Panna Cotta and Soufflé

Baking 3

Soufflés, pate a choux, and pastry cream. This class was fun, and different -- because I could not try anything that I made. I have been put on a cleanse (by my nutritionist) and I knew that meant I would not be able to taste anything this week. It was fun, just cooking, without the anticipation (or anxiety) of the outcome going into my belly. The cleanse is only for 7 days, and knowing that it would present a problem over the course of this once a week baking class, I chose accordingly which week would be OK for me to skip tasting. It's strange because I pretty much like all sweets, but I'm not a huge fan of puff pastry, eclairs, etc. So I knew it wouldn't kill me to pass this time.
This week, I felt more confident, more at ease, just sort of playing in the kitchen. Often I try so hard to do well, make everything perfect, with the outcome in mind, that I don't put the energy into the process, which would ensure a good outcome (right?). It seems that sometimes, when you ease back a little and just let things flow, it all works out (even better) in the end. And so it was.
I made eclairs, filled with pastry cream, topped with chocolate ganache, and chocolate soufflé with a melted chocolate center. I understand both were excellent! Hooray.

Chocolate Soufflé

Thanks Julia, and Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I made this wonderful chocolate soufflé last night. It was pretty darned easy, I know that goes against everything you've heard about soufflés. But really. Next time I might try to undercook it so that I can have a molten lava center. Molten lava, say it with me.

eggs & cheese & soufflé, oh my

Last night in class I made hollandaise sauce and a poached egg. Piled them together with sauteed spinach and an english muffin to make Eggs Florentine. It was a fantastic dinner! Then I made a cheese soufflé. I had never had such without chocolate, but it was a tasty little dinner too! These are the dishes I made myself- oui.

It was the 8 cheeses I tasted before all this, and the linguini carbonera I tasted afterward that pushed me over the edge. I need a nice long walk today, and a stick of celery for dinner tonight to counter all that yummy goodness.