-ish thing. Because really, I couldn't quite handle this one in its original form. Sorry Andrea, but coconut is stringy and icky, I never keep pineapple around, and Nancy scared me with her experience of making the buttercream. Not to mention that my apartment is currently 85*F and the high in beautiful Wisconsin will be 94 tomorrow. Yeah, the oven is so not getting turned on to broil fruit. Plus, it's in season! Why would I harm perfectly ripe fruit with heat?!? So, being the faithful TWD baker, I didn't bail - I just (heavily) adapted. Thus the final result: fresh raspberries over vanilla yogurt, and crushed almond dacquoise sprinkled over the top.
It's pretty awesome. And easy. And doesn't require the 6 hr chill in the frigidaire in order to be tasty. Not a bad dessert to come back home to after a week's vacation, although I might have brought some back as well... Actually, "not bad" is not the right term for this. It's really incredibly awesome. Light, creamy, and slightly sweet from the yogurt, tart and tangy from the raspberries, and sweet and crunchy from the dacquoise. Lucky for me, I still have yogurt, raspberries are still on sale, and my tiny batch of dacquoise has barely been nibbled into!
Oh, and don't leave quite yet - I'm conducting a (not so scientific) poll. While looking into areas to resettle to, thanks to the incompatibilities of my profession, the boyfriend's profession, and Wisconsin, we came up with a general list of places we'd like. Yes, there is a preponderance of west coast locations. One might say I basically told the boyfriend "Think of places west of here you'd like to go." And I did. Not that I'm biased or anything. So here's the running list:
San Francisco / Mountain View area
Boulder, CO
Denver, CO
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
And here's what I'd like you to do (pretty please?): tell me your top two choices for places to live (not to visit, to live!), and why. They don't even have to be on the list! Because really, I'm incapable of making a decision more complicated than whether I'm going to have dessert that day. The answer to that question is always yes.
Last Week: Honey Peach Ice Cream
Next Week: Perfect Party Cake (already made for the Daring Bakers!)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
TWD: Raspberry Almond Dacquoise
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
35 comments:
I love your adaptation - it looks and sounds delicious. Afraid I can't help on the where to live question (unless you want to move half way around the world to Oz :)), but good luck with your decision making, and hope you find somewhere great.
I'd go for Portland or Seattle. Why? Because then I know we'd get together sooner rather than later, because we have a son in both places, because they're both wonderful cities, because CookieBakerLynn is there, because you'd love Pike's Market, because both have wonderful eateries...
SF is nice I guess too.
My vote is for Portland or Boulder. Portland because I'd love to live there with all of the produce and cheese that Oregon produces. Also, I think that I just have Oregon romanticized in my head. Boulder because I have family that's lived there for over 30 years and I know that it's a very nice place to live. You can go hiking any time, the mountains are basically your backyard. You can go skiing in the winter. The summers are beautiful and not too hot. There's lovely produce, and it's a fun, quirky town. If you don't like humidity, Boulder is probably the best place to go. If you don't want to dry out completely, then I suggest the west coast!
I love your variation on the dacquoise -- it sounds absolutely refreshing and delicious. I bet it was the perfect summer dessert.
Love you dessert cups! Nothing's better than fresh berries.
I love your "heavily adapted" (no bail, like me) version of this dessert! And in jars. Too cute.
As for where to LIVE, I would pick SF simply for the food angle! However, I've never lived there. How exciting to even contemplate such a move!!
I love CO - spent summers there, winters can be rough but I bet you're used to that in WI. I think Portland would be a great choice - WA pretty wet weather I'd think. I'd factor in Cost of Living. Our daughter pays a bit more for things on the west coast than we do here in the east.
San Fran; Portland; and this looks fantastically refreshing and summery and I am loving the simpllicity.
Brilliant.
That looks great, Caitlin. Really, how can you go wrong with fresh raspberries? =) I would live in Seattle again in a heartbeat. Of course, it's been over ten years since I was there, so it may not be quite the same. But I still have lots of friends in the area. There are a lot of things I love about living in the Austin area where I am now, but the heat is definitely not one of them. We're headed for 100+ again today. This is getting old...and it's still only June. *sigh*
I agree that the yogurt version is oh-so-much-better than the recipe as written (even if I hadn't ruined the ganache). And healthier too...
As for places to live - I'd say Seattle, if you can handle a decent amount of gray + drizzle. Proximity to islands and Vancouver is a plus. (I spent two summers in Vancouver a few years back) But be warned that it can get scorching hot in Seattle and also Postland in the summer. Have experienced it many times.
Raspberries were a great choice -- looks delicious!
I've lived in both Seattle and Portland (grew up in Bellevue), and I'd return to both places. (Portland actually gets more rain than Seattle. I'm also a weather geek.) Portland is a wonderful town for foodies, although Seattle is no slacker. I did tons of canning and garden growing in Portland.
