Panna Cotta with Fresh Wild Berry Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 3-4 hours in the refrigerator

Serves: 4

Description
An easy dessert to make that is always a crowd-pleaser is panna cotta with fresh picked wild berries - the combination of the rich, creamy, vanilla panna cotta with with tart & tangy berry sauce drizzled atop is a perfect match.

Panna Cotta

 * 2 sheets of gelatin
 * scant ½ cup milk
 * 2¼ cups heavy cream
 * ½ cup sugar
 * 1 vanilla bean, slit lengthwise

Berry Sauce

 * 1 pint of your favorite berries or cherries
 * ¼ cup or less sugar (depending on sweetness of berries)
 * ¼ cup of water
 * optional - mint, lemon juice, lemon zest, etc.

Directions

 * 1) Fill a bowl with water, add the gelatin and let is soak.
 * 2) Pour milk into a pan and bring to just below simmering, then remove the pan from the heat.
 * 3) Do not let it boil.
 * 4) Drain and squeeze out the gelatin and add the milk.
 * 5) Pour the cream into another pan, add the sugar and vanilla bean and bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly.
 * 6) Immediately remove the pan from the heat, remove the vanilla bean and stir in the milk mixture.
 * 7) You can put the mixture into any kind of ramekin, mold, cup, you like.
 * 8) Rinse your 'glass' in ice-cold water, shaking out any excess water and fill with the milk mixture.
 * 9) Chill in the refrigerator for several hours until set (at least 3-4 hours).
 * 10) Turn out onto a serving dish and serve with fruit sauce or chocolate sauce.
 * 11) Put the berries, sugar and water in a pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the fruit breaks down and forms a syrup.
 * 12) Drizzle over the top of the panna cotta once on the serving plate.