Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Baking Chez Moi - Roasted Peach Shortcakes Franco-American Style


If you haven't been to Coronado's Sunday Concerts in the Park, or experienced a festive Fourth of July on the island, you're definitely missing out! I am fortunate to have experienced both for several years and never grow tired of the community spirit and camaraderie.  Although I whine quite a bit about lugging everything to the park for our gourmet spread, and coming home to a disaster in my kitchen, those few hours relaxing with friends and family make it all meaningful.

This past Sunday was Father's Day, but it was also National Peaches and Cream Day! Our Baking Chez Moi recipe was Strawberry Shortcakes Franco-American Style, but I put a little twist on it for our culinary theme of "Peaches."


Biscuits à la cuillère, or ladyfingers, provide the French component in the form of soft and light cakes. I made ladyfingers once before for a Daring Baker's Challenge, but it's been a long time and I forgot how easy they are to make. Once the ladyfingers are baked, roasted peaches, bourbon-spiked whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar complete this summer dessert.

Roasted Peach Shortcakes

I assembled the shortcakes at the park, which did add extra lugging of dishes, forks, separate containers for the ladyfingers and roasted peaches, my pastry bag, and an ice chest to keep the whipped cream cold, but I'm very happy with my Costco Foldable Wagon. I can load everything in the Jeep, drive over to mom's place, park in her extra parking space, unfold the wagon, load it up with food, strap on the roll up table and a few chairs, and walk across the street to Spreckels Park.



Here are a few more dishes from our peachy menu...Enjoy your week!

Holli's Peach-Stuffed Pork Loin with Peach Chipotle Sauce

Nina's charcuterie and cheese platter with Ghost Pepper +Peach Preserve

Pam's Curried Chicken and Peach Salad

Mom's Spinach, Grilled Peaches and Pecan Salad

Kai's Peachy Ceviche


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Tuesdays with Dorie is an online cooking group where anyone can bake along. The group bakes from two books – Baking with Julia and Baking Chez Moi. I occasionally bake along with the Baking Chez Moi group. The group bakes two recipes per month (voted on by the members in advance) and posts on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. We are asked to refrain from including the actual recipe in our posts, to promote the publishing industry and encourage others to buy the cookbooks.


Monday, June 15, 2015

Baking Chez Moi - Chocolate-Cherry Brownies


Simmer dried cherries in red wine until plump.
Melt dark chocolate with butter.
Mix in sugar, eggs, and flour.
Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Gently fold in drunken cherries.
Toss in finely chopped chocolate.
Pour luscious batter into pan and bake.
Cool, chill, cut into squares.
Serve with red wine.
Fall in love.
Go to bed.
Sweet dreams.





***

Tuesdays with Dorie is an online cooking group where anyone can bake along. The group bakes from two books – Baking with Julia and Baking Chez Moi. I occasionally bake along with the Baking Chez Moi group. The group bakes two recipes per month (voted on by the members in advance) and posts on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. We are asked to refrain from including the actual recipe in our posts, to promote the publishing industry and encourage others to buy the cookbooks.

Check out all the other decadent brownies here.