Is it just me, or is making a pie sorta like going to jury duty?

Don’t get me wrong… I sometimes (no.. not always) like throwing together a pie.  I also sometimes like trucking my rear downtown for jury duty…. that’s after kicking and screaming in the weeks prior to said dutying.

The process of going to jury  makes me feel super adult.  What?  You want me to sit in this crowded room with a bunch of angry people missing work, and you want me to possibly make decisions Law and Order style?  Ok.  I’ll play your game justice system.  I’m a tax paying adult… thanks for the recognition.

The process of making a pie also makes me feel all adult like.  Something about tacking a many layered recipe and busting out my pie plate tells me that yes… you’ve got bills to pay, but why not take a minute… ok, an hour… and show to world who’s in charge by making a pie?  Orange and Cream… done and done.

Because the temps are still absolutely blazing here in Southern California, I thought a no-bake pie was in order.  One problem though… crust!  This graham cracker crust is baked for a quick 10 minutes before the filling is poured into it, making this No-Bake Orange and Cream Pie a little bit of a lie.

The filling for this pie is easily thrown together on the stove top.  Bonus!  You can make this with either fresh orange juice and zest, or lemon juice and zest.  Also, feel free to skip the whipped cream on top if you like.  The pie will be just a lovely without it.  My only problem was that the crust was a tad bit crumbly… but really, that’s wasn’t a huge problem for me.  I could have easily eaten this pie directly out of the pie plate with a jumbo spoon.

No-Bake Orange and Cream Pie

Print this recipe!

For the crust:

1 2/3 cup crushed graham crackers

1/4 cup sugar

dash of ground cinnamon

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter

Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter until evenly moistened.  Press into a 9-inch pie plate and bake at 350 degrees F for 10-13 minutes, until lightly golden.  Cool before filling.

For the filling:

3 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon orange zest

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

3 large egg yolks

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream (for the whipped cream top)

Combine the sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, zest yolks and milk in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat.  Cook until thick, stirring constantly.

Add butter and stir until melted.  Cool the mixture for 15 minutes, then add the sour cream.  Stir to incorporate.  Pour into cool pie crust and chill for 3 hours.  I left my pie unwrapped in the fridge because I love a skin to form on top of the pie.  Cover your pie loosely if you’d like.  Whip up the cream, adding a few tablespoons of powdered sugar if you’d like, then spoon on top of the orange filling.

I have this nasty little habit that shouldn’t bother you in the least… unless of course you’re one of the unlucky people in the world that might have to share a pint of ice cream with me.  

See… I’m a picker.  I will shamelessly pick out every good morsel of ice cream chunky goodness from a pint, leaving only half melted ice cream for you.  Cookie Dough Ice Cream is only Cookie Dough Ice Cream until I get my paws on it for five minutes.  After a cool five minutes, that pint is just a sad excuse for vanilla ice cream.  Don’t even get me started of Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.  I’ve got enough skills to dig out every ounce of peanut butter in seconds flat.

It’s a shameless habit.  It’s terrible and selfish… and it’ll never change.  I can’t help myself. 

Cookie No-Dough Ice Cream may have just solved my ice cream picking issue.  Instead of having vanilla ice cream with chunks of cookie dough embedded within it, this ice cream… the entire ice cream is the flavor of cookie dough!  Holy heck balls!  That’s amazing.  Yea.. it is. 

This ice cream is thickened with egg yolks.  Some ice creams are thickened with cornstarch.  I think egg yolks are the way to go, creating a super luscious and velvety ice cream.  The thing with thickening custards with egg yolks is that they’re very easily over cooked.  I do it all the time.  I did it with this batch of ice cream.  

There’s a point after you’ve tempered the egg yolks, when you’re reheating the whole custard, stirring constantly, and you’ll test the concoction to see if it coats the back of a spoon.  Coat the back of the spoon with custard.  Run a finger down the center of the custard, and if a line remains separating the two custard halves, then your custard is thick enough.  170 degrees F is you have a nifty thermometer.  

Now… if you overcook the custard, it’ll look a little grainy.  Why?  Because the egg yolks cooked.  Yikes!  Not to worry.  All is not lost.  Simply run the custard through a fine mesh strainer before cooling and freezing.  Run it through a strainer twice if you have to.  No shame in that.  Keep on trucking!

