Here Comes The Rain Again

As I stated in my blog of 9-24-12 that I don't predict the weather, but based on my observation of nature I made an assumption that this would be an early winter, since the leaves started turning in mid August. I also know that what we call winter in the Bay Area is a rainy season, not winter as I knew it growing up. So, hang in there back East with hurricane Sandy.

Sandy is my mother-in-law's name, and if this storm is anything like here it will be a real bitch for sure.

I spent last weekend getting ready for this storm covering up wood stacks, putting a tarp on the  teardrop trailer, a little painting, etc. I went up on the roof to do my annual inspection.

The weather reports turned out to be correct for a change. The National Weather Service was accurate for a change and we got 3 inches of rain before the weekend, and two foot of show in the Sierra mountains, and that translates into 1/8 of the rainfall California needs for the entire year of 2013.

I hope an early winter translates into an early spring. In other words, let's get the friggin rainy season over quickly.  So, the best summer weather I can remember in my 40 plus years of living out west comes to an end. It was a beauty. Change is a constant. I do like the crisp winter weather, and the sunrise and sunsets in the spring, winter and fall are incredible.

So, my recipe for this week is another dish from Geraldine, my beautiful wife, created for a party we had two weeks ago. About 6 or 7 weeks ago we got the latest addition of Saveur magazine, and Geri and I have been making recipes from it since it arrived in our mailbox. This is the 101 classic recipe issue. Each page you turn makes your mouth water. Page 76 has a recipe that caught Geri's eye for Lamingtons.

Lamington's is named for a 19th century governor of Queensland, Australia. Since Geraldine is Irish and her kin were banished to Australia, most likely because they were criminals, at least in the eyes of the British monarchy, it's a classic paring for her. Lamingtons are cubes of buttercake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut flakes. It's a dense cake, but when baked correctly comes out moist, and Geri rocked this one.

I know I say this all the time but Savuer rules when it comes to cooking magazines. Bon Appetite can't even come close.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Lamingtons

Ingredients:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted plus more for pan
1 cup flour, plus more for pan
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2  tsp. kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs separated
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8 oz. milk chocolate chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz. unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease and flour an 8" X 8" baking pan, set aside. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl, set aside. In a large bowl whisk sugar and egg whites until soft peaks form. Add butter, egg yolks, and vanilla. Fold until combined. Add dry ingredients and fold until smooth. Pour into the greased pan and smooth out the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes, and and then invert the cake onto a rack and cool completely. Cut into 16 squares, and set aside.

2) In a bowl place the chopped milk chocolate. Boil the cream in a 2 qt. saucepan on high heat, and pour over the chocolate, and let sit for 1 minute. Stir slowly until smooth. Place coconut on a sheet pan. Roll the square cakes in the chocolate and then roll them in the coconut. Chill in the fridge until the chocolate sets, about an hour.

Geraldine..not my best shot for sure

Lamingtons