Friday, September 26, 2008

Most Popular


Creme Brulee has got to be one of the most popular up-market restaurant desserts. This elegant custard is offered by Mari of Mevrouw Cupcake who is a dedicated baker with the Tuesdays With Dorie group.


Enjoy with a glass of champagne or something bubbly.


Candied orange peel is scattered across the bottom of the ramekin. This citrus flavor is added to the crunch of the caramel and the smoothness of the custard.


Vanilla paste creates flecks and flavor in the custard. It's o.k. to be shallow. Not too much custard to get in the way with the crack of the caramel.


Although not baked in the usual water bath, texture is still smooth and creamy. An even dusting of sugar before the flame.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Simple Dimple


Early fall is the time for plum desserts. Our Tuesdays With Dorie selection is Dimply Plum Cake offered by Michelle from Bake-En.


This is the kind of cake to have a girlfriend over for a cup of coffee and catch up on what's what and who's who. It was fairly straightforward and easy to assemble.


To prepare the cake, I paid a visit to the Union Square Farmers' Market to search for plums. I wanted to find local plums.


Dorie (and my mother) suggest Italian plums, so search I did.


I found Italian Plums from New York State's Stone Arch Farms. A friendly farmer, offered a sample.


Plums seem to sweeten once they are picked. Left out in the sun the flavor is concentrated and become prunes.


This cake did not last long. It was so good and vanished in a day.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Another Cookie


The Tuesdays With Dorie book club is on to another cookie. Claudia from Fool for Food selected Chocolate Chunkers. A cookie with pedigree!


The cookie is an alluring array of chocolates. This flavor eruption blends together SIX types of chocolates that were already in the pantry; Valrhona cocoa powder, Trader Joe's bittersweet and unsweetened chocolate, Santander, a current favorite in semi-sweet, Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips, and Lindt white chocolate chopped into chunks.


It is studded with peanuts and raisins. Scoop, chill and bake.


Unfortunately, it is rather turd like in looks, however it is pretty delicious.


I guess appearances can be deceiving.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Whopper!


It's not a malted milk shake, but better. This cookie is crunchy, chocolaty, chewy and delicious.


The weekly Tuesday With Dorie assignment is Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops.


It was pretty easy to assemble, the hard part was finding Whoppers. Why is it that when asking for Whoppers, you get a dopey reaction that we're not Burger King?


Whoppers, a classic kid and movie candy.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Cookie



After Labor Day, it's Tuesday With Dorie and the week ahead is a busy one.




U.S. Open tennis, getting ready for back to school and the usual household and administrative stuff that needs attention after a summer out of the city.


Still, there is time to make cookies. I miss them. TWD has combined peanut butter, oatmeal AND chocolate chips.


What a combo.