► Lunch Menu  ► Dinner Menu  ► Kids Menu  ► Soups / Salads  ► Appetizers

Caramelized Banana Splits with Hot Chocolate Sauce

Preparation

Melt butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, then add bananas in 1 layer and sprinkle with brown sugar. Increase heat to medium-high and cook bananas, gently turning once and shaking skillet occasionally, until sugar is caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide bananas among 4 bowls, leaving any remaining caramel in skillet.

Add cream to skillet and boil over medium heat, stirring, until caramel is dissolved. Add chocolate with a pinch of salt and whisk until melted.

Top bananas with scoops of ice cream, then drizzle with some of chocolate sauce and sprinkle with nuts. (There will be extra sauce.)

[ Back to the Top ]

Root Beer Granita Float

.

Preparation

Pour 4 cups root beer into 13x9x2-inch baking pan; freeze until set, about 4 hours or overnight.

Meanwhile, boil remaining 4 cups root beer in large saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Cool root beer syrup.

Using tines of fork, scrape frozen root beer into icy flakes, then mix gently in pan to blend. Spoon 3/4 cup root beer granita into each of 6 clear glasses or dessert cups. Top granita with scoop of ice cream. Drizzle each with 4 teaspoons root beer syrup and serve.

[ Back to the Top ]

Pumpkin Pie with Spiced Whipped Cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Reshape crust edge to form high-standing rim. Bake crust until browned, pressing bottom and sides of crust occasionally with back of fork, about 14 minutes. Cool crust on rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

Whisk pumpkin, condensed milk, sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, vanilla, and allspice in large bowl to blend. Whisk in eggs. Pour into crust (some filling may be left over).

Bake pie until filling is puffed around sides and set in center, about 55 minutes. Cool pie on rack. (Can be made ahead. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours, or cover and chill overnight.)

Beat whipping cream, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ginger in bowl until peaks form. Spoon large dollops around edge of pie and serve.

[ Back to the Top ]

Vin Santo Zabaglione with Orange and Grapefruit

.

Preparation

Cut peel and white pith from oranges and grapefruit with a sharp knife, then cut sections free from membranes. Drain fruit in a large sieve set over a bowl 5 minutes, reserving juice for another use. Toss fruit with 1 tablespoon sugar.

Beat egg, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, vin santo, cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water with a hand-held electric mixer at medium speed until slightly thickened and frothy, about 5 minutes (mixture will froth up and then subside a bit before thickening). Remove from heat.

Divide fruit among 4 stemmed glasses and top with zabaglione. Serve immediately.

[ Back to the Top ]

Classic Flan

.

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Divide caramel among six 3/4-cup custard cups. Working quickly, tilt cups, coating bottoms and part of sides.

Stir milk and 1/2 cup sugar in medium saucepan over low heat just until sugar dissolves (milk will be lukewarm). Whisk eggs in medium bowl until blended. Slowly whisk in milk mixture. Whisk in vanilla and salt. Strain custard into prepared cups.

Arrange cups in 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake flans until just set in center, about 50 minutes. Remove cups from water and let stand 30 minutes. Chill until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Cut around sides of each cup to loosen flan; turn out onto plate.

[ Back to the Top ]

Brown Butter and Peanut Brittle Ice Cream

Preparation

Melt butter in small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until butter turns dark amber, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes (do not burn). Pour through fine strainer into small bowl. Bring cream and milk to simmer in large saucepan. Whisk egg yolks, both sugars, and salt in large bowl until thick and well blended. Add brown butter; whisk to blend. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolk mixture; return to same saucepan. Stir mixture over medium-low heat until instant-read thermometer registers 178°F, about 5 minutes. Strain custard into large bowl. Set bowl over larger bowl of ice water. Stir until custard is cold. Stir in vanilla.

Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Add peanut brittle during last 1 minute. Transfer ice cream to container; freeze. DO AHEAD: Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.

[ Back to the Top ]