Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forum'Semifreddo, meaning "half cold" in Italian, is known for its unique frozen texture,
which falls somewhere between fluffy mousse and velvety ice cream. To achieve this, we wanted to whip as much air into the base as possible . .
Ingredients:
1½ cups heavy cream
4 large eggs
¾ cup (5¼ ounces) sugar
⅛ teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
6 tablespoons blueberry jam . . .
1
Line loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving 3-inch overhang on all sides. Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip cream on medium-low speed until foamy, 30 to 60 seconds. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer cream to large bowl and cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.
2
Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in medium heatproof bowl set over large saucepan containing 1 inch barely simmering water, making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl. Whisk continuously until egg mixture reaches 160 degrees, 5 to 8 minutes. Carefully separate bowl from saucepan and, using rubber spatula, transfer egg mixture to clean bowl of stand mixer. Add almond extract, if using. Using whisk attachment, beat on medium-high speed until mixture is thick, pale, and doubled in volume, 3 to 4 minutes.
3
Remove bowl from stand mixer. Using rubber spatula, gently fold in half of whipped cream until just incorporated. Fold in remaining cream until just incorporated and no streaks of cream remain.
4
Transfer one-third of cream mixture to prepared pan. Dollop 2 tablespoons blueberry jam evenly over cream mixture in pan. Using skewer or butter knife, swirl jam evenly into cream mixture. Transfer half of remaining cream mixture to pan, dollop 2 tablespoons jam over mixture, and swirl jam evenly into cream mixture. Repeat with remaining cream mixture and remaining 2 tablespoons jam. Smooth top with rubber spatula. Cover with plastic and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours or up to 2 weeks.
5
When ready to serve, remove plastic from top and invert pan onto cutting board or serving platter. Gently tug on overhanging plastic to release semifreddo from pan; discard plastic. Smooth surface with spatula, if desired. Dip slicing knife in hot water and wipe dry. Slice semifreddo about 1 inch thick, transferring slices to individual plates and dipping and wiping knife after each slice. Serve immediately.
https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cookscountry/recipes/15662-blueberry-swirl-semifreddo?
ProfessorGAC
(69,856 posts)Had it more than a few times in Italy. Loved it.
I think my wife would enjoy making it together. I have never made a dessert. This might be a fun first effort.
elleng
(136,043 posts)GOOD of you to think of making it together. Glad I found 6 of my little Haagen coffee ice creams @ grocery today.
ProfessorGAC
(69,856 posts)So, i have had so many Italian dishes I couldn't count them all.
There was a gelato shop in San Giovanny del Lago (a town near the site I visited the most often) that had amazing product in probably 20 flavors. I likely tried all of them except those flavored with anise. Not a big fan of licorice.
Been 'only' about 5 times!
Great shop on Spanish coast, I think, much to our surprise!
ProfessorGAC
(69,856 posts)...to 41 countries.
One motivation to retire was to quit flying.
And, with my weird schedule my wife could never come along, so it wasn't a week of fun, over & over. It was 45 hours over 3.5 days, a day to drive around and see what there was to see & go home.
She would have been there, but by herself half the time. She would have hated it.
But, I tried the local cuisine everywhere I went, including the weird stuff.
I never got tired of that part.
Cheezoholic
(2,612 posts)Back in my chefery days I doled out tasks like these as punishment. Trust me, even 5 minutes holding a bowl above a simmer and briskly whisking can be brutal, let alone 8-10 lol.
Thanks for tales of your chefery days! Mine were not THAT, rather 'mothering' days, and never did such as you; closest was making birthday cake for daughter's 2d birthday, and that from a mix!
Cheezoholic
(2,612 posts)and my shoulder hurt for 2 days lol.
Before my 'mothering' days, living alone in Chicago (before law school,) I actually did a few tasty treats for myself regularly, including Hollandaise! (and apple and peach crumbles.) NO hurt shoulders! Had some good old implements, which are long gone, sadly.