Ooooh… and this is the ice cream maker I use.  I kinda love it. 

Cookie No Dough Ice Cream

     recipe from Claire at The Kitchy Kitchen (how cute is she!?)  ((seriously!!!?)

     Print this Recipe!

Exactly one year ago I was rockin’ out with a mug of this stuff.  I was also saying things like “totally tubular!”  and “radical!”, wearing acid wash jeans, and hair-spraying my bangs into a tall wave across my forehead.  Ooooh 2008.

Banana Pudding Ice Cream. Rad, right?

I was notorious in my family for being the child that could only be comforted by my mother.

Most playful family weekends, the scene went something like this:  I’d be in the backyard playing with my little sister, my dad and Scamper, the family dog on our creaky, rusted and awesomely fun swing set.  My favorite move was to swing as high as I could, count to three with my sister and jump out of the swings onto the grass.  Sounds innocent enough, but I was always getting my little girl fingers stuck in the chains of the swing as I dismounted.

I’d hit the ground and look at my dad with the silent cry face… the face kids give their parents before the completely lose it and burst into tears.  My dad would invariable come over and try to talk me out of losing it, but I was already halfway into the ugly cry by then.  It was then that no one but my mom could handle the cajoling and kissing of my finger.  I’d run into the house, screaming like a maniac and clutching my (not even bleeding) finger, looking for my mother who had found just a few moments peace to take a shower or a short nap.  I’d force myself into her lap, lift the offending, pained finger, and wait for the mom comfort to blanket me.  So good.

Come to think of it, that swing set caused as many injuries as it did smiles.

Come to think of it, jumping off the swing set is always worth the hurt finger.

Come to think of it, this pudding has much the same healing qualities as my mom’s lap.

Milk Chocolate Pudding … holy wow!  It’s super simple, brilliantly satisfying, and you can have it as is, or doll it up with lightly sweetened cream and easy homemade raspberry sauce.  Are you thinking what I’m thinking?  Mother’s Day treats?  Yea… I thought so.

Milk Chocolate Pudding

Gourmet, February 2007

Print this recipe!

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream

4 ounces fine-quality milk chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan.  Gradually whisk in milk and cream.  Bring to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking constantly.  Boil, whisking for two minutes.  Mixture will be thick.  Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate pieces and vanilla extract.  Stir until melted and smooth.

Transfer pudding to four or six small dishes.  Cover the surface with wax paper, to prevent a skin from forming, and place in the fridge until cool and set, about two hours.

In the meantime, make the whipped cream and raspberry sauce.

To assemble, top the chocolate pudding with whipped cream and raspberry sauce and serve immediately.  If you would like to assemble dessert and return it to the fridge, you may want to place the raspberry sauce beneath the whipped cream so it doesn’t bleed as much.

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons powdered sugar.

Whip heavy cream with an electric hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer until frothy.  Add the sugar and continue to whip until soft peaks form.  Whip the cream slightly longer if you like a stiffer hold to your whipped cream.  Place in the fridge to save for assembly.

Easy Raspberry Sauce

1/2 of a 12-ounce bag frozen raspberries, thawed

1 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoons water

Place the thawed raspberries in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment.  Add sugar and water and mix until the raspberries form a smooth puree.  Transfer raspberry puree to a fine mesh strainer fit over a bowl.  Press the puree through the strainer, until only the raspberry seeds and a bit of pump remain the the strainer, and a beautiful raspberry sauce is all that’s in the bowl.

My favorite part of my sixth grade history text books were not the pictures.  Oooooh no… too easy.  I loved the little timelines at the end of a lesson, the kind of timeline that so neatly wrapped up the life and struggles of so many people.  Distill the entire American Civil Rights Movement into a timeline.  The progression of people and actions becomes so tidy and clear.  Aaah, thanks for the timeline.

I sometimes like to think of my life in timeline form.  I pick a theme and timeline it out in my head.  Yes, this happens.

Let’s timeline out my favorite ice cream flavors from the 1980’s to the present.  Not nearly as socially crucial as civil rights, but still somehow important.

