17 June 2011

Fat Friday...

Today is a pretty sad day here.

For me, the sensible [or not] thing to do now is concoct achingly sweet things and eat my feelings. Showing emotion is something I find hard, baking and eating however come all too easy.


Suppose you've never tried Crème brûlée before. Suppose that once upon a time, you decide to try it in a restaurant whilst in the company of some lovely people and, by chance, you realise what you've been missing all your life.

Not the dessert, though of course I'm distraught it took me 21 years to discovery that beauty, but rather the taste for something new. The enjoyment in taking a chance and running with it [not Crème brûlée, don't run with that...please]. The confidence to live in the moment, have fun, and forget about what could, might, or should happen next.

It's realisation's like this that will impact upon the rest of your life. And they don't occur without the help from people whose path you happen to cross. So, to those who've let me into their life in the past three years, no matter how briefly, this one's for you. Give it a go, taste it and see what happens. And hey, if it's not your thing, at least you can say that you took a chance, you tried.

INGREDIENTS [You can find the original recipe here]
Second tip of the day [as well as not running with Creme Brulee] is to not forget a key ingredient when taking photographs. Third tip? Improve clipart skills.

Pre-heat the oven to 150°C // 300°F // GM 2.

Pour the cream and milk into a saucepan and add the vanilla essence.

Place on a low heat and allow to warm through.

Meanwhile put the egg yolks into a large bowl, add 75g of the caster sugar and whisk to combine.


 Pour the now-warm cream and milk mixture into the whisked eggs and sugar and continue whisking until the sugar is dissolved.


Now find yourself an oven proof dish that you'll be serving the Crème brûlée in. Place it into another, much deeper oven proof tray [I used the one we usually use for roast dinners!] and pop the kettle on [not for a cuppa, although if you've got any water spare afterwards, it's never a bad idea is it?]. 

Ladle the whisked mixture into the smaller dish [which is sitting in the larger!] and then pour the boiled water into the larger tray - think of it as giving your brûlée a bath...


Now you need to lug the whole thing over to the oven - be careful, the steam will be hot - and not in a pleasant, unexpected-facial kinda way. Trust me.

The original recipe states the cooking time to be between 30 and 35 minutes, mine took more like 45 minutes until it was evenly cooked. You want a wibbly texture, but one that allows you to touch the top without pulling away any mixture. I ended up ruining the beautifully smooth surface by having to test the centre with a spoon, but that's ok - we're going to cover it in sugar now :)

Sprinkle half of the remaining 40g of caster sugar over the surface and allow to melt and bubble under a grill [or the wrath of a blowtorch if you have one/ are brave enough]. Remove, sprinkle on the last 20g and repeat.


This dessert can be eaten warm or cold. On its own, with fruit, with ice cream, hell, eat it with chocolate sauce if you really want to. But promise me just one thing - eat it in the company of people you love, savour the moments, take in the memories, and enjoy the taste of something new.

xxx

25 comments:

Helen said...

Oh this looks so wonderful. I'm not sure what's happened but I can completely relate to this post. I've been feeling similar feelings recently. Hope you're ok xx

Mo said...

Aw this post has such a nice message in it, trying new things is indeed the way forward. I hope you are ok lovely?
xx

Ella said...

this looks scrummy! i feel sad that you are sad:( hope all sorts itself out soon xx
Ella @ Belle Vintage

Penny and Lola said...

Looks yummy but I hope you get unsaddened soon ! xxxx

Unknown said...

that looks so damn good. Great tutorial. I'm craving for creme brulee and I wanna try making this

-jean

daisychain said...

hope your okay beautiful x

Sarah said...

This looks so yummy! But why are you sad? I hope everything is better soon, hugs xxxx

http://strawberrycreamssapphiredreams.blogspot.com/

Maria Fallon said...

I am so grateful for all the times we have spent together over the past 3 years... so much love <3

Maria xxx

Leanne Cornelius said...

I hope you're okay hun, the opening of this post seems quite sad :( I too eat my emotions, its a bad thing isn't it! HUGE bar of chocolate consumed in seconds when I'm down!

Randomly enough me and the fella just went for a meal and he ordered Creme Brulee so we both tried this for the first time today :) Was impressed

xx

Laura said...

Totally relate to your post today. I always think that to live in the moment is a lesson best learnt now than when you're 40, look back on your life and think that you let it all get away. You're 21, you're still young and be thankful you found out the secret to happiness sooner rather than later :)

Michelle / Daisybutter said...

Omnom, I love creme brulee. Definitely happy food (: Really hope you are okay Danni? Just a Tweet or email away sweetie <3

Sorcha said...

Oooh looks amazing. I hope you're feeling better. At least the creme brulee will go a little way towards a better day!

FashionAndMe said...

Random but I love how creative you are with your text :)

Jasmin said...

Oh my I adore creme brulee, and I love trying something new, there's a sort of Christmas morning type of excitement before you taste it and when it completely exceeds your expectations it's like discovering a new treasure. Although I find you always end up craving it all the time after just discovering it! I hope you find something to make you happy and cheer you up :) x

Unknown said...

This looks amazing. I hope you are ok, and the creme brulee went some way to making you feel better xx

Tess Atkinson said...

This looks deliciouss, hope you're ok! x

Jazzy E (Hivenn) said...

♥♥

StephanieDJL said...

I hope you're okay lovely <3

Heather said...

Hey Danni hope you're ok, hope the sweets ease the pain :)

Susie said...

Hope you're OK, Danni. Also, I can't believe you know how to make creme brulee! You just took dessert making to a whole 'nother league! I think we should incorporate you into the bake-off between me and Tom from Tokyo Tombola...although you'll probably win. :)

Sonia said...

I've never tried creme brulee, but it looks so delicious.
I have a tendency to eat my feelings too, twice as much as my feelings usually.

Hope you're okay! x

Filipa said...

I got so excited looking at this because I have all the ingredients at home that means I can even go and make it now! Haha, but that wouldn't be the wisest thing cuz then I'd eat :P Maybe tomorrow tho :)

Jen said...

Oh, yummy yummy yummy! I LOVE Creme Brulee! Like you, I just discovered it recently and am now addicted. Will definitely be giving your recipe a go!

Ashley said...

I will definitely take your advice and try this for the first time with a friend!

I hope that everything starts to get better. xx

amber wheeler said...

Ahhh it looks amazingly delicious :D


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