Method
Cut hearts from puff pastry sheets using a heart shaped cutter. Place on a lined baking sheet. Brush with eggwash. Using a smaller heart shaped cutter, score pastry hearts, creating a 1/2 inch border around heart. Bake pastry hearts in a preheated oven for 10 - 15 minutes at 375 degrees F or until golden brown and puffy. Remove and cool.

Prepare pastry cream and combine with Grand Marnier, reserve. Trace border on cooled puff pastry hearts with a sharp paring knife. Remove center or press down to create a well in the pastry hearts. Dust with confectioner's sugar. Pipe or spoon pastry cream into the well of each pastry heart. Layer with strawberry halves, starting at the top and working down placing one strawberry half at the tip or bottom of the heart.

Drizzle with strawberry sauce or glaze. Place Strawberry Grand Marnier Hearts on serving plates. Garnish with whipped cream and mint sprigs.

Makes 4 servings

Chef Larry's Pastry Cream

Ingredients

Method
Prepare a double boiler (see Chef Larry's Notes). Heat 2 1/2 cups milk in the double boiler until steam rises from the surface. In a separate bowl combine remaining 1/2 cup milk and sugar. Sift in corn starch and whisk until well blended. Add eggs and whisk until all is combined. Remove milk from double boiler and gradually whisk in egg mixture. Return pan to double boiler. Cook whisking constantly over medium heat until mixture is smooth and thick.

Remove form heat and stir in vanilla. Transfer pastry cream to a bowl. Place plastic wrap over bowl and press onto surface. Refrigerate until use.

Makes 3 cups

Chef Larry's Notes
A double boiler is simply a sauce pan or pot with water that placed over direct heat. A stainless steel mixing bowl that fits snugly is placed over the pan creating a steam chamber. This double boiler technique is used for cooking or melting delicate items such as eggs for various sauces/creams and for chocolate.

Pastry cream is a staple in the pastry kitchen. It is used as filling for eclairs, napoleons and other pastries. A thick rich vanilla pudding may be substituted for the pastry cream. Grand Marnier is a premium orange flavored liquor. Puff pastry sheets are available in the frozen bakery section in the market.

Learn how to prepare more recipes with Chef Larry on 10News Morning and Midday.