Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 19 april 2017
KitchenWise: A Mother’s Day treat: Mini Mocha Baked Alaskas

This April 2017 photo shows a mini mocha baked Alaska in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton.
Associated Press
SARA MOULTON instead of having to bake a ringue (it takes 5 minutes), are about 1/3-inch thick. peaks. Beat in the vanilla.
Associated Press cake to start, we’re rolling frost the sandwiches and Working very quickly, (These egg whites will not
Let’s say you dream of with store-bought brown- then bake the cakes. Four place 1/8 cup ice cream be cooked to 160 F, which
wanting to make a very ies. You’ll be looking for the or 5 minutes later, you’ll on top of each of four of is the safety zone for killing
special dessert for mom on chewy kind, not the cake- pull these things of beauty the squares, spreading it salmonella, so substitute
Mother’s Day but don’t re- y kind, so they don’t fall out of the oven and take a to cover the brownie and pasteurized egg whites if
ally have the time or the ex- apart. (Soft chewy brown- bow. top the ice cream with a you are concerned.)
pertise. Here’s a cheating ies are easy to smoosh Besides the minimal prep, second brownie, pressing Place the ice-cream sand-
version of Baked Alaska. down, a key step in this rec- the glory of this recipe is down gently. Wrap the ice- wiches on a parchment-
Sure it’s antique — is there ipe.) Working with brownies that no matter how you cream sandwiches tight- lined rimmed sheet pan
any other two-word phrase about half-an-inch thick, apply the meringue to the ly with plastic wrap and and, working quickly, coat
in English as capable of you’ll cut them into inch- outside of the ice-cream freeze them for 2 hours. the sides and top of each
teleporting us in an instant and-a half squares. (Two sandwiches — smooth or in About 30 minutes before one thoroughly with the
to the dining room of a of them comprise a por- peaks — you’ll have fash- serving, place the egg meringue so that there are
cruise ship in the 1950s? — tion.) As for the ice cream, ioned a showstopper. whites in a medium metal no gaps. The meringue
but it’s also delicious. We’re it’s store-bought, like the MINI MOCHA BAKED ALAS- bowl set in a larger bowl of will insulate the ice cream
talking about ice cream brownies. KAS hot water to bring them to and keep it from melting
surrounded by cake, frost- Making the meringue is the Start to finish: 2 hours, 40 room temperature quickly. so quickly in the oven. Ei-
ed with meringue and only part of this recipe that minutes (40 active) Preheat the oven to 450 F. ther smooth the meringue
baked until golden. Back requires some effort, and Servings: 4 Remove the bowl of egg or make peaks, depend-
in the day, they’d light it on you don’t have to mess with Eight 1½-inch squares whites from the larger bowl ing on the finished look you
fire before setting it down it until the last minute. You’ll chewy brownies (about and, using electric beat- want. (Note: You will have
on your table, a flourish have made the ice-cream ½-inch thick) ers, beat the egg whites slightly more meringue than
we’ve forgone on the way sandwiches several hours 1 cup coffee ice cream on low until frothy, add the you need.)
to simplifying preparation ahead of time (perhaps 3 large egg whites salt and continue beating Bake the frosted cakes
from start to finish. even the day before) and Pinch of table salt on medium just until they on the middle shelf of the
First of all, I’ve shrunk it kept them tightly wrapped ½ cup sugar form soft peaks. Add the oven for 4 to 5 minutes or
down so that everybody in the freezer. At the mo- ¼ teaspoon vanilla sugar gradually in a steady until golden. Transfer to
gets to dig into his or her ment of truth, preheat the Press down gently on the stream, beating until the four plates and serve right
own personal Alaska. Next, oven, whip up the me- brownie squares until they mixture forms soft glossy away.q