Tuesday, July 21, 2009

TWD--Blanc-Manger, My Way (Think Chocolate!)

Our recipe this week was chosen by Susan from Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy (if the name of the blog alone doesn't send you over, just trust me on her yummy food and photos!).  From our groups baking book, Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home To Yours, Susan chose Raspberry Blanc-Manger.  (No, it's not like the thing Jesus was laid in the stable  after he was born!)  Blanc-Manger is pronounced "blah-mahn-jhay" and it must be pronounced with a strong French accent. ;)

Dorie was right when she told us that this dessert and recipe is so simple it's "positively foolproof".  It was easy, I just wasn't sure anyone in our household would like it, including me--since the main ingredient is whipped heavy cream.  So I set out to change things up a bit to what I thought would get eaten here.  And so, you can get the raspberry recipe for this on Susan's blog.  I followed the directions completely, EXCEPT instead of ground almonds, I used ground hazelnuts.  I also used 4 1/2 teaspoons of Torani Chocolate Flavoring Syrup and 1 1/2 teaspoons Torani Hazelnut Flavoring Syrup instead of the 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract the recipe suggests.  I didn't use raspberries at all.  I also put these into three 3-inch round cake pans and an 8x5 inch bread pan instead of the suggested 8 inch round cake pan.  Why?  I felt like it. 

Everything went very smoothly--literally, ha!  Tonight we got the dessert out and I did the simple little trick of setting the pan(s) in a sink of hot water (not too deep).  They came right out.  Then I had the delicious idea of drizzling Nutella on the top.  (BE CAREFUL--if you stick the Nutella jar in the microwave just to soften it up a bit--it could start to blow because of the remnants of foil lining from the safety seal that was on the jar.  I'm just saying--that COULD happen after only like 4 seconds in the microwave.  Or so I've been told. ;)

Here's what my Blanc-Manger came to be.

DSCF3522

I was worried it would be a bit too much like gelled whipped cream (with good flavor though) and well, I was kind of right.  Everyone dug in.

DSCF3525 DSCF3527

DSCF3532

I think the boys had more fun just destroying the thing than really eating it.  Never you mind, I still had two more 3 inch ones and the 8x5 one. 

DSCF3538

I thought it really looked nice and yummy!

I wanted to see what it was like with a little fruit and the other day after buying a big bag of cherries and getting a nice cherry pitter, I decided to make jam when I realized the boys weren't eating the cherries as fast as I'd thought they would.  The jam was so simple and I think it's really good.  (Kevin won't even try it, he thinks he only likes Smucker's raspberry preserves.)

All I did was plop some jam on the third 3 inch Nutella-manger.  Not very pretty, but I actually thought it tasted really good with the jam.

DSCF3543

Katrina's Totally Made Up Really Good Cherry Jam

1 lb. sweet cherries, pitted and chopped

zest of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon (at first I thought it was too much, but I really like the lemon in it!)

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.  It will thicken up beautifully.  Makes about 12 oz.

DSCF3548

Yes, that is a washed Smucker's raspberry preserves jar!  The Cherry Jam is good stuff.  You can definitely taste the lemon and I really like it.

Okay, back to the Blanc-Manger.  Well, what are we going to do with it since no one really liked it.  I really thought it was way to whipped creamy.  And while I was trying to make the big one pretty for a picture, my Nutella piping bag exploded on it.

DSCF3539

I finished the "drizzle" job and then had a little light bulb moment.  ICE CREAM!  I scraped all of it into a bowl, added 1/2 cup half and half and poured it into the ice cream maker and it churned away.  THIS is some darn good Nutella Hazelnut Ice Cream, People! 

Fresh out of the ice cream maker.

DSCF3552

After freezing for a few hours.

DSCF3562

All I know is I will make Nutella ice cream again sometime (but I'd go a lot lighter on the ground hazelnuts--like maybe even just save some just  for sprinkling on top.  However, the Nutella flavor is awesome!

Puh-leeese go buy Dorie's book or I supposed you could get her Raspberry Blanc-Manger recipe on Susan's blog today.  Ooh, go check out what all the other TWD groupies have done with this on the Tuesday's With Dorie blog

__________________________________________________________________________________

And just for something fun--check out these carrots I got at the farmer's market this week!

DSCF3515 

I said to the vendor--"Boy, these carrots are really showing some love."  hehe  The boys got a kick out of them.

39 comments:

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

It's 8am and I already have a sweet tooth!

Hindy said...

Wow. Katrina, you own this recipe! An amazing job. The flavours sound exceptional and your presentations are lovely. I think you just answered my question about whether mine can be salvaged by putting it in the ice cream maker. Brava!

Olivia said...

I read your nutella-jar in the microwave part and started cracking up... Yesterday I tried putting in a Luna bar and it was in there for THREE seconds when I saw a huge spark and pop noise... that one went to the trash!

spike. said...

wow, you were busy this week. All variations look great!

vibi said...

Mmmmm... chocolate with the taste of almonds in that blanc-manger, must have been crazy good! Great idea... nice going!

Soy*Baby said...

Your post cracked me up. I especially loved the picture of the big one with the explosion of the nutella piping bag. Too funny. I bet the ice cream was yummy. Great job making this recipe work for you.

