Sunday, March 27, 2011

HAPPY ACCIDENTS

As a girl I was captivated by simple things.  Not much has changed apparently because my kitchen faucet is leaking and it made me think to share these recipes based upon thoughts of splats.  Don’t ask. They’re all delicious though to be sure.
Cheese Crisps...
that’s what FOOD & WINE magazine calls these tasty little bits of cheese oops.  I made these on accident (I know you have also but we’re not talking about you are we? No, haha, so anywho...) when cheese leaked from something else I was preparing.  I kindly lifted them from the pan with my spatula and let them cool.  I served them as little food accessories and I thought they were pretty cool.  My guests did also and I never forgot them.  You try ‘em, ok.  On purpose. FOOD AND WINE did it like this:  http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/stovetop-mac-and-cheese-with-cheese-crisps


Brittle...

that’s what one gets when sugar cooks in an oiled, medium high heat pan until it browns.  You could have this happy accident in a pan sprayed with cooking spray (Pam) and then sprinkle it with walnuts, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds - you pick.  Then remove the beautiful browned sugar and seeds from your medium high heat pan and allow time to cool (10 minutes).  Crumble to size you find pleasing and sprinkle over something to fancy it up.  I do this over a lettuce salad.  No it’s not healthy but it is incredible to behold with your eyes and with your taste buds.   
You could also make little sugar discs and add to a scoop of ice cream for a gourmet touch.


Tuille Cookies

I know you have taken cookies too soon from the cookie sheet and they have melted like a sleepy baby from your spatula and then you let them cool some more.  What happens if you don’t?  Well you can shape them into culinary magic if you were so inclined... 
Do this with a really light cookie and you can shape a cone, a fortune cookie, a chip or crisp.  Sometimes I make these when people show up unannounced, they’re that quick and easy.  I drape the warm cookie over my rolling pin.  Here is a simple recipe for a light cookie but not as thin as the one pictured above.  Most closely matches the cookie shown in ice cream cake photo.  The cookies can be chocolate, with cocoa powder added, or vanilla.  Try something fun by piping chocolate into an initial or shape and then add the vanilla over the top.  The thin cookie spreads out on the cookie sheet so allow ample room.  Tuille cookie recipe.



Shown above are a Tuille Orange Lace Cookies  (recipe link)
Though I think the term cookie is generously bestowed here, they are still fun to make for your coffee, dieting friends or to have ala mode. 
 
The real magic of Tuille Cookies is that what you can do with them is infinite.  Trace into something sturdy, a simple shape. Lay the template on a silpat or cookie sheet and smear your tuille batter over it, then lift.  Bake your cookie and then shape it while it's still warm and you should have something insanely amazing.





PHOTO SOURCE:

Thursday, March 17, 2011

CONTROL YOURSELF

You ever have an off-hand remark stop you in your tracks?  I do on occasion, like today.  It's probably not a bad thing that I was frozen like a deer in headlights because it prevented what could have been a regrettable response.  Later, I thought about pulling the speaker of the astonishing remark aside and having a discussion but it occurred that she was entitled to her opinion so I just said to myself : Wow. When I'd said wow about 7 times I followed up with: "Enough of this.  I am going to keep the good of what she said and release the bad.  I am going to move on with the grace that she did not possess."  With that, the concern vanished.  Why am I telling you this?  Because sometimes we forget that we have control over our thoughts.  We don't have to go for the ride that our inner dialog can take us on.  These quotes inspire me, I hope you'll let them inspire you.  The calm mind is attainable.    



Remember that poise and power are inseparably associated. The calm and balanced mind is the strong and great mind; the hurried and agitated mind is the weak one.~ Wallace D. Wattles 
"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.~Marcus Aurelius


"Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears."
— 
Marcus Aurelius