CHERRY-CINNAMON CRÈME ANGLAISE
Yield: 6 cups or 24 (1/4-cup) servings
Heavy cream -- 1 1/2 quarts
Dried tart cherries, chopped fine -- 1 1/2 cups (8 ounces)
Cinnamon sticks -- 3
Grandulated sugar -- 3/4 cup (5 ounces)
Egg yolks -- 12 (8 ounces)
Salt -- Pinch
Ground cinnamon -- Dash
1. Warm heavy cream, cherries and cinnamon sticks in medium saucepan about 15 minutes, using enough heat to let small bubbles form at the edges of the cream without bringing to a boil. Stir occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, gently whisk together sugar and egg yolks. Temper egg mixture with a little hot cream to avoid curdling, then gently mix egg mixture into cream mixture.
3. Continue to heat without boiling 2 to 5 minutes, or until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon; stir occasionally.
4. Strain the sauce into a bowl, using a food mill or chinoise. Press the cherry pieces to release their juice. Let cool.
5. Refrigerate 6 to 8 hours, or overnight to intensify the flavors. Add salt and ground cinnamon to taste.
Serving suggestions:
Drizzle sauce over fruit pastries, such as cherry, apple or pear pie, tart or turnover. Use Drunken Cherries (see recipe below) as a garnish.
Drizzle sauce over chocolate desserts, such as ice cream, torte, flourless cake or tiramisu.
Serve as a dipping sauce for fresh fruit.
Drunken Cherries: Combine 2 pounds (about 6 cups) dried tart cherries in 1-1/2 quarts of port, cognac or vodka in an airtight container. Set aside 1 to 3 days, or until cherries are plump. Refrigeration is not necessary, but if refrigerated, allow longer for cherries to plump.
Recipe courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute - www.cherrymkt.org/
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