Thursday, March 4, 2010
I see them everywhere.
On all my favorite blogs.
The one word almond meringue cookie sandwich that gives me goose bumps just thinking about.
Not macarOOn. M-A-C-A-R-O-N.
I’ve made them before with great results. I’ve even had my macaron recipe featured on (this) food website. I was pretty damn impressed with myself. But I let it all go to my head. I got cocky. So when the last Tuesdays With Dorie baking endeavor, the Toasted Coconut Tart, left me with 7 egg whites, I decided to challenge myself with making these finicky french confections again. I even laid down the gauntlet to all my TWD bakers. Some said they already made an omelet *cough MIKE cough* while others said they’d give it a shot with me. Check out how Miss Kate did (here) and Erin did (here). If any other TWD bakers made some macarons with me, please let me know!
But I should have known. Baking lesson #348960284: Nothing good can come of being cocky.
What did I do wrong?
I drew out my template.
I ground the almond meal, powdered sugar and dutch process cocoa in my food processor to a fine powder.
Then I sifted the almond meal, powdered sugar and dutch process cocoa. Twice!
I used 48 hour aged egg whites…
… and whipped those babies like I’ve never whipped before.
I slowly folded the cocoa mixture into the meringue.
Until it was the consistency of liquid magma.
I piped the macaron batter onto my pre-prepared parchment paper and let it develop a skin for about 30 minutes and then baked for about 15 minutes. But 2 batches later. AARRGGHHHH! Cracks and no feet.
Now it’s just a platter of chocolate meringue cookies on my dining table that no one wants to eat. Not even the dog. She sniffed them and walked away. I think I’ve hit a new low when the dog turns her nose up at them. I mean she eats out of the trash. I told you. New low.
I didn’t even bother to fill them.
Nothing could save those cookies from my contempt.
You may have won this battle, Mr. Macaron. But I’ll win the war. Mark my words. MARK IT!!
Score: Macaron-2 CB-1
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A little Street Fighter nostalgia for the fans out there. Indulge me a little. My brother and Husband were/are Street Fighter aficionados. When they get together, It’s like some secret code that I don’t know.
Down, Forward/Down, Forward, Punch.
Forward, Down, Forward/Down, Punch.
Down, Down/Back, Back, Kick.
(100 points to anyone who knows what who/what special move that is.)
What does that even mean?? I don’t speak Nintendoese. English please! All I do know is Chun Li had some scary quads. Truth.
Ok back to the business at hand.
Gather round readers.
I wanna introduce you to someone.
Her name is Melissa of My McDonald Meal or on twitter@melmcd99. I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends. Just like my last AAB newbie, Erin of Erin’s Food Files. She’s taken her blog and just ran away with it. I am so proud. *waving at Erin like a doting mama chicken*
I think I mentioned AAB before but just to refresh your memory.
Adopt-A-Blogger (AAB) is an awesome blog event created by Kristen of Dine And Dish. Basically the long and short of it is: Experienced bloggers (1+ years) are matched up with Newbie bloggers (<1 year) to share tips, tricks, hints, advice etc etc for 3 months. Isn’t that the coolest idea? Right now AAB is in its 4th year but this is my second time participating. I encourage all bloggers to participate. I'm a leader by nature (the strong and silent type) but I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I learn SO much from my newbie even though I'm suppose to be the "experienced" one. It's really what you make of it. A sentiment that I try to live my life by.
Melissa and I have been emailing back and forth since February when the matches came out and I suggested to get to know each other with some interview questions. Since I loved reading her answers I decided to post them on my blog. What better way to put her on the spot introduce her by asking what’s in her refrigerator RIGHT now…? HA!
Let’s get this party started.
1. Tell me a little about yourself. (Name, location, birthday, family etc)
I am Melissa McDonald and I live in the beautiful bluegrass state where the air smells like bourbon and the folks all great you with a smile. My birthday is June 20th and I am a year shy of a nice mid point birthday. I have been married for almost 11years to my dream come true. Cheesy but true! We have two creative and unique girls, 6 and 2ish. I cannot forget to mention our 12 year old family buddy, Jetta, part beagle-part whippet and the best traveled dog!
2. What food do you NOT eat?
Since I spent a lot of my late teen and early twenties as a vegetarian, and now consider myself a “flexitarian”, I stay away from pork, and any odd game. On occasion, I will eat beef but prefer to eat bison, we have a great local farm I like to support.
3. What is your comfort food?
Well if I must be honest, which I always am, I will let all know that chocolate and anything that may include this food would be my comfort food of choice.
4. What is your go-to cookbook?
That’s a hard question to answer. I love variety so instead of having a true “go-to” book, I have a collection. My Eating Well magazines are my number one choice then followed by the Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook that I won from SheWearsManyHats- before Christmas.
5. What is your favorite spice? Least favorite?
Fav-Garlic and cilantro! Least-Clove and nutmeg by itself.
