Friday, January 8, 2010

PRAYERS ANSWERED

CHOCOLATE FINANCIERS
Gluten free

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup almond flour*
4 tablespoons Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup egg whites (approx. two large)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease and flour financier molds or mini-muffin tins. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and set it aside until it reaches room temperature.

Mix the almond flour with the cocoa powder, salt, and powdered sugar. Stir the egg whites and almond extract into the almond mixture, then gradually stir in the melted butter until incorporated and smooth. Spoon the batter into the molds, filling them three-quarters full.

Bake the financiers for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cookies are slightly puffed and springy to the touch. Remove them from the oven and let cool completely before removing the financiers from the molds.

Makes 15 small financiers

* The recipe writer made this by pulsing blanched almonds in the food processor until they were reduced to a powder. However, if you can find almond meal in the store, the texture will be less gritty.

From a great new recipe site, Smitten Kitchen, check it out!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

INSPIRED BY SOUND?

Such a simple soultion. Tranquil Moments by Brookstone.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

CHILD AT REST


Whatif
by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

THERE IN FLORENCE, THE APOTHECARY THAT HAS STOOD FOR CENTURIES STILL MAKES MY FAVORITE SCENTS.