easiest crème pâtissière

I was asked to bake cake multiple times last week.  Cake with layers and filling and crème pâtissière.  I then started the ask the questions of what flavor cake do you want?  It was not for Koda Bear so I knew I would not be told red.  The request was vanilla with crème pâtissière.  I added berry jam.

I have no problems making crème pâtissière.  I have been making gravy for a very long time so it is really just an egg and sugar gravy.  But most people make a huge big deal about it.  The biggest problem I had was that I could not remember what recipe I used last time.  I did an internet search and came up with a crème pâtissière recipe from the Little French Bakery blog.  She learned from a French chef and the instructions just made sense to me.

I need to write it down because somedays I feel like I have little brains for remembering.

crème pâtissière

Note:  I used corn flour here because I could not find the cornstarch.  The crème pâtissière would have been even creamier made with cornstarch.

500 ml milk 

4 large egg yolks

125 grams sugar

30 grams flour

30 grams cornstarch or corn flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

Have a pyrex or heat proof container waiting.  If it is lined with cling wrap, it will be easier to remove the crème pâtissière.  A piece of cling wrap will also be needed for the top.

Heat the milk in a saucepan and 1/2 the sugar until it simmers.

While the milk is heating, in a heat proof bowl, mix the egg yolks the rest of the sugar, the flour, and the cornstarch.  Mix completely and make sure there are no lumps.

When the milk has come to a simmer, mix a third of it into the egg mixture to temper the eggs.  Whisk until smooth.  Whisk in the rest of the milk.  Transfer back to the saucepan.

Increase the heat under the milk mixture until the milk is at a slow boil.

Pour the egg mixture back into the boiling milk, whisking quickly the whole time until the mixture is a smooth glossy cream and it "burps" a bubble in the pan (I let it do three).

Pour the cream into the prepared pyrex or pan.  Make sure the top is covered in cling wrap and the cling wrap is pressed in.  It will be hot but this will prevent a skin from forming.

Put in the refrigerator to completely cool.

When cool, put in a bowl and whisk.  Flavour with the vanilla.  Whisk in.  If you wish to flavour with any liqueurs this is the time to whisk in a tablespoon.

I spread it between layers of cake.  Boyos like it on doughnut holes.  It is pretty delicious with berries too.  It lasts for a couple days in the refrigerator.

Written down!  Wahoo!  My life has become easier.  I also fill brioche with a crème pâtissière and chocolate chips.  Yum!

rain

Working during the week and traveling every weekend for six weeks has finally caught up with.  Since  my hours at work were cut, I can consistently travel which I have been doing.  Time to do that type of thing has been one of those bits I have wanted more of.  But it does mean that the rest of life can get away from you.

This was the first weekend, since my weekends start on Friday, that I have woken up in my own bed with no place to rush off to.  It felt so strange.  But then there were just tasks that needed to take place that make living better.  I now have empirical proof, after working on the monthly books, that if I do not eat out I can travel and still put moneys away for a rainy day or a new project.  That is just a pretty lovely thing to know!

After I waded through more then a month of financial papers, due to have my life strewn over half the country, I got to sit down at my spinning wheel with Rain.  Rain is the name of the male sheep whose fleece I am spinning.  My hands were deeply aching today but I was able to spend about an hour working with the fiber.  I got a half a spindle spun.

I also got a sweater started.  I now it is only a couple rows but this couple rows came after multiple experiments for starting the sweater.  I had a hard time deciding what I wanted or how big it should be.  There still may be a mock turtleneck to be added but I decided to wait and see.  I am hoping to have something I can tramp through the woods in or wear on my walks under a waterproof.  

I need to walk more.  My joints and muscles are saying that.  Having two arthritis conditions does make life interesting.  My energy has been very low this week and I find it has been hard to go for walks.  I just may need a few more days of rest and walking slower.  I can do that!  Take more time at my spinning wheel.

playing with fabric

This is just a very small portion of the fabrics that I brought back from Washington, with the pause in Utah.  I pulled this stack out and can envision them as a quilt all by themselves.  I have to admit that I just keep looking at the fabrics I brought back and wish I had more time at home so I can sit at my sewing machine.  The spinning wheel has taken a backseat this week.

There may not be many more posts this week.  The traveling finally got caught up with me in terms of not finishing many things.  I have many bits in process and more fabric ordered.  After doing more reading about dyeing today, I ordered new fabric to work with.  It is very exciting but it means more waiting.  Just like waiting on the apron dress pattern I ordered.

I also admit to being a bit worried and down.  My best friend's Mom is in Istanbul.  She is okay but world events are just overwhelming.  I might need to take a pause.  A deep breath.  Just a time to be calm.  I have been running to hard.  

Or I could just talk about the little bits.  I will see what I need tomorrow.

try try again

I am home safe and sound.  It was an easy trip but I am still getting the bugs out of the car.  Now, if I can get the Check Engine message to trip for the mechanic!

I came home to a box of plant dye and that was exciting.  Before my travels started this summer, I had started to play with plant dye.  There is hibiscus and red cabbage in the picture above.  But the linen I dyed was a very old linen nightgown and it did not seem to hold the red cabbage.  After a wash, it came out basically white.

I got two red cabbage and decided to try again.  I soaked my very old linen nightgown in soda ash for the mordant.  I cooked the cabbage in water for 45 minutes. I strained out the cabbage solids.

In went the nightgown.  With the soda ash, the cabbage give a light green.  I let the nightgown soak overnight.  Actually, it was more like 24 hours.

                                                  photo courtesy of Koda Bear

The nightgown was a lovely pale green.  It was not the lavender blue I was expecting but it was pretty.  The next step was to wash it and let it dry.  The mordant is supposed to help the dye sink into the fiber and become fast.  Unless I understood incorrectly.  Which is extremely possible.

Because when I washed it, all the colour came out.  It does appear cleaner and whiter which is one aspect of soda ash. 

I have some alum which I think I will try next.  I need to pick up two more cabbages and give it another try.  I would sigh but I figure I am learning more by trail and error then I would learn in a class. 

That is where my life is.

taking care of business

This has been a week of taking care of business.  I got through the work week which is the was an accomplishment in itself.  I said some home truths today which may be a good thing or may be looking at new ways to create wealth and a lovely life next week.  Work life is interesting.

Home life has been a lot of catch up.  Time was spent at my machine mending instead of creating.  Koda Bear had to help so there were times that I had to take out stitching through pockets.  Four hands on a piece of work makes it very hard to control what is happening.  But I have to admit that it makes me laugh and I would not miss it for the world.

The boyos have been living on bread.  And bread goes on adventures.  Which means that I am baking every other day.  Basic every day bread.  I would like to make a batch of sugar brioche just for myself.  Maybe next weekend.  While I try to clean some of the weeds out of my garden.

But I am headed back to Utah tomorrow.  The automobile is no longer broken.  I will go there tomorrow and fly back.  I am thinking about stopping to eat in Albuquerque.  I like stuffed sopapillas.  I have a recipe!  The funniest thing about all that is I will come back from driving half way across the country more relaxed then staying in town.  I like gallivanting.

Maybe creativity will happen next week.  I do get to go through my new stash of fabric.  Postive things to be looking forward to.