easy valentine dessert

From 2000-2008 there was a dessert show on the Food Network called Sweet Dreams hosted by pastry chef Gale Gand. One of the recipes she prepared was vanilla panna cotta, which translated from Italian is cooked cream.

---

As I hadn't made it in so long, I forgot how extremely easy it is to make. There is just heavy cream, a vanilla bean, sugar and gelatin in the recipe. I purchased my organic vanilla beans at Wegmans, 2 for $7.99 in the Nature's Marketplace section. Gale's recipe also included a recipe for satin chocolate sauce, but since I had a time crunch, I merely decorated the plate with some store bought sauce. 

You'll find the panna cotta is dense, has a creamy, satiny smooth feeling on the tongue. There's just enough sugar to make it sweet, but not cloying. I served my panna cotta with some blueberries. Although I made my panna cotta in mini ramekins, you could also use custard cups. Enjoy!