Recipes & Food-Related Ramblings
Okay, so today’s recipe is annoyingly seasonal but hopelessly gorgeous. I realize most people don’t have a hefty supply of lilacs at their disposal. And if they do they likely live in a climate where the lilacs are on their way out by now. But look at how pretty these Mini Lilac Eclairs are? Look at them! How could I not share them with you?
Well, we’ve finally seen the back of February and I’m quite literally crawling into March. I got walloped by a cold in the final days of the month which is why today’s recipe is a few days overdue. I want to feel the hope and jubilation surrounding the end of the worst month of the year, but honestly, this cold, in addition to zapping all of my energy, has given me the worst case of the blues. So, no I can’t quite turn my attention to the bright hues and promise of spring. I’m still very much in bitter hibernation mode. At this point, the only way to soothe my internal beast is with vats of Earl Grey Hot Chocolate and Cardamom Marshmallows.
When I started thinking about today’s Vietnamese Coffee Caramel Corn I had no idea it would be so easy to make. Too easy! This corn is so simple, it’s dangerous. Today’s recipe is one of those recipes I wish I could unlearn because I have zero self-control in the face of this corn. I’ve always been a bit of a popcorn fiend but this corn really kicked it up a notch. Oh, and the recipe makes a ton, so you can happily eat your way through a ginormous bag of it until your dentist disowns you…Or you can give it away as gifts. Actually, I’m going to say you *should* give some of it away as gifts. You will immediately regret it but you will be doing yourself a kindness.
Okay, guys, hold onto your hats! The gratin I posted the other day served as the official start of the holiday season on this here blog. We’ve got two Thanksgivings, a Halloween and Christmas/Hanukkah (Bae is Jewish) to contend with. So, limit your mindless grazing and ramp up your weekly km because things are about to get decadent ’round here. Case in point: this Molasses Apple Cake with Whisky Caramel and Cinnamon Marshmallows. Now, if you’re thinking that just sounds like three desserts stacked on top of each other, well, you’re *very right. It’s a delicious hot mess of a cake and you should take it as a warning. The next few months are going to be a little dicey.