6. Name 10 things in your frig RIGHT NOW.
Organic eggs, organic skim and soy milk, ground flax seeds, goat cheese, a block of firm tofu, beets, carrots, kale and unsalted butter.
7. Why did you start a food blog?
My other job, besides a mommy, is a Health Promotion Specialist with a major employer in town. So I wanted a way to promote healthy, fun family meal ideas. I want folks to see thay you can cook healthy fun meals at home instead of giving in to the “fast” food world. I also wanted a way to keep track of my recipes for my girls to use later. Many of my family and friends get after me for not writing down my crazy creations- now I have a way to do this and share to others.
8. How did you come up with your blog name?
Well- wanted something snappy and easy to remember. My McDonald Meal…my name and what you would see at our mealtimes.
9. What is your favorite can’t-live-without-it kitchen gadget?
Probably my awesome bamboo cutting board! And my “like-new” stand-up KA mixer. Can’t believe I have been baking this long without one.
10. What is your short term goals for your blog? Long term?
Short-term…to make my blog look more professional and easy to use. We just loaded CS3 and I’m ready to figure out the web graphics component- wish me luck!
Long-term…as long as I am reaching out to other people and showing them that it is do-able to lead a healthy life for you and your family, then I’ll be happy.
11. When and why did you start cooking?
My mom had me in the kitchen at a very early age. One of my first real cooking experiences was doing Cookie Monster’s chocolate chip cookie recipe from one of the Sesame Street volume books. As for why I cook now, it’s a stress reliever! There is something about chopping, stirring and of course tasting the foods and flavors.
12. What is one dish you would love to learn to cook?
Homemade pasta. I know it’s not that hard, but something just intimidates me about the whole recipe.
13. How do you see yourself in the future? Still blogging?
Yes, I do still see myself blogging. I would definitely like to make my blog a hit with lots of others. Maybe aim to win a few small scale awards. But honestly, I would love to turn this into a connection to my bakery. My ultimate dream is to open up my own organic bakery! Someday.
14. What is one food you hated as a kid but love now?
Cauliflower. It really wasn’t until the past few years that I finally found a way I enjoy it- roasted. I started cooking it more for my girls so they wouldn’t have the same problem. So far it’s working.
15. How have you gotten the word out about your blog?
Friends, co-workers and Twitter! But connecting with you through DineandDish has helped me even more! Thanks CB for picking me up.
16. Does your husband like to cook? If so, does he have a special dish?
My husband decided a longtime ago that he needed to have “his” dish. Something he would be known for. And after a few years of working on it, he finally found a great pizza dough recipe.
17. When you go out to dinner what would be your favorite type of cuisine?
Mine would be Indian or a small local vegetarian joint.
18. If you could go anywhere to study the foods of that country, where would you go?
I would chose Southern Italy for the wonderful Mediterranean cuisine.
19. What’s one of the favorite meals you grew up eating?
My mom’s baked/fried chicken with fresh green beans and corn on the cob. She also makes a great vegetarian chili.
20. What is one food item you make that is most requested from your family and friends?
Baked goods: White chocolate chip cranberry scones or cinnamon rolls.
Main course: spinach bean loaf.
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did. Do me a favor and show her some comment love.
Check out her blog for my interview answers (here).
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My dear readers, Before I give you the 411 on the above Tuesdays With Dorie weekly dessert, will you allow me to vent?? Not to sound ungrateful b/c I LOVE my new house but the natural lighting (or lack thereof) is driving me (coco)NUTS! I think I just need to bite the bullet and ask the lighting guys at Home Depot for help on how to add some OOMPH to my kitchen lights. Me thinks the builders probably didn’t spring for the mega wattage that I need for taking non-flash food photography. I swear I have photography envy these days. Le sigh… //end vent
This week the TWD bakers are tempering and whipping up some Coconut Custard Tart for your viewing pleasure hosted by Beryl of Cinemon Girl. You can find the recipe on her blog.
I was pretty excited for this one. Besides cake, I’m kinda smitten with my tart pan. Initially I was going to cut the recipe in 1/3 to make mini tarts but I threw caution (and my diet) to the wind and said “What the heck! I’m making the whole thing! FTW.”
What I learned this week:
FYI burned coconut actually doesn’t smell very good. Heed my warning! Don’t turn your back on those sneaky suckers or you might be spraying your house with Febreeze to get the smell out of your couch, pillows, hair, clothes, dog…
As much as I J’DORE my KitchenAid Mixer, it’s kinda nice to take breaks from our relationship now and then and use my food processor. It made mince meat out of all that buttah.
I may or may not have read Dorie’s instructions word for word when she said to break up the yolk and slowly add it to the food processor but rather just opted to drop he whole yolk blob in. *looking innocent*
This step right here is my favorite part of tart making: putting the dough in the tart pan. I never met a Sweet Tart Dough I didn’t like.
Look! I sifted the cornstarch into the sugar for the custard just like a good little recipe reader. But I need work on my egg yolk separating. Some yolks stayed blobs but other yolks broke and oozed through saucepan like the Nile through Sudan.