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{ 1983- Strawberry Ice Cream is the only flavor in my world}  {1987- Whoa!  Bubble Gum in ice cream!?  Yes.  Want!}  {1990-  Rocky Road is the only way to go}     {1994-  Is it still Mint Chocolate Chip if it’s not green?  I say yes!}  {1999-  Cherry Garcia, will you marry me?}  {2005-  Going retro with Rainbow Sherbet, success!  {2009-  Enjoying the clever stylings of Brownie Bottom Coffee Ice Cream Cupcakes.  Consider them little cups of perfect fun right from the freezer.  For reals.}

Now that I can check “make an ice cream timeline” off my list of things to do today, let’s talk Ice Cream Cupcakes. Yes.  Yes!  Yes!!

I’ve made Ice Cream Cupcakes before.  They were deliciously bite-sized and made of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  This time around, Ice Cream Cupcakes have grown in size and matured in flavor.  Combine chewy chocolate brownies with coffee ice cream, chocolate ganache and whipped cream.  What a fine world it is.  Summer is sneaking up on us, and here’s what we’re gonna do about it.

Brownie Bottom Ice Cream Cupcakes

You’ll need:

24 foil cupcake liners

Brownie Batter

1/2 gallon of your favorite ice cream flavor.  I chose Coffee Ice Cream

An ice cream scooper, small spoon, and warm water

A freezer

Chocolate Ganache

Whipped Cream

Here’s the Step by Step Situation:

First make the brownie batter.  Line two cupcake pans with the foil cupcake liners.  Into each cupcake liner, scoop 1 Tablespoon of brownie batter.  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 6-8 minutes until the brownie is cooked through.

Let the brownies cool in the cupcake pans to room temperature.  Once cool, place in the freezer (still in the cupcake pans) for 30 minutes.  When you place the cupcake pans in the freezer, remove the ice  cream you’re using and place in the refrigerator to soften.

When ready to assemble the cupcakes, remove the cupcake pans with foil lined brownie cups from the freezer.  Remove the ice cream from the fridge.  Run the ice cream scooper under hot water and working quickly, portion a small scoop of ice cream into each foil lined cup, while still in the cupcake pan.  The cupcake pan will help the Ice Cream Cupcake hold its shape.  You may need to rinse the scooper under hot water in between scoops for easy portioning.  Quickly smooth the scoops of ice cream with the back of a small spoon also rinsed in warm water and return the ice cream cupcakes quickly to the freezer.

Let the newly formed Ice Cream Cupcakes refreeze for 45 minutes to an hour.  In this time you can make the chocolate ganache and whipped cream.  Let the ganache come to just around room temperature, and let the whip cream rest in the fridge until serving time.

Once the cupcakes are refrozen and nice and firm, remove from the freezer and top with a teaspoon of chocolate ganache.  Smooth over the cupcake.  Return once again to the freezer.

To serve, remove the cupcakes from the freezer about 5 minutes before you’d life to serve them.  Finish with a dollop of whipped cream and serve.  Carefully peel the foil from the cupcake and enjoy… with napkins.  Yum!

Fudgy Brownie Bottoms

Bon Appetit October 1991

Print this recipe!

• 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 2 large eggs plus one egg yolk
• 1 1/8 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cupcake pans with foil cupcake liners. Combine first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Stir butter and chocolate in a bowl set over simmering water, creating a double boiler.  Heat until melted and smooth. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Stir in warm chocolate mixture, then dry ingredients.  Scoop 1 Tablespoon of batter into each foil liner. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then place in the freezer for 30 minutes before scooping the ice cream on top.

Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (I used chocolate chunks)

1/4 cup heavy cream

Put chocolate chips in a small bowl.  Bring cream to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan.  Pour cream evenly over chocolate.  Let stand for one minute to soften, then stir until smooth.  If frosting is too loose to spread, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, frosting will continue to thicken as it stands.  Scoop by the teaspoon full onto the ice cream cupcakes.  Spread and refreeze until ready to serve.

Sweetened Whipped Cream

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

dash of vanilla extract

Whip heavy cream for 3 minutes.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and continue to whip until thick whipped cream forms.  Dollop onto Ice Cream Cupcakes just before serving.

You mentioned once that you were an English major in college. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever do it? How did you move from English major to Baker Extraordinaire?

