What a gorgeous photo (not mine) Well, thought I’d be doing this, but – photo courtesy Flickr
Calling All Carbs! Today, I’m dreaming of sugar-crusted treats loaded with custard and fruit blended fillings! Then, I went recipe – seeking! There must be lots of other people like me out there – otherwise I wouldn’t have so readily found all of these recipes to share on a morning such as this! Perhaps Columbus would have turned around and headed back, had he arrived on our coast this morning – thinking, well, it’s not nice here, let’s try somewhere else………
Who doesn’t look forward to Columbus Day Weekend? It is that quintessential stopping off point between Labor Day and Thanksgiving…… For me it is always one of the highlights of the Fall – the peak of foliage season, crisp cool air, blue skies, fun outdoors, the windows are still open. We throw on a cozy sweater, a pair of comfy shoes, maybe turn up our collar and head out for a long weekend of fun! It really can be the most beautiful time of the year.
Last year on this weekend, we were in Kennebunkport, ME for our niece Kate’s wedding. A great time was had by all! I was busy, among other things, eating the Molasses Gingersnap Ice Cream at Rococo Artisan Ice Cream – um, yum!
What triggers sugar cravings? Lot’s of things, really. Well, my heart started sinking earlier this week as I had contemplated riding my bicycle out to Nauset Heights to re-do my favorite picture from there and then looked at the weather forecast. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be – the weather forecast and my husband’s schedule causing a problem and I began hastily making alternate plans. Anyway, next weekend is the Wellfleet Oyster Fest – may try again!
Unfortunately also, I began to feel the carb-craving syndrome setting in. As you may have noticed, when a spell of multi-day cloudy/rain/drooping barometer readings sets in, my brain undergoes some sort of physical change and I begin to crave all of the worst, well, best foods imaginable – mostly laden with crunchy sugar, yeast and all sorts of other diabolical ingredients. Diabolically delicious, that is, and – wow – here is one of the most interesting phenomena of human nature – we crave, on a physical, tactile and emotional level, certain food items that are really not good for us but do indeed satisfy a need.
I am not, nor have I ever been a donut eater – well except when I first began working in Newark in 1979 and walked down Broad Street each morning, past Hahnes, and for about the first two weeks picked up a raspberry-filled jelly donut with a cup of coffee before arriving at my office. Wow, this was out of character, but again, that crunchy sugar-coating………. once in a while these days, I even occasionally watch some of those donut contest shows, out of curiosity or boredom, and think, ew, yucky. But, a beautiful, airy center and crunchy, crusty exterior – well, that’s a horse of a different color!
Anyway, now that I think of it it must have started as early as Wednesday, when my brother-in-law posted a picture from Café du Monde, eating a plateful of Beignets……. this photo combined with the weather forecast on my app just sent me into a tailspin – ugh – I started combing the airwaves for recipes of all sorts of decadent, but oh-so-yummy treats.
photo courtesy Johnny Mac – really who could resist these?
Well, anyway, I went off searching for some of the most decadent treats to soothe the combo – and settled on these. And so, if, like me, you are in a bit of a funk today because it isn’t crispy/sunny/cool and you aren’t in Nauset Heights snapping photos, you can make one of these recipes – and I guarantee, you will have, at least, one primordial moment of sugar-laden bliss! And, then, the sun will come out, tomorrow…………. For survival purposes, I am living vicariously through all of these people – by writing about and ogling their pictures, I am hoping I can actually avoid eating any and all of these – it’s one of those many tricks I like to play on myself!
So, herewith, is a compendium of Survival-oriented treats for weekends/weeks such as this, or, if in a real hurry, you can always make pancakes!:
Sugar and Spice Brioche Buns
http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2011/04/14/sugar-spice-brioche-buns/ – courtesy Buns In My Oven
Dulce de Leche Brioche Buns
http://www.rachelkhoo.com/travel/paris/dulce-de-leche-brioche-buns courtesy Rachel Khoo
Blueberry Jam Brioche Donuts – http://www.ediblebrooklyn.com/2014/04/08/recipe-blueberry-jam-brioche-doughnuts-sweets-bitters/
Donuts with Apple Compote and Custard
http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipes/recipe-search/fare-exchange/2014/4/doughnuts-with-apple-compote-and-custard/ – courtesy Australian Gourmet Traveller – this is one of my favorite magazines!
Vanilla Cream-filled Donuts
http://www.browneyedbaker.com/vanilla-cream-filled-doughnuts/ – courtesy Brown-Eyed Baker
Cinnamon-sugar Brioche Donuts
http://www.mydailymorsel.com/2013/01/14/cinnamon-sugar-brioche-doughnuts/ – courtesy My Daily Morsel – I would add 1/2-1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg to the dough recipe 🙂
Brioche Donuts with Chocolate Ganache
http://thepetitfour.com/brioche-donuts-with-chocolate-ganache/ – courtesy The Petit Four
and, for all those craving those brain-soothing chocolate-containing chemicals:
Flourless Dark Chocolate Soufflés with Earl Grey Cream
http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/flourless-dark-chocolate-souffl-s-earl-grey-cream – courtesy Artful Desperado and SBS Food
http://www.purplemedicalblog.com/2007/12/chocolate-chemicals-why-is-chocolate.html
one thing led to another, and:
Earl Grey and Lavender Ice Cream
http://imbibemagazine.com/Earl-Grey-and-Lavender-Ice-Cream-Recipe – courtesy Imbibe Magazine – the lavender vendor is still at Union Square – I saw her yesterday!
Ok, hopefully I got that out of my system! I’m going to make myself a soft-boiled egg now. 🙁