Can you ever have too many desserts?
Last night we plated six desserts. It was very fun and creative! This one below is a roasted pumpkin seed napoleon with strawberry balsamic pastry cream, chinese five spice creme anglaise and finished with nougatine. The napolean and pastry cream were Jack’s creations from Thursday night when I wasn’t here.
This one was my favorite :). A hazelnut frangelico flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis and candied hazelnuts on top.
And here is a cinnamon-cayenne chocolate mousse sitting in a pool of blueberry sauce with spicy candied almonds on top.
I used Cathy’s strudel for this because I missed making strudel on Thursday night and she had an extra. It is an apple, cranberry and gouda cheese strudel that I plated with a cinnamon pecan apple compote and chinese five spice creme anglaise (note the cool grandma plate)
Everything turned out very pretty and throughout the night I ate one of my fig newmans and a ton (too much) nougatine that I made. Nougatine is one of my favorite things ever: it’s basically just toasted almond brittle. Super easy to make and pretty darn amazing. I had another sugar high going on!
For breakfast this morning I toasted my last Rudi’s whole wheat bagel with almond butter and jam and had a bowl of fage topped with blueberries (“extras” from school last night), half a banana and agave nectar. I also had a cup of hot tea.
So, question for everyone: if I were to make a video “how-to” post what would you guys want to see? Is there a specific dessert that you always thought seemed really intimidating or that you just want to know how to make? It can’t be really time consuming for the video’s sake, but I’m open to suggestions. I think someone a while back asked about panna cotta and custard. That would be very do-able, as would something like ice cream base (creme anglaise) and nougatine. What do you all think?
I’m off to do a YogaDownload (60 minute Detox Flow) and then drive home to Tampa!
VeggieGirl
July 19, 2008 at 1:01 pmThose desserts are so extravagant-looking – love it!!
Could you possibly make a sorbet dessert for the video “how-to” post?? Sorbet is quite refreshing during these hot summer months :0)
Becca A
July 19, 2008 at 1:18 pmI love seeing all the desserts!
MizFit
July 19, 2008 at 1:31 pmooooh Im jumping in to echo veggie girl!!
that would be great.
Kelly L
July 19, 2008 at 1:37 pmVIDEO POST ON MARSHMALLOWS!!
polly
July 19, 2008 at 1:49 pmI vote for a marshmallow video!
Jaclyn
July 19, 2008 at 1:49 pmPastry dough! I’ve tried so many times and FAILED every time! I can’t make a pie for the life of me!
BethT
July 19, 2008 at 1:51 pmAnything you do would be great, but personally, I am scared to death of pie crust :O I would love to see it rolled out by an expert.
Lisa
July 19, 2008 at 2:18 pmI would love to see marshmallow too!!
Kath
July 19, 2008 at 2:23 pmNo such thing as too many desserts 🙂
Michelle
July 19, 2008 at 2:29 pmDitto about the marshmellows!!! Nothing like a homemade marshmellow i always say!!!!
pepper
July 19, 2008 at 2:31 pmmarshmallows!
C
July 19, 2008 at 2:31 pmOMG, those desserts looks so fabulous!
I was also thinking marshmallows.
Melissa
July 19, 2008 at 2:33 pmWow, look at all those desserts! they’re so beautiful! i wish mine would come out like that all the time and i knew how to plate like that!
and as for videos…any desserts! especially molding stuff…and yeast breads…if you even make those!
MOM
July 19, 2008 at 2:36 pmAMAZING DESSERTS!!!!!
erica
July 19, 2008 at 2:45 pmHaha, I have to agree with Kath on that one!
Erin
July 19, 2008 at 2:50 pmI’d love a nougatine video!
Julz
July 19, 2008 at 3:44 pmI would love to see how you plated that Cinnamon-Cayenne-Chocolate Mousse! More specifically how you got the sauce to have those little circles around its rim! Jenna, these desserts look SO BEAUTIFULLY PLATED! Honestly, they look as though they are straight from Le Bec Fin, in Philadelphia! INCREDIBLE 🙂
Serena
July 19, 2008 at 4:22 pmooh, I agree with Marshmallows or pie crust!!!
Tracey
July 19, 2008 at 4:24 pmHi Jenna! Your desserts look so beautiful and impressive – actually, all of your meals come out looking like a restaurant!
How about making a “gourmet s’mores” video where you show us how to make marshmallows AND nougatine – then take some chocolate bars and make gourmet s’mores! You could even give it a funky French name like “S’mores Du Jour!”
Every Gym's Nightmare
July 19, 2008 at 4:29 pmId probably end up jumping on that table rolling around with my mouth open for a while.
and taking the rest home to have for breakfast.
and i would like to see CREME BRULEE! i want to see you weild a blowtorch.
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Rose
July 19, 2008 at 4:34 pmI definitely vote for the marshmallows – but I’d really enjoy seeing ANY video featuring any kind of dessert.
Chandra (Eating to Live)
July 19, 2008 at 4:37 pmWow – that whole display of desserts is just making my mouth water. To have so many delicious sweet things on one table! You and your classmates are so talented.
As for special requests… this might sound crazy and I have no idea if you can do it, or what it would take, but caramel popcorn?! It’d be a dream to know how to make my own 😀
I just caught up on your past posts and I’m so glad you get to rest and have fun this weekend! Enjoy!!
ModelBehavior
July 19, 2008 at 5:15 pm**SSLLUURRPP**
Sorry just me wiping the drool off my chin from that first picture.
Marshmallow video post? YES PLEASE!!!!
KatieF
July 19, 2008 at 5:21 pmThat first picture is what I imagine heaven to look like. 🙂 The hazelnut frangelico flourless chocolate cake in particular looks FABULOUS!
I’d love a video of how to make one of your desserts!
Allyn
July 19, 2008 at 5:36 pmI would love to see a video of your cake decorating process. I always looked forward to the cake posts…. mmm… cake…
Megan
July 19, 2008 at 5:45 pmI saw that you use agave nectar. How much do you use to get enough of a sweet taste? I really want to avoid the extra calories, but was wanting to eliminate sugar substitutes.
angelcubbie
July 19, 2008 at 7:04 pmI totally vote Pie Crust, the one time I tried to make it…yeah let’s just say thank goodness for stores being open to pick up last minute pies on holidays haha Or I know, how about homemade marshmallow pie? ; )
Jessica
July 20, 2008 at 9:19 pmI’m going to have to echo the pie crust vote. Show us how to make a lattice crust!