July 2nd, 2008
There’s nothing like finding one of these in your inbox to make you feel middle aged.
I ignored my 5th, 10th and 15th reunions. I seriously doubt I’ll go to this one. Maybe I’ll go five or ten years from now. You know, when I actually feel old enough to attend my 20th high school reunion.
June 29th, 2008
I too had a hard time believing that I, of all people, was making a pastry this past month but darn it all if I did.
I didn’t deviate too much from the original recipe, which you can find linked below, though cardamom is not easily found in my area so I used all-spice instead. Also, I added some almond and lemon extract into the dough for some zing. For filling I used a raspberry puree I made (with lemon juice and a bit of peel) and sweetened cream cheese (cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice).
After the break are a few pictures I took while “building” the braid. Even though this recipe was extremely easy to follow, it takes a certain amount of dedication to make as far as time goes.
June 29th, 2008
If you had told me a month ago I’d be making my own puff–well, technically yeasted and laminated–pastry dough, I would have told you that you were nuts, and not in that good toasted pine nuts in fresh pesto kind of way. But thanks to the Daring Bakers’ June challenge, I not only made my own dough from scratch, I filled it, braided it, and ultimately made two scrumptious Danish braids: one sweet with rhubarb and orange, one savory with spinach paneer. I even used the techniques I’d learned in a cheese making class I took a month ago at our local version of a Whole Foods store, the Good Food Store, and made my own fresh paneer. Danish dough, for those who don’t know, is a pastry dough (the recipe for the challenge is available here). If you’ve ever bitten into a bear claw or a Danish (uh, duh) first thing in the morning, you know that buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Now get yourself some coffee–after all, pastries go well with a cup of joe–and check out these photos.
There’s a close-up of my spinach paneer Danish braid. Out of all the possible fillings of Danish dough, I chose spinach paneer because a) I really, really wanted to make a savory braid and b) I thought the spices in spinach paneer (turmeric, ginger, cumin, coriander, red pepper) would go well with the orange and cardamom in the dough. I knew it was a great recipe; as I mentioned earlier, I made it a month earlier in a cheese making class.
I sprinkled slivered almonds on both Danish braids for decoration.
But the rhubarb and orange braid sparkled with the addition of turbinado sugar.
How did they taste? I had a heck of a time staying out of the rhubarb and orange filling before my Danish braid went into the oven. (I cooked both it and the spinach paneer before I put them on the rolled-out dough. They were delicious enough to be dishes on their own even before being wrapped in delicate pastry.) The fruit was simply the filling from the rhubarb pie recipe in my mom’s super groovy 1967 edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook: three cups of sliced fresh rhubarb, the zest of one orange, sugar. Once baked, the rhubarb and orange braid didn’t rise as high as I’d hoped, but it was so, so good. Everyone (my sister and her family were visiting Montana from the San Francisco Bay Area that week) loved it; it was consumed in two days…
…washed down with plenty of hot, fresh, strong coffee, of course.
As for the spinach paneer braid, I hoarded kept it for myself. ‘Nuff said.
June 28th, 2008
Half a year ago (I know, I can’t believe it either) I issued a challenge to my friend Chris. At the time I thought I read a book a week. I was slightly wrong. We’re nearing the end of week 26* and according to my list, I’ve read 38 books so far this year. Again with the sketchy math skillz here, but I’d say that’s an average of one and a quarter books each week. That’s pretty good for someone who’s not housebound or unemployed, because, believe it or not, I do get off my couch and go outdoors from time to time. Not that you would know it by looking at me.
When I started this I said I wasn’t going to write any reviews of my picks, but I did want to share my favorites. These are the books that held me spellbound, unable to pick up the phone or get any sleep at night until I finished them.
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. This was both hilarious and terrifying. Hilarious because I work with these people. Terrifying because, well, I work with these people.
Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris. Pictures completely satisfied two of my passions; I’m a bookworm and a movie buff.
Richard Price’s Lush Life. Whew. I didn’t want this rush to end. I think I should put The Wire in my Netflix queue.
Mudbound, one hell of a debut novel by Hillary Jordan. I finished it in just a few hours, and I was so engrossed I never glanced at the clock once.
Right now I’m halfway through a 500 page history of Depression-era crime and the creation of the modern FBI. Waiting on my nightstand is a comedy about Russian immigrants that comes highly recommended by a good friend. After that, I should start July’s book club pick. I’ve also got several books on hold at the public library. Yes, it looks like it’s going to be a busy summer. So excuse me–I need to get back on that couch.
