Archive for April, 2009

Creme Brulee

16th April
2009
written by mattborn

For dinner party #5, I whipped up some creme brulee for dessert.  The most difficult part of this process was actually getting up the guts to drop $40 on a blowtorch, and the results, while not perfect, were a great first attempt.  I was pleasantly surprised by how easy everything was and plan on giving it many second tries.

Creme Brulee
Ingredients
Heavy cream 1 C
Egg yolks 2
Sugar 1/3 C + 2 T
Vanilla Extract 1/2 t
Steps
  1. Preheat over to 300F.
  2. Boil several cups of water.
  3. Combine cream and 2 T sugar over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles appear around edges of pan (~5 minutes). Set aside.
  4. In a bowl, beat egg yolks and vanilla until smooth and light.
  5. Pour hot cream mixture into egg yolks, a little at a time, beating continuously until well blended.
  6. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl.
  7. Divide mixture among 4 4oz ramekins.
  8. Arrange ramekins in a baking pan and place on middle shelf of preheated oven. Fill pan with boiling water to halfway up side of ramekins. Cover pan loosely with aluminum foil. Bake until custard is just set, ~25 minutes.
  9. Chill custard in ramekins ~2-3 hours
  10. Sprinkle remaining sugar evenly over top of cooled custards. Apply torch flame continuously in a circular motion until sugar becomes golden brown and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Source: Bonjour Creme Brulee Torch instructions.
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Airlie 2007 Muller Thurgau

11th April
2009
written by mattborn

I caught this never-before-seen wine at TJ’s today for $7.99 and thought that I should give it a try.  I’m cooking a spicy Indian-style dinner tonight and was shopping for Rieslings or Gewurtztraminers to stand up to it, but I thought “Muller Thurgau” sounded decently German and might be able to hold its own.

In color it is nearly clear, and the first taste is lightly sweet and is followed quickly by a shot of tangy.  It lingers with pepper, and indeed compares favorably with Riesling.  That’s my limit of pretentious description so if you want more you’ll have to try it yourself.

On my admittedly granular scale, I rate this wine a “buy it again”.

Winery Airlie
Vintage 2007
Variety Muller Thurgau
Origin Willamette Valley, Oregon [map]
Alcohol 10.0% (20 proof)
Grapes Unknown
Availability Trader Joe’s [map]
Price $7.99 / bottle
Rating +
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