"Almond Macarons with Chocolate Ganache" or "How I Lost My Arm In The War"

Macarons are notoriously admired for being deviously delicious sometimey whores. It's one of the few things that people actually freak out about baking. It may be because they're meringues,  but it's most likely because they're french. I say a cookie is a cookie is a cookie, but then I never actually tried to make them. My real courage came a few days ago when I stumbled upon this lovely blogpost about how we were all silly chickens for worrying over a dessert, and I decided it was time to try my shaking hand.

# 55 Crème Brûlée

If you've ever had real crème brûlée (and I'm hoping you have) you know it's a thing of beauty. A custardy cup of heaven with a caramelized sugar top that's fun to crack with your spoon (just ask Amelie).

Crème Brûlée ice cream with a caramelized sugar swirl is a wonderful fantastical idea. If the dream were to work out in reality it would be the stuff of legends. Angels would sing. Grown men would weep. Gas tanks could run on hopes and dreams... This little pint sadly does not live up to the fantasy. To put it briefly this tasted like chalk. Or rather, very nice vanilla ice cream with something strangely chalky about it. Ever eat one of those pepto bismal chewable tablets that coat your tongue on the way down? It was like that. I know I'm making it out to be the worst thing in the world, when really it isn't, but I'll say this much. I couldn't finish it. I ate about a third of it and let it sit around in my freezer for a while ( some weeks) until it  started to form ugly ice crystals. My boyfriend thought he would sneak and grab a taste while I wasn't looking, but he took two bites and decided it wasn't worth his time either. The cold truth of it is that I doubt the world is truly ready for creme brulee ice cream. I don't think we could handle it. Maybe someday, when we're ready... When we've grown, seen things, learned to truly love each other. Crème Brûlée ice cream will be there.

The Fab Four

New this week, er or rather last week, four new Ben and Jerry's flavors;

Late Night Snack, Bonnaroo Buzz, Clutsterfluff, and Red Velvet Cake

Mother Nature You Heartless Vixen

I find myself in the midst of a pickle. And I use the word "pickle" because it's a funny word to say. Spring (or so it seemed) came early this year and for three heavenly weeks we Nashvillians enjoyed sunny days with temps in the high 60's, beautiful spring blossoms and even a butterfly or two.

Rainy Days

When I was in the first grade it always seemed an impossible task to get up and get ready for school when it was raining outside. Harder still I think was what my mother had to go through knowing she had three rain sleepy children in the house she had to get washed and dressed and out the door that would whine and cry when she woke them.

#54 Dulce Delish

Dulce Delish is every bit the heavenly caramel experience you would expect from the diabolical minds at Ben and Jerry's. Its creamy, swirly, golden morsels have been carefully and scientifically refined to strum all the perfect cords on the instrument that is your pleasure center. It will lull your mind and body into a state that can only be described as the glow of true love. It is seductively dangerous perfection. Beware.

"Alan's First Birthday" or "French, French, Chocolate"

This week the menu was basically "boyfriend's choice" and I'll confess here on Thursday afternoon, I'm a little worse for the sugar carb wear. Sunday was the Oscars which is apparently a HUGE deal around here, and there was much consumption of sour patch kids, M&M's and popcorn. Then on Tuesday when my dashing boyfriend turned 23, we ate (unremarkable/ not as good as Panera's) French Onion Soup,  (delicious) home made french bread, and (absolutely amazingly good) Chocolate cream pie that we busted out at midnight Tuesday morning and ravenously consumed long before the sun came up. Here's what it looked like.