Alchemy

[mamagotcha]

Alchemy
Originally uploaded by mamagotcha.

I love the little surprises you get while cooking, how things become
more than the sum of their parts sometimes. A recipe says "stir gently
until smooth," which doesn't even begin to hint at the spectacular and
sudden transformation of a bowl of sodden, messy sludge into a glossy,
luminous mass of truffle filling. I was despairing of this recipe
working, because of course I had to fiddle with it. To my astonishment,
this glorious substance just bubbled up from the depths of the chaos...
I can see how people could be tempted to call this magic.

Of course, I've also visited Hell via seizing a whole bowl of expensive
couverture (years ago... I've learned how to temper since then, you
betcha). It goes both ways, doesn't it? But tonight, so far, the Kitchen
Deities have chosen to smile upon me, and I am so grateful.

Comments

[stegenrae.livejournal.com]

i'm grateful, too. or at least i will be once i taste the luscious concoction.

(oh, and the comparably breezy--though tough for this non-chocolatier--peanut butter balls are ready to go. your standards are much too high. i merely strain to reach "edible" at times!)

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Shhhh! It's not for the exchange... these are Amaretto truffles, with a boost from almond butter and toasted nuts on the outside. It's part of the pile of edible gifts I'm passing out this year.

I've got to get back to the simple drop cookies... all the things I've made this year so far have been a little fiddly. Two kinds of sandwich-style cookies, a double batch of biscotti (each batch having to be baked twice), three kinds of candy, and one cookie that was refrigerated then rolled in sugar before baking, and was really crumbly and finicky.

I don't think I'm going to coat them tonight, though. I think I need some sleep...

See you soon!