The Deflated Dacquoise and the Under-Appreciated Egg Noodles

OK, this is the wonder of being in a book club. Three weeks ago I didn't know what a dacquoise was and yesterday, I found myself creating one in my kitchen for our annual Cook-While-You-Book Book Club meeting. (I just made up that title but I think it works.)

One month every year, we select a book/novel/memoir that involves food and has recipes. Everyone reads the book and makes a recipe to bring to the meeting. I made a french dessert called a dacquoise.

According to Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine and author of this month's book Comfort Me with Apples, it was a dessert served in every French restaurant and very popular on menus of the best American restaurants in the 70s. It's basically two meringue layers with buttercream (or some type of filling) in between the layers. So, since I had never seen or tasted one, I thought I would make it. This is what one is supposed to look like.

A beautiful example of a dacquoise courtesy of kategiventofly

OK, one thing I need to share with you. I love to read, I love to sew, I hate to cook.

Cooking just puts me in a bad mood -- All you chefs out there who feel that making food nourishes your soul and there is no better way to demonstrate your love for friends and family than preparing a meal that comforts, nourishes and feeds them....well, I don't get you. No offense. I love being on the receiving end of your gifts, but cooking stresses me out.

Regardless of my aversion to cooking, I don't mind playing the role once in while -- after all, I love to watch the food channel and Top Chef is one of my favorite TV shows.

To make a long story short: after getting yolks into my egg whites, scalding the cream/sugar for the buttercream, de-flating the stiff-glossy peaks of my meringue, scorching the almonds (I went through 3 cups of almonds versus 1.5), and drinking two glasses of wine, I ended up with this beauty.


Ladies and Gentleman, I present the French Dacquoise. A little lopsided, a little flat... In fact, it looks like someone sat on it in the car on the way to my sister's house. Note the strategically-placed flowers and the pretty cake plate, all designed to take your attention away from the deflated dacquoise.

I thought I had it tough until my friend Gena decided to tackle the Ham, Asparagus and Garlic-Cream Egg Noodle dish...with homemade egg noodles. Here's a copy of the email I received yesterday morning which Gena had sent the night before at 1:00am.

I decided to make the homemade egg noodles at 9:30 tonight... shoot me now! I still have to wait 20 more minutes to flip them again as they dry out. Thank GOD I did not marry Anthony Scarcia...it is so much easier to cook a potato for my Irishman!!

Top 5 reasons to buy prepackaged egg noodles:

1. The noodles have to be flipped "occasionally" for 2 hours while they dry out.

2. Did I mention the dough has to be wrapped in plastic and sit for 1 hour before you hang it out to dry (for 2 hours)?

3. You need super-human strength to roll out the thick dough.

4. If you knew just how many egg yolks went into egg noodles, you'd never eat another one as long as you live (ignorance is bliss).

5. If you buy pre-packaged egg noodles, you'll have much more time to burp your Amish bread starter!!!!!!!!!

OK, I am going delirious - 8 more minutes and then I can go to bed!!

See you tomorrow night (tonight),

Gena

At the end of the night, the book was pretty good but the meal was so much better.

My sister noted that the title of the book is taken from this passage in Chapter 2 of the Song of Songs. I thought it was beautiful:

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick with love.

If you find yourself wanting to make a dacquoise for your loved ones, here are some recipes from Epicurious. I'm off to feed the leftovers to the poor souls who missed our meeting. And until next year, I'm sticking to my needles.

Housework Complete

OK, so technically, my housework is not complete but my beadwork house is! I hope to have a few hours this evening to complete the background. If all goes well, I will post it completed tomorrow and then I can tell you it's significance.


I'm happy to report that the purse I told you about last time which I made for the Japanese Embroidery Center fundraiser was a success!

Remember how I wanted ALL the women to be so desirous of the purse that they ALL wanted to win the raffle and so they would buy lots of raffle tickets?? Well, as Garth Brooks says, sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. When I got there, there were only 9 women in attendance this year...that was compared to 25 women last year. I was worried. No matter how you slice it, 9 women don't have the same potential raffle sales as 25. At 1 ticket/$5, 3 tickets/$10 and 10 tickets/$20; I had visions of my purse being raffled off and having only made $50 max.


Well, I have learned a lesson. I learned that I didn't really need a whole room full of desirous women (though that would have been nice...). All it takes is ONE really interested person who is willing to pay ALOT. I hadn't considered this scenario. There was woman there who loved the purse so much that she went around asking permission to "buy out" all the other ladies so they would not buy any raffles and she could win the purse. She offered to donate $150 to the Japanese Embroidery Center and bought the purse outright, then and there. WOW! I never expected that and it was the best possible outcome for the day.

The American Debate and a "Japanese" Purse

Last night I sewed my Japanese purse for the fundraiser today while listening to the debate between Senators McCain and Obama and I couldn't help but be struck by a few thoughts.

First and foremost, regardless of which candidate I'm supporting at the moment, I felt incredibly lucky. I felt lucky to live in a country where debates concerning serious issues are allowed to occur and that they are televised for the entire country to see. Every citizen is allowed to watch and to judge for themselves. I felt very proud to be an American while I was making my Japanese-themed purse.

