Genetic Predisposition

Without fail I utter the words "I could really go for a sweet treat" approximately 30 minutes after I eat dinner every night. While one might think this is a bit odd both my cousins Katie + Krissy have the same daily ritual.  When I was trying to think about where this behavior may have originated I immediately thought of our Grandma Dorry, who religiously ate a sweet treat EVERY night before she went to bed.

 Wednesday would have been Grandma Dorry's 84th birthday + our family in Chicago gets together every year for a special dinner to celebrate her life. Since my cousins + I are split between New York + San Francisco we can never make it.  This year Katie, my New York based cousin + I decided to have our own celebration, order dinner + make one of our Grandma's favorite sweet treats, caramel candies.  To complete our night we video chatted with Krissy in San Fran to catch up, reminisce + laugh a lot.

Riding in the taxi back to my apartment that night I couldn't help but be a little sad that it has been 4 years since we've actually been able to spend my Grandma's birthday with her.  As I felt tears begin to well up I was reminded of the sweetest treat of all, my family, who all in our own special way allow her legacy to live on through the traditions that she taught us + other traits we are genetically predisposed to.

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Fleur De Sel Caramels {adapted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook}

Grocery List

Dairy

1.5 cups heavy cream

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

Dry Goods

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Spice Cabinet

1 teaspoon Fleur De Sel {plus extra for sprinkling!}

Game Plan

Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, then brush the paper lightly with oil, allowing the paper to drape over 2 sides.

In a deep saucepan (6 inches diameter by 4 1/2 inches deep) combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to boil until the caramel is a warm golden brown color. Don't stir - just swirl the pan to mix. Watch carefully, as it will burn quickly at the end!

In the meantime, bring the cream, butter, and 1 teaspoon fleur de sel to a simmer in a small pan over medium heat. Remove from the heat, set aside and keep warm.

When the caramelized sugar is the right color, slowly add the cream mixture to the caramel - it will boil up violently. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and cook over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F (firm ball) on a candy thermometer. Be patient with this step and it will get there. Very carefully (it's hot!) pour the caramel into the prepared pan and refrigerate until firm.

When the caramels are cool, use the parchment paper to pry the sheet from the pan onto a cutting board. Starting at 1 end, roll the caramel up tightly until you've rolled up half of the sheet. Cut the sheet across and then roll the second half tightly. You will have 2 (1 by 8-inch) logs. Sprinkle both logs lightly with fleur de sel, cut each log in 8 pieces. Cut parchment papers in 6 by 4 1/2-inch squares and wrap each caramel in a paper, twisting the ends. Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

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xo

jules

Birthday Bathtime!

When we were doling out responsibilities for my dear friend Lizzie's birthday celebration I was charged with bringing a sweet treat of some kind. Our friend Katie mentioned she had already put in an order for the unparalleled  Momofuku Birthday Cake that we have all been obsessed with since my birthday.  Then Angela had suggested I try + make my own interpretation of the Momofuku Birthday Cake + we could compare + contrast the two.  I wimped out of the challenge + went on a mission to find another suitable recipe to make.

As I was sifting through cookbooks, binders of recipes I clipped from magazines + some of my favorite food blogs I was simultaneously racking my brain to think of Lizzie's favorite flavors when it hit me. She loved when I made Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding once + mentioned she would "take a bath in it if she could".  While I am not usually a fan of making the same recipe more than once this one is too tasty not to be repeated.

Happy Birthday Lizzie, best wishes for the best year to date! xo

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Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding {adapted from the More From Magnolia Cookbook}

Grocery List

Dairy

3 cups heavy whipping cream

Produce

4 cups sliced ripe bananas

Dry Goods

14oz can sweetened condensed milk

12oz box Nilla Waffers {I prefer the mini Nilla Waffers}

 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding {Jello Brand preferred}

Misc

1.5 cups ice water

Game Plan

1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

2.  In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

3. To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.
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xo

jules