PANNA COTTA
Panna cotta,
a molded chilled dessert popular throughout Italy, is easy to make and can be
prepared in advance. It looks and tastes
wonderful with ripe red fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, or purees. Can also be topped with sugar and bruleed.
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
1 envelope
unflavored gelatin (about 1 tablespoon)
2 Tbsp. cold
water
2 cups heavy
cream
1 cup half
and half
1/3 cup
sugar
1 ½ tsp.
vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1- In a very
small saucepan sprinkle gelatin over water and let stand about 1 minute to
soften. Heat gelatin mixture over low
heat until gelatin is dissolved and remove pan from heat.
2- In a
large saucepan bring cream, half and half, and sugar just to a boil over
moderately high heat, stirring.
3- Remove
pan from heat and stir in gelatin mixture and vanilla.
4- Divide
cream mixture among eight ½ -cup ramekins and cool to room temperature. Chill ramekins, covered, at least 4 hours or
overnight.
Dip
ramekins, 1 at a time, into a bowl of hot water 3 seconds. Run a thin knife around edge of each ramekin
and invert ramekin onto center of a small plate. Top with your favorite berries, topping, etc.
and serve.
