TWD: Floating Islands

OK, I've been singing "Islands in the Stream" since I saw that this was the recipe for this week. (Man, I love Dolly!) Shari from Whisk: A Food Blog selected this week so I blame her that my coworkers are totally annoyed with me. Maybe they would have been less annoyed if I had made a treat for them this week. Unfortunately, I did not. The whole dessert seemed like a textural challenge for me. So, I'm passing.

If you want to see how Floating Islands are done, hop on over the Shari's site. She has the BEST photography.

Then, make sure and check out the TWD blogroll and show the other kitchen wizards some love.

Also, I have a totally 3rd grade joke that could go with this post. It's bad. But, if you want to hear it leave a comment and maybe I'll post it.

Amano y Amano

A really long time ago, I was selected as a lucky duck winner of two amazing bars of Amano chocolate from Blake Makes (a totally awesome food blog). Amano sent me the bars and well I just had to tell you guys about them.

First, let me state that I am a complete moron and took no pictures of the actual chocolate. I figured the Superbowl was a perfect time to let the chocolate duke it Amano y Amano. So, I let our Superbowl guests share the goodness. I guess I picked an appropriate day to share because once I put out the 4 oz of dark deliciousness, it was like penetrating my own defensive line just to get a nibble, much less a photo.

Anyway, here's the summary of our analysis:

Handcrafted Madagascar Dark Chocolate (70% Cocoa)
Definite citrus flavors, smooth and buttery, tangy

Handcrafted Jembrana Dark Chocolate (70% Cocoa)
Sweet, mild coffee flavors, super yummy!

I would love to use this amazing chocolate in a recipe. But, I am glad that we were able to taste it just as it was in order to really savor it. Head over to Amano and order yourself some. It's worth it!

A lifetime of food memories

On a recent trip to visit the hub's grandparents, I snapped this quick photo of Grandma's recipe box. (Isn't it cute?!)





Doesn't it just look full of yummy-to-my-tummy home cooked recipes? I wonder what food memories are filed away in that box. Hubs and I have only been married since July 2007 but I hope as time goes by, I'll get to experience a good number of those food memories, too. So fun!

I'm such a sentimental sap!

TWD: You want a peace of this?!?

This week's TWD recipe was selected by the lovely and talented Jessica of Cook Book Habit. She selected the most adorably named treat, World Peace Cookies. You can find the recipe on her site.


The cookies were a snap to mix up but I did have trouble forming the "log" required to slice and bake. I ended up forming said log with the help of wax paper lined drinking glasses and that worked OK but not great. It really didn't matter because the dough was so crumbly that I ended up smooshing it together between my palms anyway.

Despite the unique shape of my cookies – hey no one said Peace came in a perfectly round shape! – they tasted amazing and had that perfect salty sweet combination required by tastebuds the world over. The hubs felt that they went particularly well with vanilla ice cream and he did let out the most peaceful sigh once he'd scarfed his ice cream cookie concoction down. And if that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does!

Don't forget to check out the TWD blogroll and see how the other peace keepers fared this week.

Next week, floating islands. (Yeah, I don't know what that means, either!! Can't wait to give it a try!)

Bummer times, man

This week, my work issued layoff notices to 14 people. I still have a job but I feel so bad for those who were affected that I don't really feel relieved.

I really hope the CA big wigs get their acts together soon so the cities don't become worse off. A $42 billion shortfall is beyond ridiculous, CA!!And by the way, I can't wait to get my IOU for my state tax refund. I bet if I owed CA a few hundred bucks, I would get into deep doodoo for sending Arnold an IOU. He'd probably terminate my a$$ or something.

Ugh. I'm cranky.

Still here!

I haven't forgotten you all. No excuses, just no time. I will be back by the end of this week with some twd catch ups and some updates.

Happy humpday!
-Rachel

Shaky

I think I just felt my first earthquake!

UPDATE: Yep! It was a 5.0 near San Bernardino. I hope no one was hurt but I am glad I finally felt one.

TWD: French Pear Tart - AKA the day my taste buds danced

I hope you are wearing your Tuesday best, dear reader. We have company today. ::whispering:: You know, the fancy kind. ::clearing throat:: Now, go wash your face and put on a skirt. Dorie's in town!