Secondly, I was struck by the enormous responsibility and burden that both of these men are willing to fight for in their pursuit of the presidency of the United States. OK, I've always thought it was a tough job, but we are facing one of the most frightening and pivotal points in our history, which makes their commitment seem even more courageous. Ask yourself, would you want that job right now? And would you want it when you're 73 years old?


To be honest, I was struck by the passion, the strength, the preparation and commitment of both of those men. And again, I felt lucky to be an American. Lucky to have a choice when faced with such challenging times.


My son Jack is taking forensics/public speaking at school so I encouraged him to watch the debates last night. At first, he complained that he's rather watch a movie. Frankly, I could understand that as I remembered how boring I thought they were when I was a kid. But I pressed it...and he watched.

After the debate started, neither my husband nor my son said a word. Frankly, I believe they were mesmerized. There was a lot of information to absorb and you could tell by the tone of the arguments, that the issues being discussed were serious and important. There was a tremendous amount of information to digest and the gravity of the moment was not lost on Jack who is only 12.

At the end of the night, my purse was ready for the fundraiser but I'm not sure I was ready to make my decision about our next President. I have a lot of work left to do on that front.

My Beads Runneth Over...and My Time Runneth Out

I feel like I'm coming down the home stretch with this project. Most of the major decisions have been made and I've settled into a comfortable pace.


And, even though it's a dim day for taking pictures, I just can't feel very dim inside when I'm working with such shiny, happy materials.

This morning, I was delighted to find a beautiful example of bead journaling by freebird. I love the different patterns and colors she's taken from her Grandma O'Keefe's wedding ring quilt.


I have admired her work before but I'm particularly fond of the story behind this piece. You can read about it here.

Unfortunately, I must immediately interrupt this project (underscore of screeching brakes...) to make this important announcement.

I'm afraid that the delightful conversation I've been having with my beaded house has put me behind on a commitment I've made to another.

Ahh, it's a tangled love affair. Too many loves, too little time.

Today I will be leaving the world of beads (*sob) and turning my attention to the world of Japanese textiles and vintage kimono fabrics.

Photo courtesy of melaniegrayaugustin

You see, by tomorrow morning, I need to make a purse to be raffled off to raise money for the Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta. Not only do I have to make the purse, but it should be SO DESIRABLE that women will forget the economic threat of another Great Depression, open up their pocketbooks and buy as many raffle tickets as it takes to make sure they don't leave the house without THAT purse. They will just die if they don't get it.

Oh boy, the pressure. I better go find something fabulous and come up with something quick.

Here are some pics of the purse I raffled last year...

It raised $250.

Oh....the pressure.

Michelangelo and the Bead Journal Project

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

This idea of Michelangelo's has always amazed me.

In fact, Michelangelo himself is fairly exceptional. He stands out as one of the world's most accomplished and creative souls yet he took no credit for his work.

Instead, he believed that the beauty in the world pre-existed and his job was to release it. What a powerful thought.

Perhaps our biggest masterpiece, our life, functions in the same way. Perhaps our duty on this earth isn't to create beauty per se but to release and discover the beauty that is all around us.

And, if we could only be half as committed and tenacious as Michelangelo in liberating the beauty in our lives, can you imagine the splendor that would be brought forth?

You see, my bead embroidery has been speaking to me. And I have been trying to listen.


After about 25 hours of beading so far, here's what I've learned:

1. I believe this piece is revealing itself to me the more time I spend with it and it's a beautiful conversation. It has a story but I'm not quite ready to tell it.
   
2. There is a rhythm to beading just like in any other needleart, it's just got it's own beat. I find myself drawn to it's pattern and I don't want to put it down. I am eager to see what comes next.
3. I am learning to like Timtex. As I have made needlehole after needlehole, it has developed a comfortable, more pliable hand yet still retains its shape very nicely. It makes me wonder, what if I were to "peforate" the Timtex on my sewing machine with no thread in the needle before stitching to prepare the fabric for beading...hmmm....
4. It takes a long time to place each bead and sew them down one by one. I'm thinking that Susan's "last-minute, whip-it-out" approach isn't going to work for the Bead Journal Project...hmmm....
5. I found that a 10 milliners needle and some well-placed callouses have mitigated the pain of the first few days. But that's nothing compared to painting the entire ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on your back...
   

Now, I'm no Michelangelo and I don't pretend to be.

But there was some reason that I had these thoughts today while I was beading; so, I am putting them out there for you to discover them.

As for me, I think I'd like to uncover more about Michelangelo; his life, his work and his thought...

First Day of Fall

Vogue Knitting's Drop-Collar Cardigan

After reading this knitting post the other day, Barbara Curiel commented that she planned to make this sweater.


I've decided to join her and now we are both planning to knit it together. We won't be starting until October 15 so if you'd like to join us, just leave a comment and let me know. I've ordered Debbie Bliss' off-white cashmerino chunky.

