Infuse a little fragrance into a ganache tart for celebration....Saffron Ganache Tarte with caramelized nuts!

A friend's graduation/summer celebrations always deserve some extra jazz! Among those glistening jewels of caramelized hazelnuts and pecans that dressed a tart with flaky buttery crust, your friends will be dazzled by a molten rich ganache that excites your olfactory nerves with lingering perfume.



~ Saffron Ganache Tarte with caramelized nuts ~

Ingredients:

Pre-baked homemade French pate sucree tart shells, glaze the interior with melted chocolate
Caramelized nuts (a combination of your favourite nuts..hazelnuts, pecans, almonds!)
Saffron chocolate ganache:
6 oz dark chocolate (66% to 72% cacao), chopped
1 tbs honey
1 cup heavy cream
1 generous pinch of good quality saffron


1. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and honey. Set a fine strainer over the bowl.

2. In a small saucepan, heat the cream over medium-high heat until simmer. Add saffron and allow it to seep for 5 minutes. Pour the cream through the strainer into the chocolate mixture. Use a rubber spatula and gently stir the cream into chocolate with minimal agitation until the chocolate melts.

3. Pour the cooled ganache mixture into glazed tart shells, allow the ganache to set in refrigerator before decorate the tarts with caramelized nuts.


Bon Appetit~!

The delicate bouquet of Vouvray gives magic to a simple poached pear custard tart....

I guess infusing my favourite beverages with desserts has given me inspirations! Although Earl Grey still tops the exclusive list, the complex yet delicate bouquet of Vouvray, and the high acidity from Chenin Blanc makes it the perfect complement for the luscious yet velvety Anjou pears.


Located in the Touraine district of France's Loire Valley, this Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) is dedicated almost exclusively to Chenin blanc, a variety known locally as Pineau de la Loire that is believed to have been originated interestingly in the Anjou wine region sometime in the 9th century. A wine pairing dinner featured 4 wines from Loire Valley has drawn my attention in the potential marriage with desserts, where the notes of honey, nuts, ginger, fig, apples and white flowers can be innocently exhibited.


~ Vouvray poached Anjou pears ~

1 bottle of your favourite Vouvray
4 Anjou pears - firm but with slight give, peeled and cored but leaving the stem intact.
6 tablespoons of organic cane sugar
1 pinch of salt
*avoid using vanilla bean for this recipe to preserve the bouquet of the Vouvray


1. In a deep stainless steel pot (should be large enough to stand all 4 pears, and deep enough that enough wine can be added to cover the pears completely), add wine, sugar and salt and bring it to a simmer.

2. Add the pears and ensure all parts are submerged in the wine, simmer very gently in the wine for 40 minutes, or until the flesh have been soften but not breaking.

3. Gently remove the pears onto a plate to cool.

4. Strain the poaching liquid; return the liquid to cleaned pot and reduce it on high heat to 1/4 of its original volume, or until it becomes a consistency between maple syrup and honey.

5. Serve the pears with the reduced syrup, or to top a luscious custard tart!


Bon Appetit~!