Recipe: Acacia panna cotta

Total time: 35 minutes, plus chilling time

Servings: 10

Note: Adapted from a recipe by Lucques pastry chef Breanne Varela. Acacia honey is available at Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica, Surfas in Culver City and some specialty grocery stores. Gelatin sheets are available at Surfas and baking supply stores. This recipe calls for 5-ounce ramekins or molds.

4 1/2 sheets of gelatin

3 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup acacia honey, plus extra for drizzling

1/4 cup crème fraîche

3 to 4 blood oranges

1. Fill a small bowl with ice water, and insert the gelatin sheets to allow them to soften for 2 to 3 minutes. In a medium saucepan, warm the cream, milk and three-fourths cup honey over medium heat until almost simmering. Remove from the heat.

2. Remove the gelatin sheets from the water, wringing out any extra moisture, and add them to the cream mixture. Stir constantly until the gelatin is dissolved.

3. In a large bowl, mix the crème fraîche with one-half cup of the warm cream mixture, stirring constantly, to temper. Add the remaining cream and stir well.

4. Spray 10 (5-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray. Divide the cream mixture between them. Allow to cool, cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate until completely set, preferably overnight.

5. To prepare the oranges for garnish, use a sharp knife to slice off the very top and bottom of each orange. Starting at the top and cutting downward along the curve of the fruit, remove the peel from the fruit, cutting away all of the pith, as well as the outer membrane. Then remove each segment from the fruit by cutting along the membrane between each section; place the segments in a small bowl.

6. Before serving, run a blunt-edged knife around the edge of each panna cotta and turn each ramekin upside down on an individual dessert plate. Gently shake until it releases (if the panna cotta does not release, dip the ramekins in simmering water before unmolding). Arrange several blood orange segments alongside the panna cotta and drizzle about one-half teaspoon of honey over each.

Each serving: 370 calories; 3 grams protein; 29 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 28 grams fat; 17 grams saturated fat; 101 mg. cholesterol; 38 mg. sodium.