MINT CHOCOLATE SPANAKOPITA

An elegant dessert with creamy chocolate and the fresh flavor of mint.  The perfect sweet bite for any cocktail party.

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Mint Chocolate Spanakopita
An elegant dessert with creamy chocolate and the fresh flavor of mint. The perfect sweet bite for any cocktail party.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Servings
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Servings
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine feta cheese, mascarpone cheese, egg, and sugar. In a food processor combine spinach, mint, and nuts to make a pesto. Stir pesto into cheese mixture.
  2. Thaw fillo sheets according to directions. Place one sheet on work area, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sugar and continue until you have 5 layers. Cut those layers into 5 strips. Break up the chocolate bars and put a piece of chocolate at the end of each strip.
  3. Add 1 teaspoon of the cheese-pesto mixture on top of the chocolate. Place another piece of chocolate on top of the cheese-pesto mixture and roll into a triangle. Brush top with butter and bake on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Drizzle with melted chocolate or sprinkle with powdered sugar or both!
Recipe Notes

© Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

PEAR TART – AS DELICIOUS AS IT IS LOVELY.

This pear tart, typically Parisian, is called tarte bourdaloue in France, and is the pride of any French patisserie. Traditionally, it’s filled with almond cream, however, this recipe skips that (and the calories) without forfeiting any delicious flavor.

For some of the almond flavor, try adding a touch of almond extract to the marscapone instead of pear brandy

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Pear Tart - as delicious as it is lovely.
This pear tart has a buttery, flaky crust and a delicious pear filling with pear brandy added to kick up the flavor.
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings
Ingredients
For the pastry
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings
Ingredients
For the pastry
Instructions
For the pastry
  1. Process the flour, butter, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade until butter is pea–size. Add the water and mix until dough gathers into a ball. Remove from machine, dust with flour, wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Line a 9 inch tart pan with the dough. Trim and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork. Freeze while preparing the filling.
For the filling
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut eat of the pear halves crosswise into slices as thin as possible, maintaining the shape of the pear half by keeping the slices in place. Fan 5 of the pear halves in the tart shell filling in the gaps with the 6th pear half. (arrange to look like a flower) Sprinkle the pears with sugar. Dot the pears with butter. Sprinkle with pear brandy. Bake until the pears are caramelized and the crust is well browned, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.
For the glaze
  1. While the tart is baking, make the glaze. Heat the apricot jam and pear brandy in a small sauce pan until melted and smooth. Spoon the glaze over the tart.
For the garnish
  1. Mix the mascarpone cheese with the sugar and pear brandy. Cut the tart into wedges and serve warm topped with a dollop of pear flavored mascarpone cheese.
Recipe Notes

Recipe Notes Check tart 35 minutes into baking. If the crust is getting too dark, cover with foil. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved

TIRAMISU (THE BEST TIRAMISU I’VE EVER HAD!)

Tiramisù, meaning “pick me up” or “lift me up”) is one of Italy’s most famous desserts. This coffee-flavoured dessert goes great with a cup of coffee or espresso. Its origins are often disputed between Italian regions such as Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte and others.  Original versions of the recipe used raw egg yolks, egg whites, sugar, mascarpone cheese and biscuits.  This version has a sabayon-like mixture composed of cooked egg yolks making it safer to consume and giving it more longevity.

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tiramisu
The best tiramisu I've ever had!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings
Ingredients
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the top of a double boiler, over boiling water. Reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. This is your sabayon, remove from the heat and whip yolks until thick and lemon colored.Add Mascarpone to whipped yolks, beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream in the mascarpone sabayon mixture and set aside.
  2. Mix the cold espresso with the coffee liquor and dip the lady fingers into the mixture just long enough to get them wet, do not soak them! Arrange the lady fingers in the bottom of a 8 inch square baking dish (or 6×9)
  3. Spoon half the mascarpone cream filling over the lady fingers. Repeat process with another layer. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Dust with cocoa before serving
Recipe Notes

The ingredients can also be layered into individual serving glass serving dishes such as martini glasses for a festive and fun presentation. © Galley Chef All Rights Reserved