Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries

Panna Cotta is light and silky in texture and a great combination of sweet and tangy.  This dessert takes less than 25 minutes to prepare, but needs to be chilled for several hours or overnight to firm up.  It couldn't be any easier and is pretty much fool proof.  This recipe is adapted from Mario Batali's Panna Cotta.  Make this and you too may feel like an Iron Chef.

Panna Cotta

Ingredients:

• 1 packet unflavored gelatin powder (2 teaspoons)



Yogurt Cream Mixture with Vanilla Beans

• 3 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Lemon or Lime Zest (garnish optional)

Directions:

• In small bowl sprinkle gelatin on 3 tablespoons of cold water.  Stir and set aside for 10 minutes
• In a medium bowl whisk 1 1/2 cup of cream, yogurt, and vanilla extract.  Split vanilla bean and use the tip of knife to scrape the seeds into cream.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 cup of cream and sugar in small saucepan and bring to simmer over medium heat
• Remove from heat and add gelatin to hot cream and stir to dissolve
• Pour hot cream-gelatin mixture into cold cream-yogurt mixture and stir to combine

• Pour cream mixture into 8 ramekins and refrigerate uncovered until cold. 



Panna Cotta in Ramekin

• When thoroughly chilled cover with plastic wrap -- lay on top of panna cotta to prevent skin from forming
• Refrigerate overnight
• Serve with Balsamic Berries topped with fresh lemon zest

Chilled Panna Cotta

Basalmic Strawberries

I am counting the days to strawberry season, there is nothing like juicy hand picked sweet strawberries.  Strawberry season or not, Balsamic Strawberries are welcome in my kitchen anytime.  There is something special about the combination of the strawberries and balsamic vinegar.  A long time ago I made these for the Klosters.  Mr. Kloster has since reminded me how much he enjoyed those berries.  He even called me years later because he wanted to make them for Lady Di.  How cute is that?  You can serve these berries on their own or as a topping for cheesecake, ice cream, Irish steel cut oats, pancakes or french toast..you get the picture...they go well with just about anything. 

Balsamic Strawberries

Balsamic Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 4 cups strawberries
• 1  tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

• Clean and slice berries
• Combine berries, balsamic vinegar and sugar
• Allow to macerate for 30 minutes