*My math skills are lacking**, but this seems about right if there’s 52 weeks in a year.
**Hell, I consider myself lucky if I can balance my checkbook at the end of the month.
June 22nd, 2008
I know I’m a week late to the party, but this…
With gas prices escalating, sales are growing. One Segway dealer identified as one of its top five in the U.S. — Riva Motorsports of Pompano Beach, Fla. — sold almost 200 in 2006, 250 in 2007 and 175 in the first five months of 2008, said Riva spokesman Matt Sermarini. “Anything that seems to be economical on fuel or doesn’t use fuel at all, people are definitely researching and buying,” Sermarini said.
…is ridiculous. For five grand, the able bodied could buy more than one bicycle for their household, saving both gas and money. Besides, I know I’m not the only person who, when I see a Segway, is immediately reminded of this guy:
Commuting to work is annoying enough without becoming a punchline on some blog.
June 21st, 2008
Easy because I’m adding two twists to Patia’s meme: I’m going to list seven CDs–not songs–and I’m not going to tag anyone. I couldn’t tell you what songs I’m playing over and over these days (even though I do that from time to time, especially when I get a new CD). Instead I’m giving you a glimpse into my daily life: the seven CDs in my car, the music I’m listening to every day this week. As for tagging others, it’s summer. Everyone’s out and about enjoying the sunshine, including the person who tagged me. Hell, I was out there too until I discovered this meme.
So. There.
Seven CDs I’m Listening to Now:
Cowboy Junkies, Miles from Our Home
J.J. Cale, Naturally
Louis Prima, The Wildest
The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
Jamiroquai, Synkronized
Morphine, Like Swimming
Louis Jordan, The Best of
Come to think of it, I was listening to two of those CDs ten years ago.
Seven CDs I Was into Ten Years Ago:
Morphine, Like Swimming
Cowboy Junkies, Miles from Our Home
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook, Night Song
Billy Bragg & Wilco, Mermaid Avenue
Al Green, Let’s Stay Together
Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot
Ernest Ranglin, Below the Bassline
If anyone cares to jump in, be my guest. The water is fine, extra towels are on the bench, and there’s a pitcher of margaritas in the shade under the umbrella.
June 20th, 2008
I’m thinking of joining a union, one that could really make use of my talents….
What do you guys think?
May 28th, 2008
I’m sure I audibly gulped when I learned the Daring Bakers‘ May challenge. Opera cake. If you click on that link and read the recipe it looks overwhelming. It’s six layers of pure decadence: almond cake soaked in a flavored syrup, buttercream frosting, rich ganache and a chocolate glaze. There was a hitch, though. We could not use the traditional complementary flavors of chocolate and coffee. Instead, we had to choose something light in both flavor and color, something that went with the season, something that said, with a great big “mmmmm…”, spring.
I made a strawberry and lemon opera cake.
I didn’t make my cake all in one day. I worked on one or two of the layers over four evenings. The first night, I sliced four pints of strawberries. I then added the juice and zest of one Meyer lemon and 2/3 of a cup of sugar to the berries. The resulting tart strawberry juice became the base for my syrup and glaze two days later. Then I made a lemon buttercream; in place of espresso powder and a vanilla bean, I used the zest and juice of another Meyer lemon to flavor the frosting. The buttercream did not thicken right away. Until I refrigerated it over night and re-beat it in a chilled stainless steel bowl I had quite a bit of lemon curd.
The joconde–almond cake–looks tricky, but so long as you have the right tools (two mixing bowls, two jelly roll pans, plenty of eggs, almond meal) it’s a breeze. I would make it again as part of another dessert. If it’s sturdy enough, it would make a great holiday treat: a jelly roll filled with chestnut cream and topped with chocolate ganache.
Believe it or not, assembly was a snap. As part of the Daring Baker challenge, we were allowed to save some money and time and omit the second layer from the top, a chocolate mousse or ganache. I took them up on this and divided my buttercream frosting into thirds. I soaked each layer of joconde in the strawberry lemon juice I made earlier in the week, evenly spread a thin layer of lemon buttercream on top of the cake, dotted the frosting with the sliced strawberries, and repeated these steps until I had three alternating layers of strawberry lemon goodness. The last layer of a traditional opera cake is a chocolate glaze. To the remainder of the strawberry lemon juice I added a packet of gelatin. This homemade strawberry lemon jello became my glaze. While it was still in a liquid state, I carefully spooned it on top of my opera cake.
I’m sure you’re wondering, “So? How’s the cake?” Well…
It was so good I had to get it out of the house. After I had a slice or two myself, of course.