I just love the collar on this sweater -- I think it provides the perfect backdrop to showcase a beautiful brooch! I agree with Barbara that it should be fairly straight-forward to knit...The perfect project for cool Fall evenings and football-watching. It won't be long before we'll have this chic new sweater to wear to all the holiday parties. Won't you play along?

Also, in case you're a fan of Debbie Bliss, she just published the premiere issue of her own magazine which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. You might want to check it out...

Bead Journal Project -- September Progress

September is the kickoff month for Robin Atkin's Bead Journal Project. This is my first attempt at a beaded journal piece and I am learning many lessons along the way.

I sketched my plan of what I wanted to create and was ready to go.


I wasn't sure what to use for the backing. I was eager to get beading so I went to one of Robin's books, read about my options and found the one product I had in my stash....Timtex. Well folks, Timtex is pretty stiff, I use it as interfacing when I want to make a purse super-stiff. What did I know?

Well, two sore fingertips later, I now KNOW. Timtex for beading, never again! And, as if the cosmos was communicating my pain, just yesterday Robin published this post...recommending acid-free interleaving paper....ahhhhhh.....that just sounds refreshing to my poor sore digits. Here's a progress pic.


Luckily for me, I don't have to bead in the dark for too much longer. The Constellation Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild here in Maryland is having Robin Atkins here to teach us bead embroidery the first weekend in October. She will also be giving a lecture on the worldwide Bead Journal Project 2007 which is rumored to have so much eye candy that we're recommending the attendees wear a bib to the lecture (you know, to catch the drool).

When I signed up, I knew that I wouldn't know what I was doing at the outset of the BJP, but I figured I could get through September on my own...

Let's just say, Robin can't get here soon enough!

The Traveling Umbrella...

This picture just made my day!!! Here's why in case you don't know the story....

Falling for Spring Fashion 2009

I love fashion. Nothing inspires my needle and gives me more ideas than watching the fashion trends that come out every season. This month, New York and London have both held their fashion shows for Spring 2009 RTW. Here's what I saw...


Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles and layer upon layer of sheer fabrics...

By Jo Packham

by Carolina Herrera

By Luella

And lots of ribbons both woven and flowing...

By Benjamin Cho

By Miele

And lace like this dress by Diane Von Furstenburg.

All of Diane Von Furstenberg's models wore these headdresses to match their dresses. I think I liked them more than the clothes!


And who said that yo-yo's are "homespun", B. Michael made a giant yo-yo into a hat!


And some designers like Luella use it all!!



But, by far the most fun show I reviewed was by Betsey Johnson.

It's nice to see a show that simply makes you smile.

I loved everything about this show...the stage, the make up, the hair, the models, the clothes. You can watch the fashion show here.


But this is my absolute fave Betsey Johnson look....

Unfortunately, I can't wear that down the streets of New York. It's just not practical.

This look, however, by Temperley London is what I hope the paparazzi will catch me wearing on my way out of Tiffany's....

Speaking of Tiffany's, I've got to go work on my block...

Hope you have a day filled with inspiration!

All images from Coutorture

Kazuko Aoki's Wonderful Needlework

I've been wanting to share this book with you for some time because it's one of my favorites.

There are many foreign language needlework books in my library; some French and many Japanese.

This book is written all in Japanese but that should not deter you. The pictures are detailed and beautiful and the eye candy in this book is a treat for all your senses.

One thing I admire most about Japanese needlewomen is their exquisite attention to detail and their willingness to create beauty around them from some of the objects that we use most every day.


Kazuko Aoki is a queen when it come to elevating the mundane and the subtle nuances of daily life to the status of art. She really pays attention to the world around her, whether man-made or natural, and then seeks to find and use that beauty in the needlework she creates.


Her approach is representative of one of the key spiritual values of the wabi-sabi aesthetic...the idea that the inconspicuous or overlooked detail can be elevated to "greatness". Though not easily or concisely translated, wabi-sabi exists as a comprehensive value system for the Japanese and I'd love to discuss it again in a later post.



I own quite a few of Kazuko Aoki's numerous needlework books and I have yet to be disappointed by one of her publications.

When I lived in Japan, I would take an entire day to go to the Kinokuniya bookstore and settle down in their "craft book" section. One more beautiful book after another is shelved there. Luckily for us, there are many Kinokuniya bookstores around the world and I am just a short trip away from one in New York City.


If you go there, I highly recommend a side trip over to Takashimaya, the Japanese Department store on 5th Ave. and have "Japanese" afternoon tea at the Tea Box Cafe. You will not be disappointed!


When I can't get to Kinokuniya and I must have a book, I have ordered books from Amazon (Japan). I have also ordered books from Amazon (France) and have had success with both, though the shipping can be as much as the books themselves. On both sites, there is a button to click on that converts the site to English. I figure, it's cheaper than a trip to Japan or a trip to New York. In fact, I get regular emails from both of these stores with newly released needlework books for me to peruse.

Here's a link to Kazuko Aoki's book from today's post on Amazon (Japan).