My battle with Pot De Creme

Woah! Pot De Creme! Why are you so unfailingly moody?! Really, you should take a chill pill.

So, I have recently ended my war with pot de Creme, and I wanted to share my new knowledge with the world...

Be careful not to crimp the edges of the foil when baking. It will trap the steam and curdle the custard.

Chocolate Pot De Creme
(makes 12 pots)

6oz. 58% chocolate chips
1 1/3 cup cream
2/3 c milk
2 tsp. Coffee extract OR brewed coffee
6 yolks
2T sugar

-heat cream and extract in small sauce pan.
-in a heat proof bowl combine chocolate chips and sugar
-pour heated cream over chocolate and sugar
-add yolks
-stir until smooth
-pour into ceramic pots
-bake in water bath, lightly covered with foil
-bake for approx. 20 min. at 350•
-custard will jiggle slightly but will still hold form. Be careful not to over bake! Check on them after 10 min, and continue to check every 5 min.

Enjoy!!

Got Vitamin K?

If you're feeling a little low on vitamin K and iron, or need a good does of fiber or antioxidant nutrients, then this dish may be for you....

Sweet Kale with Pancetta

4oz. pancetta (roughly chopped)
4 stems of Kale (leaves only, roughly chopped)
1T butter
1T oil
2T Sugar

-Heat oil and butter in a sautee pan, add pancetta, cook 1-2 min
-Add kale and cover with a lid to steam (1-2 min)
-Sprinkle sugar on top and steam for 1 min more.
-Serve hot

WARNING: My trails have shown that husbands may not like this :-(

 But I sure do!!!

enjoy!

Pancakes

In most cases, when given the opportunity, I will refuse to order pancakes at a restaurant. It's just too risky. I have many strong opinions as to what a pancake needs to be, and very often, I am disappointed. Firstly, they need to be really hot! steaming! I want to drop a pad of butter on top of a stack of pancakes and watch it sizzle! If pancakes are warm, or even cold, they border on uneatable. Secondly, they can't be too doughy. It is unacceptable for the inside of the pancake to be super dense or wet. Pancakes should be thick and fluffy, and while I am fully able to complain about a restaurants inability to create such pancakes, until recently, I wasn't able to either! 

***Secret Thick and Fluffy Pancake Ingredient: White Vinegar 

Perfect Pancakes (makes 4)

3/4 C milk

2T white vinegar

1C Flour

2T sugar

1t Baking Powder

1/2 t Baking Soda

1 egg

2T melted butter

-in a small bowl combine the vinegar with the milk and set aside

-In a medium bowl sift together the drys with a whisk until fully incorporated

-Whisk the egg and melted butter into the milk mixture and whisk until combined

-stream wet into dry and mix until smooth

-Cook them

-Share them

-Eat them

-Take a nap after