Profiteroles with Ricotta Mascarpone

Cook Time: 1 hr
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup water
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
* 1 1/2 teaspoons plus 3 tablespoons sugar
* Pinch of salt
* 1/2 cup all purpose flour
* 3 large eggs
* 1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone cheese
* 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
* 1/4 cup whipping cream
* 1/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Line a heavy large baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
Combine the water, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar, and salt in a
heavy medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the butter
melts. Add the flour and stir over medium heat for 1 minute. Cool 5
minutes.

Crack 2 eggs into a measuring cup. Use a wooden spoon to beat the eggs
into the dough, 1 at a time. Spoon 10 or 12 (1 1/2-inch) mounds of
dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Beat the
remaining egg in a small bowl to blend. Gently brush the egg over the
dough mounds (do not drip the egg onto the baking sheet).

Bake the pastries until they are amber brown, about 50 minutes. Allow
the pastries to cool completely.

Mix the mascarpone, ricotta, vanilla, and remaining 3 tablespoons of
sugar in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until cold. Using a serrated
knife, cut the tops off the pastry and set aside. Spoon the mascarpone
mixture into the pastries and top with its lid.

Combine the chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream in a small bowl. Heat
in the microwave for about 30 seconds until warm. Stir the mixture.
Spoon the chocolate-hazelnut sauce atop the pastries. Sprinkle with
the hazelnuts and serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Parma-style Carrot Cake

Cook Time: 1 hr
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup pine nuts (about 6 ounces)
* 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup
* 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
* 1 lemon, zested and juiced
* 2 cups peeled and chopped carrots (about 6 carrots)
* 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
* 5 eggs
* Powdered sugar, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and
salt. Set aside.

Place the pine nuts, 1/2 cup sugar, and fennel seeds in a food
processor and pulse to mince the nuts. Add the lemon zest, lemon
juice, and the carrots. Pulse to mince the carrots. Add the mascarpone
cheese and pulse until the cheese is incorporated.

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and
remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, until well
blended.

Add the carrot mixture to the butter mixture and stir until combined.
Add in the reserved dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.

Place the mixture in a lightly greased and floured 8 by 10 by-2-inch
baking dish. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes.

Let the cake cool for 1 hour, then dust with powdered sugar. Cut into
squares and serve.

Cheese Tortellini in Light Broth

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

* 8 cups low-salt chicken broth
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 2 (9-ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Directions

Pour the broth into a heavy large saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil
over high heat. Season the broth with pepper, to taste. Add the
tortellini. Simmer over medium heat until al dente, about 7 minutes.

Ladle the broth and tortellini into soup bowls. Top with parsley and
Parmesan crisps and serve.

Parmesan Crisps:

Yield: 8 to 10 crisps

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Pour a heaping tablespoon of Parmesan onto a silicone or parchment
lined baking sheet and lightly pat down. A silicone baking sheet is
highly recommended. Repeat with the remaining cheese, spacing the
spoonfuls about a 1/2 inch apart.

Bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden and crisp. Cool.

Tiramisu

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

* *6 egg yolks
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 1 pound mascarpone cheese
* 1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
* 2 teaspoons dark rum
* 24 packaged ladyfingers
* 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish

Directions

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat
egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Add
mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of espresso
and mix until thoroughly combined.

In a small shallow dish, add remaining espresso and rum. Dip each
ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds. Letting the ladyfingers
soak too long will cause them to fall apart. Place the soaked
ladyfinger on the bottom of a 13 by 9 inch baking dish, breaking them
in half if necessary in order to fit the bottom.

Spread evenly 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.
Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining
mascarpone mixture.

Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours,
up to 8 hours.

Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

From: foodnetwork.com

Chocolate Chip and Mascarpone Cupcakes

Cook Time: 25 min
Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients
Cupcakes:

* 5 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
* 1 cup water
* 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
* 2 1/4 cups sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 3 large eggs
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Nestle morsels)

Ganache:

* 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Nestle morsels)
* 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Special equipment: 2 (12-count) muffin pans with paper liners

For the Cupcakes:

Directions

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.