Fallon said...

At least you are creative on making the dish from a Blanc- Manger with nutella, then with cherry preserves, and back to nutella ICE CREAM!!

Nutella is the best. My boyfriend is currently in Iraq and I sent him a jar. He said that was weird, but I know he is loving it straight from the jar. lol

noble pig said...

That looks delicious! I love dessserts that must be pronounced with heavy French accents!

Megan said...

Ah, I knew I could count on you for some chocolate!

And what a brilliant idea for the ice cream. I mean really, what else could you do with all that heavy cream?

Anonymous said...

Isn't metal in the micro the scariest thing ever! I was just thinking about nutella this morning; no particular reason, it was just on my mind : ) I bet the ice cream was fabulous!

Those carrots are awesome!

Deborah said...

this looks amazing!! And those carrots are too funny.

Anonymous said...

I came here via Chocolate Chip's blog since you mentioned that you found a way to get chocolate into this recipe. What a great job of improvising and making it work.

The ice cream sounds great.

Yeah, I did something similar years ago with the microwave and learned my lesson. I think I have kept my kids, now teens, from doing this.

isabelle said...

This looks absolutely gorgeous! Hazelnuts and chocolate, yummy!
I bet the ice cream was delicious!

Anonymous said...

Ice cream? You're a genius! Looks the best that way to me.

TeaLady said...

Nutella!! Hazelnuts!! ICE CREAM!!! I'm there. I HAVE to try your way, as I didn't care for Dorie's way very much.

GREAT JOB!!

TeaLady said...

BTW - that 'carrot'? on the right looks like a couple dancing and HE just stepped on her foot so she elbowed him. Yeah, It's a stretch I know, but...

Kayte said...

LOL on the carrot love this week. I knew someone would do something chocolate somewhere along the line, I just wasn't sure who it would be, so now I know: YOU! I have to congratulate you on all the creativity in these photos as who would have thought of so many ways to go with this??? My guys would have demolished all this in the eating as fast as possible way! Very fun with your photos!

Valerie said...

So pretty!! And your carrots are a lot of fun too.

Anonymous said...

I love how you choclatized this! I wouldn't have thought of putting it in the ice cream maker, but that sounds great too.

The carrots are hilarious!

Karine said...

My sweet tooth loves everything in this post! :)

Jaime said...

chocolate yum!! and ice cream? you are so smart :)

Jacque said...

LOL, yea, what's with those carrots?

Your version looks delish!

Anonymous said...

You are soo creative! You go way beyond the Playing Around and really make some awesome treats! I thought the chocolate/hazelnut manger sounded really tasty, but that ice cream! I could use a bowlful now. =)

Donna-FFW said...

Interesting carrots. Gotta love that!! Everything looks fantastic as usual , and you have me craving 3 different things at once.

Maria said...

This post has it all, love it:)

Unknown said...

I love the way you changed things up to make it work for your family! You always do the most creative things. Your versions look yummy. Great job!!

Leslie said...

Nutella makes everything better, and this dessert was no exception...and great idea to turn it into ice cream! Those carrots are quite unusual. Maybe rocky soil?

Clumbsy Cookie said...

And Katrina saves the day again by making ice cream!!! Your mind is as twisted as those carrots ;) ahahah!

Unknown said...

Sorry you didn't like it! But seems like you really saved the day by making ice-cream out of it! But aren't you making ice-cream out of EVERYTHING :P

Hindy said...

Katrina, thanks so much for encouraging me to make ice cream with my blanc-mager disaster. It was so much more tasty when frozen. The whole thing was gone after dinner. Great save!

Deeba PAB said...

First I got to say those carrots ceratinly are sharing some love...LOL! beautiful blancmange & well done with the nutella & jam. makes me hungry for dessert! WOW!!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I'd love to have one of those carrots..heee

I love everything here, Katrina. I am wishin you are my neighbor and friend and I could just go over to your house and ask for a cup of that ice cream!

Anonymous said...

I love your take on Dorie's blanc-manger and that you turned it into ice cream! I would never have thought of that. Will definitely have to try your Nutella version. Yummo!

Teanna said...

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?! AMAZING. I agree with Clivia - you do own this recipe! That is just unreal!!!

Anonymous said...

How funny! Love the chocolate and love that you made ice cream.

AmyRuth said...

"Lovely carrots" HAHAHAHAH funny huh? Yea, sorry about that. Anyway, what a great idea to change up the blanc - manger. Dorie would be so proud.
Great job and BTW I love it when the kids dig in too.
AmyRuth

Jennifer said...

Your blanc manger looks very pretty, and delicious, too. I love nutella.

I've never made jam. Is it wrong that I don't like jam or jelly or preserves? I like fruit, I just think there's something about the texture.

Lisa said...

You are amazing, from the Chocolate-Hazelnut Blanc-Manger with your totally made up cherfy jam, and Nutella ice cream! My god, you are the ultimate baker and mommy! I want to be a kid who's friends with one of your sons so I can come over and scarf your food without guilt or shame - as much as I want..LOL

Judy said...

Those carrots almost look alive. You are so inventive when it comes to saving things -- love how you made that ice cream.