A Gift For You
Temptation
Temptation is a plump, red, hot house tomato! And, I gave in to it.
Have you bitten into a ripe tomato drizzled with sea salt and olive oil? No. You must! If you want to know what lust and love is. It is a singular pleasure. Very few things can compare to the slurp and settling flourish of that bite. The way the salt brings out the juices that as they come in contact with the olive oil, crescend into a spontaneous emulsion; Words do little justice.
Now, let us simply notch up the game. Blood oranges. There is something just wicked about them. Wickedly good. There they are looking pleasantly like a orange until you cut into them and watch them bleed. It makes you want to reach and suck all of that delicious, sweet, sticky nectar as it streams down your hand. It's reflexive. It's like an after aphrodisiac. You want it. More and more.
Bring the two together and it is .........
A Waffle Concept and Savory Turmeric Toasted Chickpea and Squash Waffles
You see, if you are gluten free or simply wheat allergic, like me, it is absolute pain in the ass to find bread substitutes that are fluffy, light and do not taste like card board because the US still has not caught with gluten free baking as much as our friends across the Atlantic. In comes, the savior, the humble waffle maker.
I have been testing a few flavors and this one today made with chickpea flour and incorporating roasted squash was perhaps one of the tougher one for the little fella to work through. But, eventually, I figured it out and all was sunny.
So, that is my waffle concept - an alternative bread......
Dublin, Eat and Drink - A Photo Post
Dublin this time completely amazed me. The quality of Irish food has always been gastronomic but the city now has several restaurant that have adopted the gastronomique from global cuisines and incorporated them into an Irish way of eating.
Even more I loved the craft coffee culture that is springing up all around the city. I had several cups of beautifully roasted and well poured pulls! Below are some captures from my five days in the city just before last Christmas from places that blew my NYC mind! I highly recommend the Roasted Brown Coffee Co. for a relaxed cuppa with simple and delicious eats.
In Ballsbridge is a coffee kiosk that is also a micro-roastery. Yes, he roasted and pulls in a tiny shower stall sized kiosk. And, it is fantastic!!! Now, that is a revolution!
More Cake? With Custard! Or when to draw the line...
You will have to bear with my story (oh yes! today, I have one) because at the end of it... There is CAKE!! But, more importantly, also Custard, or, if you want to be fancy, Crème Anglaise (English cream). The latter is important because that is the crux of this story that spirals out like Arabian Nights in sequence. So, rewind to Saturday evening.... {Read the story from the link below}
Now about that cake. This would be my go to chocolate cake. It is simple. Flour, cocoa powder, egg, milk, raw sugar, butter or oil. Typically, I would make it with regular flour but since my wheat allergy, I have been playing pantry with gluten free stuff.
This is a simple chocolate cake. I mix olive oil and butter in equal parts for the fat part. Oil makes it moister and the butter tastier. But you can equivalent volume of one or the other. I like eating it right from the cake pan (hence the missing chunk in the photos). But you can just easily, frost it or serve with custard. Pretty much do what you want with it. It is a basic recipe.