No matter. All their fates are the same. Blobs or ooze. They still temper the same. Since we don’t drink whole milk in my house (Hubs only likes fat free) I substituted with half-and-half. Not sure if it’s really a true substitution but it seemed to work out pretty good.
Before adding the butter, the custard looked kinda like soft scrambled eggs. I admit I started hyperventilating but what a difference adding some butter makes. Smooth as a baby’s butt. Not that you really wanna think about “butt” while you’re baking a tart but… (no homonym intended. HA HA!)
Look! I sifted the powdered sugar into the heavy cream like a good little recipe reader. Do 2 rights make a wrong right? I hope so.
I heart fresh made whipped cream. Although I have to admit, right before I added the toasted coconut to the custard I had reservations.
Look at that mound of whipped cream! Does it get any better than this?
Husband rating: A/A-
He had nothing but good things to say about this tart but I know it wasn’t an “A+” though b/c he didn’t ask for a second slice.
Wifey rating: A-/B+
I like coconut but in moderation. I knew I should have gone with my gut and omitted the toasted coconut from the custard. I liked it as a garnish on top of the whipped cream but I like my custards smooth and creamy and the chewy coconut bits distracted my taste buds. Oh… and I think I’m gonna have to get myself some whole milk. Custard was good but not as silky as I’ve had before using whole milk. Live and learn.
Next week: Thumbprints For Us Big Guys page 164
Saturday, February 27, 2010
My twin nieces came home on Thursday (FINALLY!) after a month long stay in the NICU. Hubs and I finally got to see them for the first time today. Since it’s my Hubs’ birthday tomorrow, he said seeing his nieces was the best birthday present he’s ever received. Aawww….
My Hubs was smitten the first moment he laid eyes on them. Just call him Uncle Sucker from now on b/c those girls are going to walk all over him.
But I suppose that’s what uncles are for… So it’s all good.
Allison. My BIL said she’s a good sleeper during the day but a screamer at night. Good times.
Three generations. Hubs holding Whitney (L). Hubs’ mom holding Whitney (R).
Whitney. My BIL says that she is a good sleeper at night and she’s bright eyed during the day.
Me holding Allison. (Notice the iPhone on my lap. It’s never out of my sight.)
Hubs’ taking pictures of me holding Allison in mid tweet. Multitasking at its finest! (L). Allison has the tiniest hands and fingers but a very firm grip! (R)
Hubs and Whitney. I’m swooning.
Me holding Allison. I love how Hubs is cradling her head. *heart flutter*
I felt many different emotions seeing them for the first time. Joy, anxiety, happiness, nervousness and an overwhelming desire to nurture, protect and sing a lullaby. It’s amazing how quickly that instinct kicks in. They are the MOST BEAUTIFUL babies I’ve ever seen.
I’m sure all aunts feel that way about their nieces, eh?
But mine really ARE the most beautiful. Yup. It’s a fact. Just ask Snopes.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
(Source)
I’m feeling strange emotions right now. I’m actually a little dizzy. And I need to clear my head.
When I need to clarify my thoughts. I write them down.
Readers, don’t you feel special you get to read my innermost thoughts. Or maybe not. I aint gonna lie. Sometimes I’m a pretty selfish individual. Like now.
I just found out via Facebook (talk about impersonal) that an old high school friend is pregnant. We use to be very close friends. Best friends. I remember when I use to eat dinner with her family more than my own. But as time does for many of my relationships. We grew apart. Only Facebook is keeping us in each others’ lives. But even our wall conversations had become pretty generic these days.
A little something you probably didn’t know about me. I am TERRIBLE at the friendship game. I’m very reserved, shy and enjoy my ME time. Why do you think I rarely go to blogger conventions or book signing or Martha Stewart’s show or other foodie related activities? I’d rather be on a computer. I get the interactions I crave but none of the friend/social networking responsibilities.
So it doesn’t surprise me that I just found out about her being 21 weeks pregnant about 5 minutes ago. What reason did she have to email me or call me personally to tell me when she initially found out? None really. I’m beyond happy for her and her husband. But I can’t help feeling sad. And a little… envious.
(Source)
I’m surrounded by preggo friends and family. I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count how many ppl I know are pregnant, just had a baby, trying to have a baby etc etc. Something big and new and exciting is happening to them. Their life is changing. While here I am trying to be content with my life not changing. I really shouldn’t complain. My life not changing is purely by my choice. I’ve always known that I didn’t want kids. I’m just not “mom” material.
But the newest pregnant friend revelation makes me think I kinda wanna drink the water.
It’s for all the wrong reasons though.
Which reminds me yet again that I am way too IMMATURE to have children.
Catch 22.
It’s ok. I know what you’re thinking. You’re a horrible selfish person, CB. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (Scroll up.) I’m glad I didn’t let you down.
What’s a child-less wanna-be entrepreneur to do?
Bake of course! Maybe after a few brownies in my belly I’m sure to be the happy go-lucky anti-mom you always knew and loved.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to call me selfish in comments. I know I deserve it.
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