authoring destruction

4c whole milk
5 (heaping) tbsp dutch process cocoa
5 (level) tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
hearty pinch of salt

Heat milk in saucepan (gently) over medium heat. Measure dry ingredients into measuring cup, add a small quantity of milk and mix to dissolve. Pour into saucepan and whisk periodically. Top with whipped cream.

3 scoops rooibos
2 scoops peppermint leaves
1 scoop each:
- mallow root
- cacao nibs
- raspberry leaf.

It's steeping right now. I bought a vanilla bean but forgot to put any in the mix. We shall see...

Edited to include: First steeping was pretty god damn good. I've made another cup. I added another scant scoop of mallow and cacao nibs, as well as a third of a vanilla bean. I did pass these brisky through a blend to break up the chunkier ingredients and mix the fluffier ones in thoroughly.

Edited AGAIN to include:
That's it. 3 scoops of rooibos, 2 of peppermint (may add a pinch more to future mixtures), 2 scoops of mallow roots or a little less, 2 scoops of cacao nibs or a little less, 1 scoop of raspberry leaf, 1/3 vanilla bean. Blend lightly to combine.

Yessssss.

ENOUGH FUCKING OF THAT MAUDLIN BULLSHIT. I still feel terrible BUT IT IS TIME FOR SOME FUCKING COOKING NOW. Yesterday, I reprised this recipe with raw honey in place of the sugar and creme fraiche in place of the mascarpone. Raw honey is always amazing but I think I prefer mascarpone.

Today, I am making some of these pies.

I'll keep you posted.

Pie time, bitches.

I really enjoy cooking things in my waffle iron.

( Monkeybread waffles with apple butter. )

Yep, that was pretty fucking delicious.

My voice teacher had a house warming party for her new apartment tonight. A wide variety of people were there, mostly related in one way or another to musical professions and, I suspect, Judaism (she's Jewish). It was lovely! A magnificent and colorful vegetarian potluck dinner was served by all, to which I brought two very successful (previously experimental) deserts (spicy applesauce bread with walnuts and cranberries, fresh pumpkin pie). Four of five or six members of the Afro-Cuban fusion band she's part of (Yeh Dede, you can look them up on MySpace) were present, and performed several songs while everyone else clapped, claved, tambourined, and shakered. Here were the recipes I cooked... I would encourage anyone who likes a little light baking to try them, they came together well!

* 1 medium sugar pumpkin (cook, de-skin, puree, use 2 cups)
* 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie (I used pre-made graham cracker crust)
* Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg to taste (I might have also had allspice?)
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 4 eggs, lightly beaten
* 1 cup honey, warmed slightly (I used organic raw honey... so delicious!)
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

(400, about an hour)

And the bread:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used wheat! Yay wheat!)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Above spices, to taste
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries

(350, supposed to be a half hour but mine took longer)


PS: I've had Sonata Arctica's 'Caleb' stuck in my head all day.