My top place, though, is Albuquerque. I'd go back in a heartbeat. It's rated as a #1 living spot, unfortunately, so I would encourage people to go farther west. ;)
Although the cost of living is high, I think everyone should experience living in NYC. I was born and raised here and couldn't live anywhere else. It's really not like what you see on TV/movies but better. It's a magical place and there really isn't any place in the world like it.
That is a *slamming* (very) loose adaptation, I love it. Why indeed must you miss out on seasonal fruit? Factor in the fact that I adore raspberries :) (I love pineapple too, just saying...)
San Fran! Sorry. Such a cliche, I know. But it's just that awesome. I don't know much about the others, except that it's also beautifully cosmopolitan in Seattle but it rains a lot :/
Love your adaptation!
The roasted pineapple is wonderful, by the way. But I am really glad my hubby consented to turn on the whole-house air conditioning before I made this...
All your locations sound great. My sister lives in the greater Seattle area and she loves it. So much, in fact, that she tells me to tell everyone else that it is horrible there, don't bother coming, you won't like it...like most places that are known as a good place to live, they suffer from too much expansion too fast. There is the weather to consider, of course. She says some people just can't take the lack of sunshine.
Great idea to put all this yumminess in a dish! I have been in the west my entire life and have been to Portland many times. It is a very nice place ,most of all cus it's 20 min. from the ocean. The beach side towns are wonderful! The one thing about Portland it rains a TON. I lived in CA. for the first 9 years of my life in the bay area, we still go back to see family. It is a rat race..but has tons to do! The traffic is horrible. My friend lives in Boulder CO. and another friend lives in Parker CO. they LOVE it. They both compare it to BOISE IDAHO where they lived as well. MY #1 vote is not on your list but it's BOISE IDAHO! I lived there for 16 years and LOVED it. It's not a gigantic city but has tons to offer. The out door life is excellent and the winters are very mild. I hope that helps cus the west coast is where it's at!!
Love your variation. I bet it was very tasty!
Okay. I'm going to have to go with Mountain View. It's close enough to San Francisco so you can visit whenever you want, but not live in the actual city.
I grew up in San Jose and my grandparents lived in Mountain View. My mother and her sister graduated from Mountain View High School. So I know Mountain View as a place to live. The other cities I've only been a visitor (except for Boulder, I've never been) and I always think they would be a nice place to live, but I have no personal experience.
Oh, and also with Mt. View you are close enough to Santa Cruz and other beach communities if that is your thing.
That would totally be my list too! We're happy here in San Diego for the moment though with good jobs, a nice house and lots of things to do.
sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to make it work for you. i like the changes of your heavily adapted recipe. i'd go with seattle from your list and from not on your list... maryland (that's where i live and i love it). :)
Great adaptations on the dessert! Now, on to new places to live.
I have lived in Seattle for 22 years and love this city. It has all the cultural amenities of a city, but still feels like a small town. You can be at the ocean or in the mountains in about an hour and it's absolutely beautiful. There are tons of outdoor activities to enjoy and great year around running weather as long as you don't mind getting wet. The weather never seems to stop Seattlites from just going about doing whatever it is they want to do. Yes, it is gray and drizzly much of the year, but I am fine with that. Summer never starts until after the 4th of July and we usually get one week or really hot 90 or so degree weather. Winters are 40 and raining except we always seem to get one or two snow storms that completely shut down the city.
There is good opportunity for technology jobs and in general the job market seems to be okay. The poor economy has brought housing prices down a bit, but it's still expensive. Public transportation is lacking and traffic is terrible, but we do have our first light rail opening later this year. The city is working to make bike commuter routes better. We have high sales tax, low car tabs, high property taxes, and no state income tax.
There is a great art and music scene. Excellent farmer's markets and the seafood is fantastic. There are outstanding restaurants from fancy to taco trucks and lots of good local wines. Seattle is politically liberal and very "green," for example, the city has mandatory curbside recycling and composting or you get fined. People bring their own bags to the grocery store and are willing to carry a can around all day until a recycling bin is available.
The weather is the one thing that can be an issue for people who move here. Portland has similar weather, but they get the dreaded freezing rain that we don't get and I think they have warmer summers. S.F is fantastic, but so expensive. Denver and Boulder you would have the advantage of training at altitude. Just think how well you would do in races in other parts of the country! Good luck with your investigating and try to get out and visit as many places as you can.
I love your "interpretation" of the recipe! Believe me, if we were having a heat wave, I would have punted, too.
Since I live in San Jose, I admit I am completely biased, but you can't beat the Bay area. San Francisco is nice to visit, but parking is a huge pain (and expensive), and your quality of life isn't as great as it is on the peninsula (like Mountain View) or here in San Jose. Like Wendy mentioned, we sometimes drive "over the hill" to Santa Cruz for lunch on weekends. Tahoe is 4 hours away. That said, I loved Seattle when I visited, but I haven't lived there.
Love your adaptations!
I live in Northern California, and I used to live near Mountain View, and I would vote for any place BUT there. I do like it here, but it's extremely expensive, the traffic is crazy, and the whole pace of life is a bit frenetic. I grew-up in the Midwest and things are slower paced there, also the people are friendlier.