I was an English major in college. Ironically enough, reading makes me fall asleep. Crazy, right? Somehow I managed to work my way through five (yes, it took me a while) years of college. I worked two jobs through college, always with food, often in kitchens. For those years, I either had my head (fast asleep) in a book, or my hands elbow deep in dough. When I finished college, I found that I loved baking so much that I didn’t want to stop working with food. I somehow wanted to find a way to incorporate my love of story telling with my passion for food. So far that journey has lead me here- cooking, photographing and writing for you fine folks. I honestly can’t think of any place I’d rather be!

Have you thought of making healthy versions of some of your recipes, or proposing a corpus of kid-friendly, healthier recipes that use fruit sugars and fat subs for a more conscious approach of your culinary art?

I think butter is beautiful. I think sugar is dreamy. I think cream is over the moon. I bake with ingredients that put a smile on my face. I certainly wouldn’t consider the treats on my site as everyday meal-time staples, but for a special occasion… when you need to reach out to that inner sugar fiend… this is a good place to come.

If you’re looking for fruit sugars and fat substitutes, I just may not be the baker for you. It’s just not what I’m passionate about these days. While I do have a handful of healthful recipes like my Gnarly Muffins… these recipes just don’t bring a sparkle to my eye like cream, butter and chocolate do.

What kind of camera do you use? Did you take classes or is it just the camera that creates those gorgeous shots?

I use a Canon XSi with a 100mm macro lens. It’s a lovely, easy to use camera, made even more awesome with the fancypants lens. Can I tell you a secret? There was a time when the lens to my camera was worth more money than the car I was driving. True…. that’s really true.

I also have to tell you that I’ve actually never take a photography class. A dear friend handed me a SLR camera, gave me a 15 minute lesson all about aperture and depth of field I think he might have mentioned shutter speed once or twice… but that was it. He knew what I wanted to shoot and he showed me exactly how to do it.

The 100mm macro lens It’s totally worth it, isn’t it?

Yes. Yes it is.

Did you go to culinary school? Do you currently work at a bakery? Have you been working at a bakery for your entire professional life?

Here’s the deal: I’m a self taught baker. I didn’t go to culinary school. Why? It was just too darn expensive. As a result, I’m no master at cream puffs, my bread baking is sometimes a comic tragedy and fancy French desserts make me break out in a cold sweat. But that stuff just isn’t where my passion lies. I’m more interested in getting in the kitchen with my Dad to recreate his favorite pie, or filling my kitchen with girlfriends to play with cookie recipes. My approach is all about food, stories, laughs and love and I didn’t feel like I needed culinary school to teach me that.

What recipe ingredients are worth splurging on?

Whatever you love… it’s worth splurging on. I love food, so I think the good stuff is worth seeking out. Recently I’ve come to love raw, artisanal honeys. The people at Ames Farm seem to know what they’re doing with bees. They have lovely honey that I usually eat by the spoonful. I also love love love good chocolate. I like to buy Valrhona when it comes to my chocolate baking needs. Expensive, yes… but the quality is absolutely worth the extra dough.

What’s the best tasting rolled fondant?

I’ve always thought of fondant as that thing that I’ll be forced to peel off of that slice of wedding cake that I’ve been sooooo looking forward to at my third cousin’s wedding. Fondant isn’t for taste… it’s all about the look. Fondant is a rolled, sugary, gummy icing that often covers wedding cakes. It creates that smooth, flawless look that is all the rage these days. The taste, invariably, leaves a lot to be desired. In the few instances that I’ve used it, I’ve mixed Pettinice fondant with shortening (to make it even more pliable and reduce cracking) and a few drops of clear vanilla flavor. It didn’t do much for me… but maybe I’m just not a miracle worker with fondant.

Are you going to write a cookbook?

I would love love love to write a cookbook! The farther I truck along on this blog journey, the closer I get to producing a really special book. When that book is ready to meet the world, believe me… you’ll be the first to know!

Where’s your Yellow Cake recipe with Swiss Meringue Buttercream!?

Hmmm… is it possible that I don’t have a yellow cake recipe here on my blog? Yes, it’s entirely possible. Why? Because I would always choose chocolate cake over vanilla. Even still, this White Cake recipe is pretty dreamy, and this Swiss Meringue Buttercream is just downright awesome.

