Daring Bakers Numero Dos

This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

So let me start off by saying that I was really excited for this challenge!! We had to make Tuiles. These are crispy, thin cookies that you bend into really cool shapes while they’re still warm. These ladies managed to make beautiful butterfly cookies, but mine, didn’t work out that way. Not even close haha But they were VERY delicious and highly addictive… as most baked goodies are.

I made these before my RAW escapade so I definitely indulged on these ones. I used this recipe, but I replaced the butter with Earth Balance and eggs with flax meal.

Tuiles
65 grams / ¼ cup / 2.3 ounces softened butter (not melted but soft)
60 grams / ½ cup / 2.1 ounces sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar (7 grams or substitute with a dash of vanilla extract)
2 large egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
65 grams / 1/2 cup / 2.3 ounces sifted all purpose flour
1 table spoon cocoa powder/or food coloring of choice
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet

Oven: 180C / 350F

Using a hand whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (low speed) and cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste. Keep stirring while you gradually add the egg whites. Continue to add the flour in small batches and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not overmix.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with either spray and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This will help spread the batter more easily if using a stencil/cardboard template such as the butterfly. Press the stencil on the bakingsheet and use an off sided spatula to spread batter. Leave some room in between your shapes. Mix a small part of the batter with the cocoa and a few drops of warm water until evenly colored. Use this colored batter in a paper piping bag and proceed to pipe decorations on the wings and body of the butterfly. Bake butterflies in a preheated oven (350F) for about 5-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Immediately release from bakingsheet and proceed to shape/bend the cookies in the desired shape. These cookies have to be shaped when still warm, you might want to bake a small amount at a time or maybe put them in the oven to warm them up again. (Haven’t tried that). Or: place a bakingsheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable.

If you don’t want to do stencil shapes, you might want to transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip. Pipe the desired shapes and bake. Shape immediately after baking using for instance a rolling pin, a broom handle, cups, cones….
Before they went in the oven, they looked beautiful!! I made tons of different shapes and let my imagine run wild. I tie-dyed some of them for a psychedelic feel and put sprinkles on them so they’d be sparkly.

When I opened the oven, I wanted to cry!! They spread out everywhere!! I think it might have been because my baking sheets weren’t cold and they recommended refrigerating them before baking. I couldn’t get mine to fit in the fridge, so I just skipped that step. Probably not the best idea since none of my cookies remained in their shape!!
I was still able to shape some of them while they were still warm, but I ate a lot because I was angry haha They were really good and I just couldn’t help myself!! You know how that is, I’m sure. I want to try this again someday with really cold baking sheets.

The next part of the challenge was pairing the cookies with a fruit puree. I made a berry soup out of raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, pure maple syrup (more like pure sex), and coconut water. It was really tasty with the cookies, but I was too lazy to put it in a fancy bowl. I don’t do that kind of stuff when I’m hungry haha

But hey, all in all, they tasted awesome so I’m not gonna complain. After all, which is more important: taste or presentation??

And last but not least, who watched Top Chef?!?! How good was it??? I about died when Stefan said he was in love with Andrea. I laughed even harder when she creamed his ass in the challenge and got all the points. He’s such a cocky hornball, but I still love him. I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite because I honestly love everyone this season! They are all so likeable although Stefan’s probably the least likeable. Haha He’s just really flirty/seductive/has a hot accent and you know how I love guys with accents ; ) I do really like Jeff, though, and I'm sad he went home. He reminds me of the sexy, British doctor on House. So I guess today is like an ode to the sexy Top Chef contestants!!

I didn't die, I promise

Hi guys!!! How are you today??? I've been so out of it lately- well, out of the blogging world and social world, but in the Twilight world. I know you guys would rather stuff broccoli in your ears before hearing about that, so I'll shut up now haha

Well, no I lied, haha I've been "post-it" noting all of my favorite quotes in the series, and so far, this one just makes me weak in the freakin knees!!

