Panna Cotta: Italy's Elegant Custard Made Easy
It's time for panna cotta to get its due as a dessert classic.An exquisitely silky custard, panna cotta is at its most basic a confluence of cream, gelatin and sugar, and a short list of other ingredients that lend it flavor. Molded in ramekins--or more simply set and served in glassware or cups--it has both a homey provenance and refined austerity, making it an ideal partner for a  wide range of sumptuous trimmings from bittersweet chocolate to balsamic strawberries to Cabernet caramel sauce.Yet despite its luxurious texture and chic presentation, panna cotta is one of the easiest desserts to prepare: soften some gelatin, warm some cream and sugar, combine the two, and the cooking is done. It can be made up to a day ahead, too, making it as ideal for an haute cuisine supper party as for the close of a cozy weeknight meal. Come serving time, simply unmold and garnish--that's it. If the crowd is large, recipes are easily doubled or tripled; if the occasion is intimate, simply halve the recipe. Since there is no baking involved, the proportions remain equivalent.Panna cotta is more than a dessert dream come true, too: it can also be a savory first course. Made from a combination of cream with vegetable purees, cheeses or fresh herbs, these panna cotte are in a class of their own in taste, style and presentation. And like their sweet siblings, savory panna cotte have the enticements of ease, style and sophistication.Within these pages, you will find 100 recipes celebrating panna cotta. The first five chapters offer a suite of sweets; the sixth, a baker's dozen of savory options. All are centered on ease of preparation, with flavors ranging from subtle to bold and everywhere in between, with plenty of innovative interpretations as well as tried and true classics.In addition, you'll also find recipes for myriad panna cotta accompaniments--sauces, gastriques, jams, syrups, fresh fruits, sugared rose petals, marrons glacés and more--that are as delectable and simple-to-assemble as the panna cotte themselves. Have fun mixing and matching flavors to create desserts or first courses that truly reflect your style and taste.So enjoy the charms of panna cotta, they are many, and may a plethora of these recipes will make their way into your dessert and first-course repertoire. With a flick of the whisk, Italy's elegant custard can be yours.