Will you hold baking courses!? Pretty please!!!

I’d love to! Would you come? Would you really really come?

Is blogging really worth your time?

Blogging is what I do after a long day of work. Taking pictures, thinking about, preparing and writing about food is at the front of my brain just about all the time. That I get to have a little space in the world where I can put all of that energy is such a blessing. Yes… blogging is worth every second of the time I give it.

What’s your favorite cookbook?

There are a few cookbooks that always find myself falling back on.

I love The Pastry Queen. The Gourmet Cookbook has gotten me out of more than one baking bind, and The Modern Baker is a fabulous and totally approachable pastry book.

My chocolate chip cookies always come out flat and crispy. I want them fat and chewy. What am I doing wrong!?

I’ve baked up my fair share of flat and crispy cookies. It happened all the time when I was a kid baking chocolate chip cookies from the recipe on the back of the Toll House bag. But WHY!? Truth is… I don’t exactly know. Sometimes it has to do with a hot hot oven. Throw an oven thermometer in your oven to make sure that it’s only as hot as the dial says. I love Alton Brown’s Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe using melted butter and bread flour. I chill the dough in the fridge for at least three hours (I think overnight is easiest), and preheat the oven as I dish out the cookie dough. I bake the cookies for a good 12 to 14 minutes and haven’t had a problem with ultra thin chocolate chip cookies since.

Do you prefer cake or raised doughnuts?

I have to go with raised doughnuts. I think they’re absolute magic. If, however, you wanted to send me a boat-load of cake doughnuts… I would kindly and enthusiastically accept.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

One scoop Rocky Road meets one scoop Strawberry ice cream meets homemade hot fudge. Yes.

Why do my cream puffs and gougeres bake into flat discs instead of puff into nice little spheres?

Ooooh geez. Remember that part of this Q and A when I mentioned that French pastry kinda makes me break out in a cold sweat? Yea… so…. I’m afraid just the mention of your flat gougeres is making me nervous.

Are you going to do anymore podcasts or what!?

Yes. Yes and Yes! I’m just trying to find the right way for me to do it. I’m not sure stuffy, instructional cooking videos is my style. I want to get out in the world and help tell stories about people and food. That’s what I want to bring to you…. and it’s taken me a bit of time. Have I mentioned how appreciated your love and patience is…?

Pie crust makes me suicidal, and my family loves pies. Can you save them from a pieless life?

I know. I really know. Pie crust can be a royal pain in the behind. You’re right. And you know what? I’m not going to sit here and tell you that pie crust is a no-brainer and I have an easy process you could do with your eyes closed. That’s just not the case. Pie crust takes time and practice… but you can totally, 100% do it. When I made an Apple Pie a few months back, I documented the whole process. Give it a whirl. You can do it… I promise.

Do you have a good cookie recipe that can be packed up and mailed well?

When I think of mailing baked goods, Chocolate Walnut Brownies are the first thing that come to mind. Here’s why: they’re chocolate, they stay moist for a good long while when wrapped individually, and they’re square and stackable… perfect for that shoe box care package.

Hey Joy, one of my friends said he recognized you from U of Windsor. Is it true that you were once a happy go luck Canadian, or is he mistaken?

Not I. I’m a happy go lucky Californian.

How do you generate traffic to your blog, and what other channels do you use to get your words out there?

Social networking is a beast that I have not yet mastered. It’s a nasty networking world out there. I only half understand it. To generate traffic I try to: take pretty pictures, write silly things, cook delicious treats, and use sites like tastespotting, and stumble upon and technorati. I’ve found that the biggest generator of traffic is quality, sincere and consistent content.

What would your last meal be?… and dessert?

Such an impossible question. Just too hard. I think I’d go for two Hebrew National hot dogs with spicy mustard and sauerkraut, my Dad’s potato salad, and a cold lemonade. For dessert: a root beer float.

I need a little cake decorating love. Do you use a special tool to slice your cake layers so evenly? Also, when serving the cake, how do you get the slices to look so pretty? I used a serrated knife and do wipe it between slices, but still get crumbs all over the slice.