Yes, Ms. Bakey McBakerson herself chose this week's recipe and leave it her to pick a gosh darn winner and one that is perfect to serve to company. You can find the full recipe on her site or in her amazing book, Baking From My Home to Yours.

This week, TWD celebrates one year of baked fresh weekly goodies. I joined on Feb 19 and have been getting my bake on ever since!

::TWD high five, ya'll::

This week's recipe, French Pear Tart, seemed pretty overwhelming at first glance: a crumby crust filled with fresh almond cream topped with poached fruit and baked until golden bubbly?! Whoa.

Then I remembered that I've made the crust before as well as the cream. The only new thing was poaching the pears which if I totally bombed, I could pretend I never tried and go with canned instead. Well, no fake-outs needed here. I poached those babies and they were delicious!

Poaching pears

The recipe did take a bit of time but hey, what are holiday weekends for? Between the tarts and the amazing tacos I made, I think I spent about 8 hours in the kitchen on Sunday. Well, it was all totally worth it!

I didn't have the right size tart pan so I used mini tart pans instead. I made four and had a bit of dough left over. I should have had some cream left over but I spooned it all in and the pans overflowed onto the baking sheet a bit. Oh well! I suppose that's why Dorie suggested using it. She is such a smartie.

After I made the crusts and cream and poached the pears, I was ready to assemble. I couldn't decide what design to make with my pears so I varied it on all four tarts. Like I mentioned above, the pans bubbled over but that part just came right off and no one was the wiser.

The final result was that the tarts all looked cute and the one I ate was really tasty - not too sweet, just a bit nutty, perfectly poached (if I do say so myself) and delicious!

I will most definitely make this one again. Now, head over to the TWD site, click the links and show my fellow bakers some appreciation. (They could use a foot rub, too!)

This week's song is T A R T (L-O-V-E) by Nat King Cole

T is for the way you taste to me

A is for the almond cream I need

R is really, really extraordinary

T is totally more than any tart that you've adored

treats are all that I can give to you

tarts are more than just dessert for two

tart in tummies (yum!) can make it

burn my tart and I'll hog the blankets!

tarts were made for me and you

Ok I changed my mind

I decided I am making a new years resolution. I am going to unsubscribe to all the random email lists I have gotten myself on over the years. Once a week, I sort my inbox by sender and delete a frillion emails from bluefly, American airlines, old navy, the tyra banks show (never even seen it!!), bankrate, and about two dozen more senders that I never even open!

No more! I resolve to take a moment to unsubscribe and rid my self of junk email, once and for all!

Whew. That felt good. Now if only I could stop signing up for online contests...
-Rachel

Happy New Year!

Howdy and Happy 2009!

Whew. The last few weeks have been busy, very busy. I've started about 10 updates but haven't finished them. Ugh. So much for starting a new year with a clean slate (though I am starting with a 'do!). Oh well, I'll get to the updates when I can. In the mean time, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.

TWD: Cheesecake!

This week's TWD recipe, chosen by AnneStrawberry was Dorie's Basic Cheesecake. I've never made a cheesecake before and I was really nervous. I mean, cheesecake is like the dessert, in my opinion. It is either really really good, or not good at all.

Thankfully, despite a few minor glitches, my cheesecake turned out amazing! (If I do say so myself.) Not too sweet, tall and creamy with a crumbly crust - a perfect blend of all things amazing. My most obvious blunder was wrapping just the bottom of the springform pan with foil instead of wrapping the entire pan with foil. Ooops! Thankfully my cake wasn't full of water - like some of the other TWD bakers who did the same thing. Oh, how I wish I had taken photos of the beautiful top and the suprisingly even crust level on the side!

Also, there is a huge hint in this photo as to one of my surprises under the tree this year. I nearly died from shock! I'll be writing a whole post on the holidays - so stay tuned.

Thanks a bunch to AnneStrawberry for choosing the recipe which you can find on her site. I've really enjoyed being a part of TWD this year and look forward to another year of "baked fresh weekly" goodies.

ANNND! Next week's recipe was chosen by our baking goddess. Yes, DORIE chose next week's recipe for us to bake. You'll just have to tune in next Tuesday to see what it is and if I mastered it.