I really California, but I would avoid living near San Francisco if at all possible. I love the Northern Coast, (near Eureka), best, but there are no jobs there. California is also going through a major financial crisis, and I imagine that we will end up having our taxes raised yet again. Our utilities and things like that are already crazy high.
So, I guess I vote for Colorado or Oregon.
Your changes sound great! I love the combo of raspberries and almonds, and it's hard to top fresh raspberries in the summer.
If money was not an object, I'd choose San Francisco (followed by Seattle). I grew up in the Bay Area and have lots of friends in SF I visit regularly. It has a lot going for it--the food scene, walkability, progressive politics--but also has a lot of negatives, including insane traffic, impossible parking, big homeless problem, and it's really, really, sell-your-firstborn-for-an-apartment expensive. Mtn View is cheaper (although much pricier than it used to be) but not nearly as exciting unless you like commuting to the city for nightlife. Still the Bay Area is wonderful with GREAT weather and I'd live there in a heartbeat.
What a gorgeous adaptation - looks even more summery and simple than the "official" version.
Now for my two cents on where to live: as a Bay Area native, I can't say enough good things about the lifestyle there - great food, great, smart people, beautiful city and surrounding area. I've been away for almost 9 years now (gulp) and I still miss it, and hope to return some day.
On the other hand...it is really freaking expensive. To the point where I think a lot of the good could potentially be canceled out by the bad of figuring out how to live affordably. And with all the stuff California is going through right now, I'm finding myself saying for the first time that I wouldn't necessarily go back if given the chance (not right now, anyway). My husband used to work in Mountain View - not terribly exciting, but a nice area. A short commute to wherever you're working is key - traffic is terrible.
My dad relocated to Portland a few years ago and loves it - mostly because of the outdoorsy aspect.
See now I LOVE Your adaptation! I think I would have liked this one much better the way you made it! And I actually am going to try it that way!
I think you should move to San Fran! Or Seattle! But Portland is pretty cool as well! I hear Boulder is pretty chill!
I guess I'm not much help, eh? Move to NY!
Great looking dessert! Love the adaptations!
SF! Please come to the left coast.
Love your adaptation! It looks terrific! I'm still waiting for raspberries to go on sale around here. They're the one berry still sky high in price.
Sorry - I'm an east coast girl so no help on the relocation decision (unless you want to move to Boston) but best of luck with it! :)
I love what you did with this one. Lovely photos too!
What a beautiful presentation! Love this!
Great blog! I will following you! :)
I guess I'm going to de-lurk, because those raspberries look wonderful, and I think I like your adaptation better than the original!
As for living places, my cousin lives in Seattle and loves it, but coming from the Midwest she's said the weather gets a bit depressing at times. My buddy goes to school in Boulder and says it's fantastic, but that the altitude is really rough to adjust to (he is super athletic, and just walking to classes leaves him winded sometimes). As for me, it's not on your list, but since you're from Osk Kosh, have you considered Chicago area? I'm from the suburbs, the commute into the city is terrible but there are tons of engineering places near Chicago, awesome nightlife and food. Anyway, good luck with the rough decision!
I would have to say San Francisco - because of the view and the hills or Denver because of the mountains. Too much rain in Seattle and Boulder is boring. Of course, there is always the east coast - would love to live in North Carolina n the mountains in a log cabin on the side of a mountain. **SIGH** but stuck in hot sticky Louisiana.
And love your dessert - perfect.
Great adaptation!
Since I'm in Seattle, I'd vote for Seattle. Then you could come over and have cookies with me. If not Seattle, then Portland. Portland is an awesome city with no sales tax.
Visited Portland a couple of years ago and decided we'd want to live there, but it was across the country from all our aging parents. Also, the cost of living was pretty high for small sq footage and jobs were scarce. Now they have high unemployment (as, I understand, do other places in OR, WA and Cal). Still, we really feel drawn to it. Depending on what you're looking for, check Corvallis WA. We are now looking (at least dreaming) at Boulder, which I believe is so close to Denver you could kind of say "both". Mountain View/SF would be great except for cost of living and earthquakes and the whole Cal budget thing. Being a Midwesterner by birth myself, I prefer a place with more distinct seasons though.
This site might be of use to you (you get a certain amount of info for free, and I haven't been spammed)
http://www.findyourspot.com/
Keep posting on the hunt, and good luck!
Hehe..I love your heavy adaptation. It sounds so light and refreshing :)
this looks great!! reminds me of a british desesrt called "eton mess," which is fantastic, despite the goofy name! my husband and i have been tossing around the idea of moving, too. portland is high on my list, but i can't convince him, b/c he thinks it's too small. seattle is lovely (my parents live in the seattle suburbs).
great adaptation!
for places to live i would pick San Fran but cost of living is so high!! and it's actually very cold (compared to southern CA - not WI!). I have family in Portland which I hear is a great place to live - and my cousin's girlfriend grew up in Seattle and loves Portland. It isn't as big of a city but it's still big enough that you have all the conveniences of a city. it's near the mountains and beach and is very "green."
Post a Comment