DAY Recipe

DIRECTIONS

Stir first 4 ingredients in saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 1 hour. Strain mixture into 8-inch square metal baking pan. Freeze until edges begin to set, about 1 hour. Whisk; freeze again until mixture is slushy, about 1 hour. Whisk again to blend well. Freeze without stirring until granita is frozen solid, at least 3 hours or overnight. Using fork, scrape granita until entire mixture is mass of crystals. Cover and freeze until ready to serve.

Scoop granita into 6 chilled glasses. Top with Ginger Whipped Cream.

DIRECTIONS

Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 10 minutes. Quickly pour caramel into eight 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups. Using oven mitts as aid, immediately tilt each ramekin to coat bottom. Transfer ramekins to 13×9x2-inch baking pan. Set aside.

Combine whole milk, aniseed, cinnamon stick and lemon peel in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 45 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Pour milk mixture into large bowl. Add remaining ingredientsand whisk to blend. Strain egg mixture into another large bowl. Pour custard into prepared ramekins, dividing equally. Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins.

Bake flans until center is gently set, about 35 minutes. Transfer flans to rack and cool. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)

Run knife around 1 flan to loosen. Turn over onto plate. Shake gently. Lift off ramekin, allowing syrup to run over flan. Repeat with remaining flans.

DIRECTIONS

For sauce: Stir both chocolates in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted. Add 1/3 cup hot water, corn syrup and extract; whisk until smooth. Remove from over water. Cool slightly. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Before serving, rewarm in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.)

For cakes: Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly. Whisk eggs and egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Whisk in sugar, then chocolate mixture and flour. Pour batter into dishes, dividing equally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)

Bake cakes until sides are set but center remains soft and runny, about 11 minutes or up to 14 minutes for batter that was refrigerated. Run small knife around cakes to loosen. Immediately turn cakes out onto plates. Spoon sauce around cakes. Serve with ice cream.

DIRECTIONS

Stir Alfredo sauce, prosciutto and basil in small bowl to blend. Spread 2 tablespoons Alfredo sauce mixture in bottom of two 1 1/2-cup oval-shape gratin dishes or two 2-cup soufflé dishes. Top each with 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices. Place 1 noodle in each dish, breaking into pieces to fit. Spread each with 2 tablespoons sauce mixture, then 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices. Top each with 2/3 cup roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Make another layer of noodles, breaking to fit. Top with remaining sauce mixture, dividing equally. Top each with 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices.

Cover dishes tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until noodles are tender but still firm to bite, about 10 minutes. Uncover lasagna and let stand 5 minutes before serving

DIRECTIONS

For crust: Combine flour, butter, vegetable shortening, sugar and salt in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and blend until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball. Flatten into disk. Wrap dough disk in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13-to 14-inch round. Transfer dough to9-inch-diameter deep-dish glass pie dish. Fold dough edge over and crimp decoratively, securing dough edge to rim of dish. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze crust 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles or slips, about 30 minutes. Transfer crust to rack and cool.

For filling: Whisk sugar, cornstarch, cocoa and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Add egg yolks, milk and cream; whisk until smooth. Whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate, butter and vanilla and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour filling into crust. Cool on rack.

For marshmallow topping: Place 1 tablespoon water in small cup; sprinkle unflavored gelatin over. Place cup in small skillet; add enough water to skillet to reach depth of 1/2 inch.

Whisk sugar, corn syrup and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan. Boil without stirring until candy thermometer registers 240°F. While continuing to boil syrup, beat egg whites in large bowl with mixer until stiff peaks form. When thermometer in syrup registers 248°F, slowly beat hot syrup into egg whites. Continue to beat until whites are stiff and glossy, about 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
Bring water in skillet to simmer. Stir gelatin mixture in cup until gelatin dissolves. Gradually pour gelatin over egg whites and beat until topping is cool, about 8 minutes. Using rubber spatula, gently spread topping over filling, making decorative peaks.Preheat broiler. Broil pie just until topping is light brown, about 1 minute. Chill pie 1 hour. Garnish with chocolate shavings, if desired. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before serving.)