Capi Peck
Trio's
Yields 12 servings
Crunch:
2 c. walnuts
1 ½ c. toffee bits
3 T. packed dark brown sugar
1/4 t. salt
2 T. butter, melted
Mousse:
4 c. chilled heavy cream, divided
1 ½ c. sugar
10 egg yolks
2 ½ c. canned pumpkin
4 T. dark rum
2 ½ t. vanilla
1 ½ t. cinnamon
½ t. ground ginger
½ t. ground nutmeg
½ t. salt
¼ t. ground allspice
Preheat oven to 350o. Line a sheet pan with foil and grease foil.
For crunch, toss nuts, toffee bits, sugar and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Add butter and toss to coat. Place mixture in center of prepared sheet pan; pat to a single layer. Bake at 350o until toffee bits are soft but hold their shape,, about 15 minutes. Cool crunch completely on sheet pan. Transfer to work surface; chop coarsely. Set aside.
For mousse, whisk 1 ½ cups of the heavy cream with the sugar and egg yolks in heavy saucepan to blend. Stir over medium-low heat until thickened to pudding consistency, about 10 minutes (DO NOT BOIL). Whisk often! Transfer mixture to large bowl. Mix in pumpkin, rum, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt and allspice. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
Beat remaining 2 ½ c. heavy cream an electric mixer until cream holds peaks. Set aside 1 c of the whipped cream for garnish. Cover and chill. Fold remaining whipped cream into pumpkin mixture. Cover and refrigerate mousse at least 4 hours or up to 1 day.
Choose either a pretty glass bowl or individual parfait glasses. Layer 1/3 cup mousse and generous T. crunch. Repeat 2 more times (some crunch may be left). If necessary, whisk reserved ½ cup whipped cream to soft peaks. Garnish with whipped cream, a very light sprinkle of cinnamon and frosted cranberries if desired.
For the Frosted Cranberry option:
2 T. water
1 T. pasteurized egg whites
12 oz. fresh cranberries
1 c. sugar
Stir water and egg whites together. Coat cranberries with this mixture. Spread berries on sheet pan and roll in sugar. Let dry at room temperature for 2 hours.
