Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Here Comes the Sun!

Well, it's official.

Winter is upon us. The winter solstice has arrived with a lunar eclipse. And the shortest day of the year.


Which means, of course, the days get longer here on out.

And summer is just around the corner!


Yes, I know. Bah. Humbug. 

Most of you are still in holiday frenzy mode. 

But I'm looking forward to the New Year, the longer days, the warm, beaming rays. And not having to worry about taking my car in to get the heater fixed!

I am totally ready to drag out a Yule log and burn out the cold, bitter heart of winter, as the ancient pagans did.

Or, you know, scarf down some Buche de Noel.

Here's one recipe from Allrecipes.com.



Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 6 egg yolks 1/2 cup white sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt 6 egg whites 1/4 cup white sugar confectioners' sugar for dusting Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whip cream, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until thick and stiff. Refrigerate. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until thick and pale. Blend in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and salt. In large glass bowl, using clean beaters, whip egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, and beat until whites form stiff peaks. Immediately fold the yolk mixture into the whites. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Dust a clean dishtowel with confectioners' sugar. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and turn the warm cake out onto the towel. Remove and discard parchment paper. Starting at the short edge of the cake, roll the cake up with the towel. Cool for 30 minutes. Unroll the cake, and spread the filling to within 1 inch of the edge. Roll the cake up with the filling inside. Place seam side down onto a serving plate, and refrigerate until serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.
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Personally, I'm not known for my adventures in confection. (That's what bakeries are for!) But every now and then I've been known to dip my elbows into bowls of chocolate or brown sugar.

Anyone have any favorites?

16 comments:

Wendy S Marcus said...

I prefer to dip my fingers in bowls of chocolate. Elbows are too difficult to lick. I have two wonderful daughters who love to bake so I don't have to! And with all the great recipes out there, my favorite of them all is old fashioned chocolate chip cookies. From a mix is fine, as long as they're fresh from the oven. (Great. Now I've made my mouth water!!)

Unknown said...

I've only made one batch of cookies so far this winter. I don't know why I just haven't been much in the mood to bake anything lately. The great thing is that this time of year, lots of other people are busy making treats and are willing to share them.

Anonymous said...

I have bought many things and made a gingerbread house! That was enough work for the rest of the holiday!

Espahan said...

I just finished making 50 Bollitos, a New Mexican yeast roll, to go with the big pot of Tortilla Soup that I plan to serve at my Boxing Day Party. I am working on first batch of cookies, Pistachio thumb print cookies filled with cherry jam. I am so loving the new rubber pad I bought for my kitchen. It sure helps when you are standing in one place for any length of time.
I keep flirting with the idea of making a Buche de Noel. Thanks for the recipe.

Taryn Kincaid said...

Wendy: Problem is, if I buy those handy dandy cookie dough rolls in the fridge section of the supermarket, they never actually make it onto a cookie sheet and into the oven. My recipe would be thus and so:
1. Slice raw dough.
2. Nibble
3. Cram.
4. Inhale
More like slice

Taryn Kincaid said...

Eleri -- I am sooooo with you on this. My office is like Betty Crocker's House kitchen exploded and rained down chocolate nuggets and pecan turtles and rum balls and such. (Suck-up clients!) Someone sent an edible fruit display today. Among all the other treasures: giant wedges of pineapple covered in sea-foam green white chocloate, edged with cocoanut. Like a pina colada on a popsicle stick!

Problem is, the more I read on Twitter about all the bake-a-thons so many folks seem to be engaged in -- 9 dozen before dawn! -- the more cookie-deficient I feel.

Taryn Kincaid said...

Gingerbread house!

One of my favorites!

Taryn Kincaid said...

Marcella -- You had me at Tortilla Soup. I'd be inviting myself over if you lived east of the Hudson!

Wendy S Marcus said...

Oooohhhh! Pecan turtles are my favorite candy. If you don't want them, e-mail me and I'll send you my address...you know...so I can help you out!

Taryn Kincaid said...

Sorry. Mine, too. Although Almond Rocas are tonight's fave.

(Love the one you're with.)

Espahan said...

EEW! Raw cookie dough! I'll have one of those rum balls, though. Yep.

Taryn Kincaid said...

Speaking of rum balls, just got a terrific recipe from Jenny Schwartz over at the eHarlequin.comCommunity. (I posted an abbreviated version of this blog over there.)
I don't think she'll mind if I splash it up here:

Cherry truffles
Posted on December 21st, 2010, 8:52pm by Jenny Schwartz
Candied cherries soaked in brandy, wrapped in a choc mix and dusted with bitter cocoa powder. Not too taxing, but these days I don't even make that much effort. Like you, I've discovered bakeries! confectioners! hell, even the lolly aisle in the supermarket. Call me lazy, but I'll be the one without a headache, enjoying her scotch on the rocks and humming Christmas carols in the shade.

Jenny

author of "Angel Thief", Carina Press
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Anonymous said...

Bring on the Yule log!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Stay warm! Or you can always come out to Arizona. :-)

Taryn Kincaid said...

Backatcha, Liz!

Shoshanna Evers said...

Sounds yummy. Wish I knew how to bake. Can you just, I dunno...Fed-Ex me something yummy? Anyone?

Taryn Kincaid said...

I don't bake. Don't ask me!

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