small open tip. Place the cream puffs on the dome. Pipe small petals round the puffs, so the hole dome is covered. 

 

NOTE: You can make the cake and praline in advance, maybe the day before.

 

 

Apricot Ice Cream

Desserts, Ice CreamTove Balle-Pedersen2 Comments
Apricot Ice Cream

Apricot Ice Cream

Apricot is en season, my tree is booming with fruit. So why not make an apricot ice cream. 

This ice cream is made without eggs, and is very easy to make. 

Ingredients:

  • 350 g fresh apricots, pitted and sliced in half
  • 90 ml water
  • 170 g raw honey (use a mild tasting honey such as clover)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 250 ml fresh heavy cream 
  • 1 tablespoon Disaronno Amaretto, optional

Directions:

Place apricots in a medium saucepan, pour water over and heat to a simmer and cook until apricots begin to soften, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in honey, when  the honey is dissolved remove from heat. Cool apricot mixture to room temperature and blend it until smooth. Stir in cream, lemon juice and Amaretto. Chill the mixture until very cold, and pour it into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Enjoy!

 

The Danish version:

Abrikosis

Ingredienser:

  • 350 g friske abrikoser, vaskede, udstenede og skåret i halve
  • 90 ml vand
  • 170 g honning (brug en mildt smagende honning)
  • 1 tsk friskpresset citronsaft
  • 250 ml piskefløde 
  • 1 spsk Disaronno Amaretto, valgfrit

Fremgangsmåde:

Kom abrikoserne i en gryde sammen med vandet og kog dem til de er møre 6-8 minutter.

Kom honningen i og rør rundt indtil det er smeltet. Blend det hele til en jævn glat masse. Køl massen ned inden man går videre.

Tilsæt fløde, citronsaft og Amaretto, og lad det hele køle i et par timer inden den køres i ismaskinen. Følg vejledningen der følger med ismaskinen.

Velbekomme!