"I'll be back so soon you won't have time to miss me. Look after my heart---- I've left it with you." - Edward Cullen, pg 95 of Eclipse

Okay, now that I've gotten my sappy girl crap out of the way, let's talk about RAW. How's my shampoo-less life been going, you ask?? Well, I think it's been about a week or so and my hair is pretty gross haha I'm not even gonna lie about that one. It's very itchy and nasty looking. It's definitely noticeable that shampoo and me have broken up- the umbilical cord has been cut (eww, sorry)- the cat has been let out of the bag. okay i don't know where I'm going with all of these creepy metaphors, but you get it. haha

I've been using a mixture of baking soda and water (on my roots) on some days and then I'll use apple cider vinegar (on the ends) on the other days. That works really well, but I've noticed that you can't abuse it. Once a week would probably be best for that wash because it's very strong. It works really well though- it gives my limp hair some oomph! I tried coconut oil and that was a mistake!! My hair was so sticky. I think for the next few days, I'm just gonna do straight water and see how that goes.

As for food, I did cheat on the RAW foods diet (hopefully not on the vegan diet as well!!), but I couldn't help myself. My sister was in New York this weekend, and I asked her to bring me back one thing- NUTS!!!! Nuts 4 Nuts are my favorite nuts in the world. I don't care who you are or where you're from, nobody makes better nuts than the street vendors of NYC- true dat!! I hope they aren't made with butter- I'd rather not know what their ingredients are because I love them too much!!!

And you know who else likes nuts???

TUBBY!!! I haven't seen him in so long. In case you aren't familiar with this sexy beast, he's my squirrel. He lives in the Bally's parking lot and is at least 15 pounds overweight. But that's why I love his little fat butt. Can't wait til he comes back to see me in the spring!!

I think I've lost it!!

Okay. I need help. All I do is think about Robert Pattinson!!! I am so unhealthily obsessed with him. I feel bad for the guy. He has crazy girls throwing themselves at him all the time, and I really don't want to be the same... but it seems that I'm no different. He is the most perfect guy in the world. I realize that I am equating Edward Cullen's personality with Robert's, but in my mind, they are the same person haha But I do LOVE Robert's accent.

I met a girl today at Barnes and Noble while I was picking up New Moon and she said she's reading the Twilight Saga for the 3rd time in a row. Now, that's a little bit creepy, but who am I to judge? I replaced Bella Swan's head with my own. You have to admit that we do look pretty cute together. haha I tend to do that when I have a celebrity crush. My last insane crush was Matt Dillon. He's like 45 now, but I don't care. I was in love with him in 8th grade and cried when I'd see him at an Awards show with somebody.

I think I just need to meet a real guy to take my mind off of Edward. I just haven't found one yet, damnit. I'm not looking for a boyfriend because of school and stuff, but if I find one, I'd give a relationship a try. I'm usually not a relationship person, but I think that's what I need to stop thinking about Robert. I'm going to see my therapist tomorrow so hopefully she can talk some bloody sense into me. hehe

As for food, I've been eating salads like crazy and lots of bananas, which isn't anything weird. That's about it haha I practically live off of fruits, veggies, nuts, and juices. I'm still not giving up hummus though. I just can't. I'm doing 90% RAW mainly because of my love for it. I've also been making a lot of Ani Phyo's meals and I love them. Here's a few pictures of my daily eats-
Zucchini Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Marinara Sauce- this is honestly the best "pasta" dish I've ever had. It tastes so much like real spaghetti.

Buckwheat Crispies with Vanilla Mylk and an orange and banana- ok, this is just so good. If you haven't tried buckwheat groats, go to Whole Foods and get some. They are like Rice Krispies after you've soaked and dehydrated them.

Sweet and Spicey Cashews- I adapted this recipe from Ani's recipe and mine came out REALLY spicey. I practically cried when I took my first bite, but I got used to having no feeling on my tongue.

Dehydrated Kiwi!!! These taste like candy. They are soo damn sweet and squishy. I didn't dry them all the way because I like my fruits kind of gummy.

Cucumbers with Ketchup. Becca from "Vegan with a Reason" told me to try these and they weren't bad. I think I like cucumbers better cooked though... or on my eyelids haha

My shampoo less life has been really well, too. My hair feels fine now and I don't even notice anything weird about it. I've been leaving it curly most of the time instead of straightening it. That's when you can kind of tell that it's not washed; however, I noticed that my hairbrush had some interesting specimens on it- White fuzzy hair. I'm thinking that it might be build-up from my usage of shampoos for the past 19 years. Obviously, I don't have white hair... I think. haha Nobody has pointed it to me though, so I could be wrong. What do you guys think???