Comments on: SHF #11: The Celestial Coffee Edition

By: Cath

Cath — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 02:38:27 +0000

Oh my God. Even after you were kind enough to explain the intricacies of sugar spinning and note the potential for danger, what did I do? I went ahead and attempted this. One word: ow. I am leaving this to the professionals. Oh my God. Ow.

By: mrs D

mrs D — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:11:13 +0000

Hi Cath,
Thanks!

My husband’s the one who did the sugar spinning, but I’ll try to answer. You do need to do it while it’s in the pan or it won’t be hot enough — have whatever you’re spinning it on (in our case it was an upside-down soup ladle) standing by, in a spot near the hot pan, but also somewhere you don’t mind getting messy. (It’s best to have a silpat or waxpaper or something underneath to catch the excess sugar.) Since you’re basically lifting a spoon full of painfully hot sugar out of a pan and drizzling it (quickly, or it won’t work), there is a chance you’ll get burned. Last time we did this, I ended up with a gob of hot sugar on my arm just from trying to take a photo. Whatever you do, make sure you give yourself plenty of room; work at arm’s length from the sugar until you know how to do it without getting burnt! (I saw a sous chef on Iron Chef America do sugar spinning with her hands and was amazed. I don’t think I could ever try that! She must be impervious to heat!)

By: Cath

Cath — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:42:37 +0000

I absolutely LOVED this. The pictures are gorgeous. Might I ask a stupid question? I’d really love to try and make the sugar comet tail for an upcoming dessert…but I’m scared stupid that great harm will come to me (less than graceful) if I attempt this at home without adult supervision. Do you swirl the sugar while it’s still inside the saucepan? Maybe I should leave this to the professionals like you…

By: mrs D

mrs D — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 03:20:48 +0000

hey Grommie, I don’t suppose a handy bowl of ice water would help? Not that it would be very comfortable, mind you…

McAuliflower, go for it! Those blackberries are calling you….

By: McAuliflower

McAuliflower — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 22:08:20 +0000

Such gorgeous shots!

Wonderful treatment of luscious ingredients
(eyeing the blackberries in my backyard)

By: Grommie

Grommie — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 09:57:12 +0000

May I borrow your hands to make truffles? I have ‘hot hands’ and end up with a blob of melted chocolate EVERY time. I’ve even had to warn my boss (chef) of this and he’s very displeased indeed.

By: mrs D

mrs D — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 05:41:41 +0000

Thanks, Piggy, Nicky, emily & Jennifer! Putting the blackberries inside was Chopper's idea. Of course he was off at work when I actually had to do it, and boy was that process messy!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:27:45 +0000

These look fabulous! What a great idea – pairing blackberries and chocolate…might trump raspberries with that combo!

Thanks so much for joining in on SHF!

By: emily

emily — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 00:32:24 +0000

Your truffles look so beautiful – I would never think to make them myself (sheer laziness, I tell you) so I’m always impressed when someone else does. And i’m very impressed right now.

By: Nicky

Nicky — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 13:44:37 +0000

Hi mrs D,
beautiful work! Placing blackberries inside truffles is a wonderful idea… I especially like the sugar decorations, looks so extravagant ;)