I goofed and need your input to save me: Wife's Birthday

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by LWJ

These are fantastic! She has a gateau recipe that is a huge family favorite. I will leave it for her.

But the scuffle and dacquoise (WTH is that anyway? Sounds amazing!) are appreciated. As is the lava cake!

What makes dacquoise unique and special is texture. What other dessert can you get elegant creamy, dense, crunchy, airy, chewy sweetness in every bite?

There is only one that I know of and that's an innovative variation on bread pudding where fresh french bread is torn and toasted first, the pieces loosely mixed with heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and laid out on a sheet pan in a convection oven. Once the crispy pieces have brown, pull, mix with milk chocolate and shards of dark chocolate, let cool on the pan, mix in strawberries and loosely pack in a bucket and refrigerate. Bites are sweet, gooey, crunchy, chocolaty and a strawberry, again, cleanses the palate from the fat and carb goodness.

I always wanted to make a line of savory bread puddings (lamb, feta, tomato, rosemary) that you would get in your grocer's freezer but texture was a problem in freezing and then baking.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Dixie

After thirty five years of banners, Hamburger Helper, and doing the dishes after, maybe she expected more. Like jewelry, a trip to France, or at least dinner out.

(Just teasing JWL. I'm sure you're a fine chef, she enjoyed the attention, and she didn't say boo about dessert. )

To me a home cooked meal for a birthday is more personal and loving . You are celebrating that person's birthday . Anniversary is different, both are celebrating a milestone . You go out to dinner . Everyone is different I suppose .

[LWJ]

Oh Dixie. She isn't complaining about the lifestyle.

When I want to REALLY tick Mrs. LWJ off? I reminder her that not only her every dream has come true but most of her dreams have been wildly surpassed. She grew up poor.

I have made a point of ticking off most all of the items on her bucket list over the years. With one exception: She has always wanted to hold a baby chimp. Which, we accept probably isn't ethical or smart.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by wilnj

The triple chocolate? 48 minutes, no more, no less in my old oven but that's with a metal brownie pan.

The downside of cooking for one is that things like that are dangerous to leave sitting around. I'll need to look for an opportunity to share them so I don't have a tray of brownies calling my name.

Takes 42 here. But I make a double box in a 13x9. The kids inhale it so it doesn't last long.