(Click here for my explanation of TWD)

Now, I leave you with this week's song - inspired by my springform pan which didn't want to release my cheesecake:

Mercy (Cheesecake) by Duffy

i love you

and i gotta stay true

your aroma's got me on my knees

im begging please

stop playing games

i dont know what this is
cos you got me good

just like you knew you would
i dont know what you do

but you do it well

I’m under your spell

You got me begging you for cheesecake

why wont you release it

you got me begging you for cheesecake

why wont you release it

I said release it

Now you think that i

would drizzle something on the side

but you got to understand

that i need a treat

that can shine while plain

yes i do

i dont know what this is

cos you got me good
just like you knew you would

i dont know what you do
but you do it well
I’m under your spell

You got me begging you for cheesecake
why wont you release it
you got me begging you for cheesecake
why wont you release it
I said release it

Im begging you for cheesecake

why wont you release it

im begging you for cheesecake
you got me begging

you got me begging

you got me begging

Cheesecake, why wont you realise it

im begging you for cheesecake

why wont you release it
you got me begging you for cheesecake

im begging you for cheesecake

im begging you for cheesecake

im begging you for cheesecake

im begging you for cheesecake

Why wont you release it yeah yeah

break it down

This made my day!

This! (Though, I am not sure this is a real CHURCH choir...)

It reminded me of my favorite movie of the year, Young at Heart. It's in my top 5 of all time. You should see it!

TWD: There ain't no way!

Um, hi. I will not be able to blog about this week's recipe until at LEAST this weekend. Thankfully, we have a bit of leeway this month or I'd be in deep doo-doo with the TWD gods. ::waving at CB, Nikki, and Laurie!::

Anyway, I am making these cookies. You guys just won't hear about them until I have a chance to write up something special, mkay.

PS - I know I have a few new readers so in case you are wondering, TWD means "Tuesdays with Dorie." It's an online baking club where all the members (400 or so) all bake the same recipe and blog about it on Tuesday. The recipes chosen from Dorie Greenspan's Baking from My Home to Yours. If you don't own it, you should get it ASAP. Even the most challenging recipes seem easy peasy coming from Dorie.

OK bye bye for now! Have a great rest of the week everyone. And just for kicks -- here's a little something for you - it's only the best non-religious Christmas song ever!

Do you believe in love at first site?

I do.

You should know that I was very tempted. But, thankfully, I remembered that it is the time for giving to others. Well, that and the fact that I live in San Diego and could probably wear it for three weeks (or less) a year. Oh, but what a fabulous three weeks it would be!

Stop tempting me cozy knits!! Seriously.

Merry Christmas to me!

Look what arrived today!? I purchased this little cutie from Creative Jen and I love it! The monkeys are a lot bigger than I expected but I think I like it better that way.

Now my wreath matches some of my other Christmas decor:

This cutie ornament was made by my friend April. She's the craftiest person I know. Seriously.

Off to monkey around, ya'll!

I have a huge TWD follow up post coming but am not quite finished with it. Stay tuned!

Twd linzer sable

Gorge!
-Rachel

Twd

Too busy to finish blog tonight. Song and scoop manana!xoxo
-Rachel

TWD: Linzer Sables

Hi. If you are looking for Linzer Sables, you'll have to come back next week. I hoped to bake up the delicous cookies but I have a terrible cold and I am a big snotty mess. I figured no one would want to eat treats prepared by germy mcgermerson so I'll take a pass and hopefully double up next week, just in time for work holiday potlucks!

This week's selection was courtesy of Dennis from Living the Life, so go check out his page and see what he concocted. (He also has the recipe posted or you can find it in Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours.) Also, don't forget to visit the blogroll at TWD to see what sables the other 400 members baked up this week.

I'll be back next week with cookies and at least one new song!

Good night and ACHOOOO!

Door update

The (farting) door has been oiled. I'll keep you posted on any funny business coming from the hinges.

Twd update

My coworkers are raving about the pie!

And, apologies to Vibi for saying you live in France. I read your bio on twd site way too late last night!

Enjoy your day, everyone. I'm just working away and dreaming of stuffing.
-Rachel