Random Cooking Moments

Just made the most bestest accident brownies! Yumm (:

Braised Turkey. Potato Gratin. Homemade Rolls. Spicy Salsa. Super delicious! Amazingly mouthwatering! The turkey was melt in your mouth and covered in crispy skin. The potato gratin was perfectly cooked with a hint of nutmeg. Rolls fresh and hot from the oven.
BUT WAIT! Just because it’s Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean you can over eat. So maybe it’s the best meal you’ve had all year… Learn to cook!

I’ve done it! I’ve finally found the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. In the past, my cookies either had too much flour or baking soda and were hard as soon as they were out the oven. But now, with my amazingly awesome new cookbook flipping fingers, I have found that special recipe. Soft and moist and slightly chewy and very much delicious.I am definitely in L-O-V-E. Thanks secret cookbook author!

-themaskedcook (:

Today’s my mother’s birthday! Since I was low on money and high on baking ingredients, I decided to bake her a cake. Imagine this, moist 2-layer chocolate cake with the prefect chocolate ganache in between (my first attempt turned out amazing). Frosted with coconut cream cheese icing and topped with toasted coconut. It took all day, including cooling time. Definitely worth the wait!
Ideas on icings for chocolate cake?

-themaskedcook

There’s this place called ‘La Boulangerie’, and it’s absolutely amazing. A cute little shop in Northern France called ‘the bakery’. With soft lighting, but not too soft that you can’t see what’s going on. The staff, very friendly and courteous. So. To the point. I trekked the mile or so to and from the bakery in the rain with my grandfather. By the time we arrived home, I was shaking in my sandals, who knew it would start raining five minutes into the walk? I guess that’s why weather’s important… But the potential cold was totally worth it! Once I cut my self a LARGE piece of tart (I deserve it, right?), I proceeded to take the first bite into my mouth. Flavors explode and I’m almost dizzy with sensation. The crust is like no other crust I have tasted, it is perfectly flaky and nice and thick, not pizza thin. The pastry cream, the perfect amount of sweetness and well portioned. On to the strawberries, crisp and fresh, as if picked that very morning and glazed slightly with a lightly sugared syrup. Delicious! The best I’ve ever had, a new go-to place, even if it’s all the way in France. New optimism for the flavors of this country!