Welcome back! School started, we have a refreshing breeze filling the house since the weather cooled off a bit (for this week at least). You know what that means, don't you? Or, maybe you don't since this is the end of my first hot weather baking respite. I just couldn't get anything baked; In fact, I just couldn't do anything this summer.
What's the deal? I've been working, going to school, being a mom and wife, and keeping a blog semi-regularly for a couple years now. Yet, as soon as my schedule empties a bit, I can do nothing more than the bare minimum here around the house. Didn't get any of my summer to-do list done.
But, alas, since I now have 2 or 3 jobs going, school has started up along with piano, scouts, and church activities, I was able to make the souffle for this week. Here it is.
I was able to get a piece, but my daughter really loved this, so we reserved it for her. Yummy. I really liked it chilled. Wish it had some fresh raspberry sauce with it. Ooooohhhhh!
TWD: Chocolate Armagnac Cake & the 4's.
Posted by Janet Labels: cake, chocolate, cognac, prunes, twd
I mentioned before in my blogs how I can be brilliant. Now, I am not an arrogant person who can't stop talking about my accomplishments. Instead, I think my own brilliance is such an anomaly that I can't help but talk about it when it surfaces.
So, last week when I went to work, I was stopped at the door by my boss who told me I was reassigned to a class that was legendary for their loud noise and inability to be tamed by a teacher. My sweet little 2's and 3's that I so lovingly tamed and taught were handed over to new teachers and I was thrown to the four-year-old wolves. And, I admit, they chewed on me for a few days, despite my defensive tactics.
But then today...today came. I decided this morning that I was up for this. After all, I've been trained by my own son, who takes the blue ribbon for his stubborn, inability to comply. The boy and I have survived each other for 6 years and are both better people for it. So, these kids can't possibly knock me off my game.
I went to work with an icy heart, ready to deny all requests and restrict all freedoms.Just so you know, this class is full of great kids- truly. It's my job to harness the great and diminish the not-so-great. Well, the most outstanding not-so-great habit in this class is tattling. No student in that class can move without someone tattling on them. These kids love to tattle so much that they make tattles up, just to hear themselves talk. So today...they met "The Tattlebox." In one short day, the tattlebox has completely changed the dynamics of this class. I redirect these kids to the tattlebox and they stood in an orderly clump waiting their turn to draw a picture of whatever offense to put into the tattlebox. I counted 23 tattles in 2 hours. One kid just stuck in a drawn picture of a dog...whatever that means. Was he called a dog or someone stuck their tongue out like a dog, maybe? In any case, they were not able to distract me or anyone from the teaching that I was trying to do. Amazing thing, that tattlebox. I suggest one for every home. Now, if I can just get them to sit on the carpet...
So, the CACake. Love it!!! I was apprehensive (like most) about the prunes, the liquor, the whole flambe scenario. But, TWD is hard to keep up with since I go to class 2 nights a week right now. So, I knew I needed to push onward. And, I am so glad I did. I used a small bottle of cognac that I got at the ABC store for $3. Plumped and fired-up the prunes. I wasn't sure whether or not to mush the prunes, so I did. I wish now I had gone ahead and made the chunks a bit finer.
Something about the harshness of the bittersweet chocolate with the sweet fruity taste is really delicious. I wish the glaze were a bit sweeter (semisweet, maybe), but I love the whole she-bang. Glad I have some left for dessert tonight, in fact.
So, I have learned that I am at my most brilliant when I am baking and when I am in the shower. I come up with solutions that I've been seeking for days or weeks. My internal prose is musical and delightful in composition. I am able to express emotions elegantly and concisely. But, as soon as I put down the frosting wand or crank the shower knob to off, I lose it. All of it. And then my words revert back to bland and my thought-processes return to that old, tired box.
So, getting to the TWD cake. I don't know (yet) how good it tastes. I got it finished in the nick-of-time before I head out of the kitchen this Tuesday evening. It looks pretty good and I love when there are chocolate chips in the chocolate batter. I'm not sure about the marshmallow frosting (it's a little sickening-sweet to me), but I know Jim and kiddos will think it's swell (high praise during the Brady Bunch days of my childhood). I know I was sweating bullets wondering if the sugar syrup would get up to 142. I was happy that it did when the egg whites were ready. Whew!
I may get my photo up on here, but it's kind of lousy (as most of my shots are).
So. I admit it. I skipped last week. I've been out of town, I'm a busy mom, I have a cat...take your pick at whatever excuse you want. Truth is, I started this "structured baking project" so that I could expand my culinary limits and taste new flavors. But, I frowned a bit at the gingerbread. I don't like molasses and I'm not fond of gingerbread, in general. In fact, my gingerbread house recipe is sort of a sugar cookie recipe with some ginger, cinnamon, and cloves thrown into it instead of a pure breed.
But this week I was happy. Peace and chocolate?! I know nothing makes me more peaceful than a smidge of chocolate sometimes. I love this recipe. I am tempted to vary these with peanut butter chips next time. I think we should let the troops pass these out because who could eat one of these beauties and not smile?