Cream Puffs

Cream puffs with chocolate ...does that make them mini eclairs?

Apple Strudel

This week in baking class, we made apple strudel with pecan ice cream, honey sabayon, and almond nougatine.

The pecan ice cream really tempted me into considering buying an ice cream maker.

Pecan Ice Cream Recipe

16 fl oz. milk

16 fl oz. heavy cream

7 oz. sugar

1 oz. glucose syrup

¼ tsp. salt

1 vanilla bean pod

10 oz. egg yolks

A handful of pecans

1. Combine the milk, heavy cream, 3.5 oz of the sugar, the glucose syrup, the pecans, and the salt in a saucepan. 

2. Split the vanilla bean, scrap the seeds into the pan, add the pod, and bring the mixture to just a boil over medium heat. 

3. Remove from heat, cover the pan, and let steep for 5 minutes. 

4. Remove the vanilla pod and return the mixture to a simmer.

5. Meanwhile, blend the egg yolks with the remaining 3.5 oz sugar. 

6. Temper by gradually adding about one third of the hot milk mixture, whipping constantly. 

7. Return tempered egg mixture to the remaining hot milk in the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (180°F).

8. Strain the ice cream mixture into the ice cream bowl and follow manufacturer's instructions to make delicious pecan ice cream!

Dessert!

Hello again. It's been a while... but I have not forgotten about this blog. I have a pretty loaded schedule this semester, which does not allow much time for culinary pursuits. But my classes do include a cooking class and an advanced baking class with the lovely Julianne Bierwirth! Last night, my baking class made something so delicious I wanted to share it here. 

Feast your eyes on this!

This is two layers of chocolate cake and chocolate sabayon mousse (with a hint of delicious blackberry brandy in the mousse!), topped with a citrus cream, all enclosed by a dark chocolate cage, and plated with caramel sauce and dark chocolate crumbs.

Attempt #2

Edit: Yay, this second batch came turned out pretty well :D I made a lot so please come and feast on chocolate covered things

So yesterday's chocolate dipped strawberries came out okay... it tasted quite delicious (because it is chocolate and strawberries after all) but from a tempering standpoint, I didn't get the temperatures quite right, which resulted in a bit of blooming.

I went down to the Strip District to get some more strawberries today, and will be having some more dipping fun with those, as well as with almonds, pretzels, apricots, and whatever else I can scavenge in the kitchen.

I will also be trying my hand at brioche today =)

Strawberries...

...dipped in dark chocolate

I'll be dipping strawberries this evening. Come over and we can have a dipping party! Feel free to bring something to dip :D

Noodles and Rice

Sesame noodles with bok choy, red peppers, mushrooms, and snow peas (adapted from Adventures in Shaw)

Cucumber salad (recipe from Veggie Paradise)

[Sorry, no pics of this]

Black rice pudding with coconut milk (recipe from RecipeZaar)

I actually cooked all this yesterday evening for dinner with Eamae - who was visiting for the weekend - Caryn, and Krosendale. It was a lovely dinner with lovely people.

There's still some sesame noodles and plenty of black rice pudding (I made a huge batch) waiting to be eaten! They're both really good chilled, so it's perfect for a hot, lazy Sunday.