I don’t use a special tool to slice my cake layers before I frost them. I find that a serrated knife, and a slow and even slicing motion do me just fine. I also just use a small butcher knife when slicing cakes, rinsing and wiping the knife down between strokes. Creating a crumb free slice of cakes might just be down right impossible, and I’m convinced that all that worry just takes away from the enjoyment of the cake. I know…I know… I’ve seen those perfect, crumb free slices of cake on Martha Stewart’s website too… I don’t know how do get my world as picture perfect as hers so I just stopped trying.

Part One means there’s bound to be a Part Two. Stick around!

Some things in the world are just too too easy.  Peanut butter is one of those things.

I suppose those easy things work to compliment the tasks in life that are far too complicated for their own good.  These complicated tasks include, but are not limited to, matching your socks fresh out of the dryer, finding your other slipper in a closet full of shoes, and emptying your vacuum bag and finding replacements of the same size and shape… seriously, why is that so hard!?

Where these little bits of life are difficult, some things, like homemade peanut butter, are easy peasy.  Thank goodness for the little things.

This recipe is so easy that I almost feel bad typing it out for you.  In essence, if you throw shelled peanuts into a food processor, with or without a pinch of salt, whirl it up for several minutes, you’ll have the magic of peanut butter in your kitchen.  It’s really that easy, and you skip all the dirty hydrogenated oils that sometimes complicate our food.

Peanut butter…. make it.

Homemade Honey Roasted Peanut Butter

Print this recipe!

makes just over 1 cup of peanut butter

1 1/2 cups honey roasted peanuts (you can also used roasted unsalted peanuts, or roasted and salted peanuts, adjusting the salt to taste)

pinch of salt

Place shelled peanuts in the bowl of a food processor with blade.  Make sure the lid is on tight and turn on the food processor.  Nuts will move from course to finely ground then begin to form a paste.  Feel free to stop the food processor once the paste begins to form to scrape the sides of the bowl.  Turn on food processor again until the peanuts resemble a thick, but mostly smooth, and shiny (from the peanut oil) peanut butter.  This took me about 4 minutes of food processing

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.  Place in a warm water bath or in a low microwave for 30-45 seconds to soften and spread.  Delicious!

I’m going to need a day to digest the Fancy Food Show.

In the meantime, I thought I’d present you with this Lemon Souffle Pudding.

I often think of myself as a mash up of the time I’ve spent in the world so far. In essence I feel like a messy concoction of parents, siblings, friends from kindergarten, mean girls from high school, various low paying jobs, and different cities. I am all of those things. Whether or not I acknowledge it every day, I am who I am as a direct result of all of many people, many places and many experiences. So far it feels like a pretty sweet gig.

I got to thinking about the sum of my life’s parts yesterday on a plane from Oakland back to Los Angeles. Plane rides, no matter how short, force me to quickly assess my life situation.

My quick flash assessment went a little something like this in my brain:

Lindsey, Michelle and Beth were the best girlfriends I could have had in elementary school. I’m glad I became best friends with the smart girls.

I kinda feel bad about treating my prom date the way I did. Maybe I should Facebook him.

I’m really glad I got to see my parents renew their vows. That brought a lot of good to my world.

Simon. I’m so glad Simon and I stumbled upon each other.

If this plane crashes… God, please don’t let this plane crash… I’d feel like I’ve had a pretty good run. Thanks. Seriously.

If this plane crashes… God please don’t let this plane crash… I wonder if the lady sitting next to me would hold my hand … but only if the plane were crashing… otherwise, I don’t really need to hold her hand.

Should I order ginger ale or cranberry juice when they come around for drink orders?

Jill gave me the most gorgeous lemons and they’re waiting for me at home.

Lara made the most amazing lemon pudding the other night. I want more.

Oh God… the plane is taking off! I hope we’re nowhere near a flock of geese. Seriously. I don’t think I like river landings.

From the quick assessment of my life’s parts, this Lemon Souffle Pudding was born. Inspired my Lara, facilitated by Jill and consumed by me.

Lemon Souffle Pudding

Print this recipe!

Do not underestimate this dessert. It’s light, tart, and all together dreamy. Instead of making several smaller souffles, I made one large dessert in a 9-inch glass baking dish. The bottom bakes up as a creamy lemon pudding and the top as a light and spongy souffle. The souffle bakes up almost cake light- super light ans soft. Two desserts in one! I added more lemon to the recipe. I couldn’t help myself.

