Cinnamon-Orange Parfait With Dates in Cognac
- 1/4 cup Cognac
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 large dates, approximately 1/2 pound
- 1/2 cup milk
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- Grated zest of two oranges (do not cut into bitter white rind)
- 3 eggs
- 5 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Boil Cognac, water and sugar 5 minutes in a saucepan and set aside in a bowl to cool.
- Dip dates in boiling water 30 seconds; drain, and with a paring knife remove transparent outer skin.
- Remove pits and cut each date lengthwise into 4 or 5 pieces.
- Add dates to the syrup and let steep overnight or longer.
- Place milk in a small saucepan with cinnamon sticks and orange zest.
- Bring just to a boil and remove from flame.
- Let cool completely, and strain, discarding the solids.
- Choose a metal bowl (preferably the bowl of an electric mixer) that will fit over a pot of boiling water without touching the water.
- Fill the pot with water and set it to boil.
- In the metal bowl mix together the whole eggs and egg yolks.
- Now, place the bowl over the boiling water, and start whisking eggs.
- Slowly add sugar and continue beating until thick, pale in color and tripled in volume, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whip either by hand or in an electric mixer until completely cool.
- Whip cream until peaks just hold their shape.
- Fold cooled cinnamon-orange milk into whipped cream and pour over the cooled sugar-and-yolks mixture.
- Dust with ground cinnamon.
- Fold together.
- With plastic wrap, line a standard bread-loaf pan that will hold 8 cups, leaving a generous overhang of wrap on all sides.
- Pour parfait mixture into the pan and seal tightly.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours.
- To serve, unwrap and cut parfait into 3/8-inch slices.
- Spoon several date slices, with syrup, over each portion.
cognac, water, sugar, dates, milk, cinnamon sticks, oranges, eggs, egg yolks, sugar, heavy cream, ground cinnamon
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1166 (may not work)