Top 5 Aspects of Being a Singleton in the Kitchen:
5. It's fun to be in the kitchen by yourself. I find myself brainstorming when I'm in the kitchen or just pondering big & little things.
4. Dance party! (Yup, that's me with a spatula in the kitchen.)
3. There isn't a lot of stress. If what you make is truly awful, you didn't ruin anyone's meal, and a bowl of cereal is just fine.
2. You can get creative, without having to explain what it is you're doing to anyone else.
1. Freedom to make what you want, when you want it, regardless of the needs/likes/wants of others.
5 Biggest Bummers for the Singleton in the Kitchen:
5. Sometimes it gets a little lonely when no one is around to share your dance party.
4. A little feedback now and then is a nice thing.
3. And, when you like to be in the kitchen, it's fun to cook for other people.
2. There's no one around to eat your goodies. If people aren't around to eat your goodies, that means you have to find a place for the goodies to go, otherwise you'll end up eating them all! I often find myself wondering who my next victim will be.
1. Minis.
I can hardly believe that I've come to a place where I'm hating on minis. Moi?! I love diminutive things, and I've been known to say that things are just cuter when they come in a smaller size. But, ohmygoshandgoodness, I am so very tired of scaling back recipes. I just want to look at a recipe and make it as it is. So, no worries, I didn't scale this recipe down this week. I made the whole entire tart, and I ate a sliver, and took the rest to school.And how was the tart? I'll get to that in a minute. First, can anyone tell me why I only own a 12" (never used, I might add) tart pan? 12" is HUGE. Of course, I didn't know this tart pan was 12" because I always make either mini tarts or teeny tiny tarts around here, certainly not regular tarts. I think I can tell you that my tart pan is 12" because I had a friend who worked at Williams Sonoma one Christmas in college, and she was nice enough to give me the tart pan as a gift. This was before either of us actually made tarts, we just talked about making tarts. So, I'm sure at the time, a bigger tart pan seemed like a better tart pan. For now, though, the 12" tart pan remains unused, as I used my smaller springform pan for this tart.
And, the verdict? This tart is Deeeeeelicious! Wowzah! The caramel peanut layer is nothing short of amazing, it's by far my favorite part of this tart. Honestly, I'd like the ganache to be a thinner layer, I scraped most of mine off, actually. Really, though, this is such a yummy tart. I almost didn't make it, but I'm so glad that I did make it. This will for sure be a repeat performance for me because I just can't imagine people not liking it. If you'd like the recipe, you can go to Carla's blog, Chocolate Moosey, to check it out!
23 comments:
I LOVE the smooth sides to this - I thought you might have used a flan ring (which I desperately want)... I might try it in a springform too! Your caramel layer is so nice and thick - it looks fantastic. I'm so glad you enjoyed spending time in the kitchen making this - it CAN be quite nice in there! Nicely done!
The caramel layer is absolutely fabulous.
A perfect cut, in that sea of chocolate! Very, very nice!
This one was really delicious!
I would totally join your dance party.
I am wishing I wouldn't have made mini on this one. It was so good.
Your tart looks great!
Your tart looks awesome and I loved this as well! I too, live alone, so I am always trying to find someone to give my baked good away to, so I feel your pain!
Your tart looks fantastic! I love the look the springform pan gives it.
Thank goodness for Twitter bakes so we can bake 'together'.
I would love to make most desserts complete, but my treadmill already groans when I get on. LOL
Tart is just perfect!
Your tart looks perfect. I rely mostly on my husband to get rid of all my leftovers. I always dance in my kitchen too so next time you are dancing in your kitchen imagine me dancing in mine. That way we can dance party together.
Nice pro/con list of why it's good to be a singleton in the kitchen.
Just read my story and you'll know why this week it was better to be a singleton.
I'm with you on the mini tired-train. That's why I end up making full size recipes and hope it will last for the co-workers.
Anyway, your tart looks fab.
I enjoyed your thoughtful post. Loving to bake is such a double edged sword, be you a singleton, half of a duo, head of large household, all have their challenges I'm guessing. Anyway, you clearly had no challenges whatsoever in making this tart (except trying to figure out the 12" pan - you could always scale UP the recipe, I've actually done that!) My chocolate layer ended up thinner because I just couldn't fit it all in. I bought my tart pans at pastryitems.com - they have some fab ones that are v deep w/removable bottoms. Love them!!
Looks yummy! I typically am the only one eating my desserts too since my husband is a tad picky on eating desserts! I accidentally made next weeks TWD so now Im in a tiz to make this and get it up! Glad its good--and worth the effort ;)
BTW-I use the 12 inch tart pan for a pie substitution--if I want the pie to look pretty ;)
I have happy news for you! When you're no longer a singleton, you can still have kitchen dance parties and have cereal for dinner when things don't work out (M. usually suggests we go out when things go seriously wrong..he's learned my mood improves much faster!). You just have to pick the right guy.
Your tart is perfection! I do plan to make this again and will halve the ganache because the chocolate competed with it too much, and I agree with you about how fantastic the caramel is.
Man, this looks good! I'm sad I didn't get a chance to make it this week. I've found that work is a great place to pawn off your goodies. I've even started talking customers into taking home my baked goods so I don't eat them all!
god that looks amazingly good! i seriously need to try it! i've drooled over every post about it!!
I made mine in a springform pan too. I do not own a tart pan, big or small. Your tart looks great. I loved this recipe!
Your tart looks gorgeous! Even with other people to bake for, I've found myself resorting to minis lately, because there is just more than we can eat! Well, perhaps not more than we can eat, but more than we should eat. I didn't end up using all of my ganache, there was just too much of it. I loved this tart so much, and I'm so glad you did too! Also, I'm very impressed that you only ate a sliver :)
It looks great! It's definitely easier to make the whole recipe - no math and no dividing up the components into the mini pans.
I listen to Abba in the kitchen and if I'm home alone I sing along!
i LOVE minis. maybe that's because i don't own any mini pans.
care to trade off for a while? ;)
beautiful tart! i love your crust!
Your tart looks amazing Jessica.
Your tart looks great! I should make minis more often than I do; it can get a bit challenging to find homes for all of my baked goods sometimes. =) How funny that you only have a 12" tart pan. I have 9, 10 and 11 inch ones, acquired over time for different recipes. What I still want is a rectangle one.
Jessica..I guess living in Idaho I all most HAVE to like winter and cold more or I might go CrAzY! I agree with you on a sundress and sandals(or flip flops) being so much easier. I do love that aspect of it...however I just think winter clothes are cuter:)..I don't know it may seem silly but girl when I sink myself into that big cozy soft sweater I feel divine!
It looks wonderful! I made a single small tart and I hope to make this one again come Thanksgiving or Christmas. And I'll probably up the caramel a bit, too. Have fun at that dance party in your kitchen. Alone or with company, it' always fun!
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