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar, divided

3 tablespoons (40 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

3 large eggs, separated

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoon (4 grams) lemon zest

1/3 cup (50 grams) all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 cup (2400 ml) whole milk

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Butter six – 1 cup (240 ml) ramekins or other heatproof bowls. I used one buttered 9-inch glass pie dish.

Set aside 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of the sugar to use when whipping the egg whites. Place the remaining sugar in a medium sized bowl. Add the lemon zest to the sugar. With the back of a spoon, or spatula, grind the lemon zest into the sugar, creating a fragrant, slightly yellow tinged sugar. Working the zest into the sugar will release lots of the essential oils in the zest, creating a super lemony batter. Then, in the bowl of your electric mixer or with a hand mixer, cream the lemony sugar and butter. Add the three egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour and salt and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in the lemon juice and milk. Set aside while you beat the egg whites.

In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter, in three additions, mixing only until incorporated.

Carefully pour (or use a ladle) the batter into the prepared ramekins. (The batter does not rise much during baking so you can fill the ramekins almost to the rim.) I poured the entire mixture into the 9-inch pie pan. Place the ramekins in a larger baking pan (or any size pan that will fit the ramekins and leave about 1 inch (2.54 cm) around the edges). Or place the 9-inch baking dish in a larger basting pan and set on your counter

Boil a tea pot of water to create a water bath. (A water bath is used to provide temperature protection for the eggs.) Place the basting pan with the souffle inside into the oven, carefully pulling the oven rack out a bit. Carefully pour in enough hot water so that the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins or pie dish, and carefully slide the rack back into the oven.

Bake for about 40 – 45 minutes or until the sponge cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean. Be careful not to insert the toothpick into the lemon sauce at the bottom of the ramekins. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and cool slightly before serving.

This dessert can be served warm or at room temperature. Dust the tops of the puddings with confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar and dress with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh fruit (optional).

Something happened last night-

It involved me, my space heater, a few comforters, season one of Pushing Daisies, a spoon, and an entire container of chilled rice pudding.

I realized two things last night. One: while Pushing Daisies is beautiful and charming, it’s almost too sweet. It is still, however, an effective way to wish away three hours of a Sunday evening. Two: Yes, my stomach does have the capacity to hold about 8 cups of rice pudding. How awesome is that!?

I ate the whole thing. Fact. Every last creamy, soft, raisin studded, vanilla bite. And the truth? I’d do it all again tonight if I could… and I can… but I won’t. Does that make sense?

This Rice Pudding might be best shared with your family. It’s Super Comfort.  If comfort became a super hero and came to save the day, it would come in the form of this rice pudding.

If you do have to eat the entire thing by yourself, under your covers on a cold night, well…that’s not such a hard cross to bear, is it?

The Best Rice Pudding

The Gourmet Cookbook

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serves 4 to 6

2 cups water

1cup long grain rice

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

4 cups whole milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 vanilla bean, split open

1 cup golden raisins

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in lemon zest, salt and long grain rice and return to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer the rice, covered, until all of the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Once rice is cooked, place it in a bowl and rise out pan. Add 4 cups of milk, sugar and vanilla bean to the pan. Bring to a low boil, stirring often so the milk doesn’t burn. Add the cooked rice and raisins to the hot milk. Stir often, until the milk cooks down and the rice is creamy, about 20 minutes. Place in a large bowl or serving dishes to cool. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Some things are over the top for even me. Some things are so good that they actually hurt. I’m a real sucker for all chocolate and peanut butter combinations… but really!? Chocolate, peanut butter AND Rice Krispy Treats? Out of control. I think I pulled a baking muscle. These bars are so rich, so over the top, so peanut buttery, that I think I need to stick to only baking broccoli this weekend. I think I hurt myself.

These are just the treats I want to pawn off on my neighbors and coworkers. They’ll thank me, and they’ll hate me. I can live with that.

This recipe comes in three parts. Three crazy good, belly busting, lick the spoon over and over and over again parts. And they’re easy too! Yea.. this recipe is nothing but trouble.

I made these bars in a 9×13-inch pan and cut the bars into 1-inch squares, although I think even those were too large.

Rice Krispy Treats

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