Combine the unsweetened chocolate and water in a small saucepan over
medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate is melted, about
2 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes. Whisk in the mascarpone cheese until
the mixture is smooth.

Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl for 30 seconds.
Stir in the mascarpone mixture. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt,
baking powder, and chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Add the dry
ingredients to the chocolate mixture. Stir until just blended.

Divide the batter among the prepared muffin pans. Bake for 20 to 25
minutes or until a tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes
out with no crumbs attached. Cool the cupcakes completely before
dipping, about 1 hour.

For the Ganache:

Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Combine the heavy cream and
vanilla extract in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until
small bubbles appear on the outside edge of the cream. Pour the hot
cream mixture over the chocolate chips. Using a fork, gently stir
until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

Dip the tops of each cupcake in the ganache and transfer to a baking
sheet. Place the dipped cupcakes in the refrigerator to set, about 15
to 20 minutes. Allow cupcakes to return to room temperature before
serving.

Cook's Note: For puffier cupcakes allow the batter to rest in the
muffin pans for 20 minutes before baking.

Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli

Cook Time: 1 hr 40 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons for boiling water
* 6 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
* 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
* 1/4 cup mascarpone
* 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnishing
* 6 egg roll wrappers (6 1/2 by 6 1/2-inch squares)
* 2 large eggs, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
* 1/2 cup mushroom (cremini, shiitake, button), finely chopped
* 2 cups tomato sauce
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large saute pan heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil. When almost
smoking, add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until
all the liquid has evaporated from the mushrooms, about 6 minutes. Add
spinach and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and place mixture
into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until you get a coarse
texture. Place in bowl and stir in mascarpone and Parmesan cheese.
Check for seasoning and set aside.

Line up 3 wrappers on a cutting board. Brush with the egg and

water mixture. Using a tablespoon, arrange 4 dollops of the filling on
each wrapper – 2 on the first row and 2 on the second – 1-inch apart.
Place another wrapper directly on top, pressing around the filling and
sealing the edges. Using a fluted ravioli cutter, cut out squares of
ravioli. Each filled wrapper will yield 4 raviolis, giving you a total
of 12 ravioli. Place ravioli onto a floured baking sheet and keep
covered with a linen towel.

In a large pot, bring to a boil 4 quarts of salted and oiled water.
Carefully add small batches of ravioli, about 3 to 4 at a time. This
will prevent them from crowding in the pot and sticking together. Cook
for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a spider strainer, carefully remove the
ravioli and place on the plate. Tent with foil to keep warm and
continue cooking remaining ravioli.

In a saute pan, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. When almost smoking,
add chopped mushrooms and saute until soft and most of the liquid has
evaporated, about 8 minutes. Carefully pour in tomato sauce and simmer
for 5 minutes.

Divide ravioli between 2 serving plates. Top with mushroom tomato
sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.

From: foodnetwork.com

Strawberry and Mascarpone Granita

Cook Time: 3 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
* 2 cups chopped strawberries, plus 1 cup finely chopped
* 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
* 3 tablespoons lemon juice
* Pinch salt

Directions

Place the water, 1/2 sugar, and mint in a small pan and bring to a
simmer, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar. Let simmer
over low heat to steep the mint. Then strain the mint from the simple
syrup. Discard the mint.

In a food processor combine 2 cups of strawberries with the remaining
1 tablespoon of sugar. Run the machine to puree the strawberries. Add
the mascarpone cheese, lemon juice, and salt. Run the machine until
the mascarpone cheese is fully incorporated. Add the mint simple syrup
and run the machine to combine. Place the strawberry mixture in an 8
by 8-inch glass dish and place the dish in the freezer. The mixture
will take about 4 hours to freeze.

To serve, use a fork to scrape the granita. Spoon the mixture into
chilled bowls. Top with the finely chopped strawberries. Serve
immediately.