Tuesdays with Dorie

Time to learn more about the (crazy) person that started our little ol baking group: Laurie from Quirky Cupcake. She hosted the Brown Sugar-Pecan Shortbread page 127 back on January 1, 2008. (Wow, can you believe its almost been a year?)

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1. When did you start baking?
My Grandmothers are both fabulous bakers. They both encouraged me to get into the kitchen and help them. I was probably about 5 when I started helping them bake cookies. On my own, I was a teenager when I really got into baking my own stuff.

2. Do you have a favorite baking memory?
Every year my Gram Reeser makes 10 different kinds of Christmas cookies. I love to be there when she does it. Its pure tasty madness.

3. Who is your TWD blog idol?
I appreciate everyone that does TWD on a weekly basis. Its a commitment to participate every week. I do have blogs that I check out every single week. CB, Nikki, Holly, Peabody, Jaime, Tommi, Shari, Mari.. just to name a few off the top of my head.

4. What has been your favorite TWD recipe so far?
Oh my. This is a tough one. I do not think I can pick just one. I have loved the brioche raisin snails, the sticky buns, the back and white chocolate cake, the pecan sour cream biscuits and brown sugar apple cheesecake. To be honest, there have been very few I havent liked.

5. What recipe are you dying to make that no one has picked yet?
THE COVER CAKE!

6. What 2 questions would you ask Dorie if you ever met her?
I would ask her what her favorite meal is, and what her last meal would be.

8. What one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality?
Kitchen Sink Cookies.. because right now, I am trying to shove too much into my days. I have over committed myself and I am paying dearly for it.

9. What’s your favorite band or CD of all time?
Pearl Jam

10. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
In Reading, Pa where all my Grandparents live. They are all getting older and I would love to spend an entire year with them, and let the kids have that time with them.

11. Complete the statement “I recommend…” (it can be a show, movie, book, restaurant, website, activity, etc.)
True Blood..the new show on HBO. Its ah-mazing. Love it!

12.If you knew could you try anything and not fail (and money was no object), what dream would you attempt?
A bakery or cafe.

13. What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
The ability to alter time.

14. If you had 1 hour of free time, no distractions, what would you do?
Catch up on my tv shows rotting away on my tivo. Second choice would be to sleep. I can always use more.

15. What is the meal and dessert you would choose as your very last?
A well seasoned rare steak, my Grams mac and cheese, garlic sticks, roasted corn on the cob, and a tray of french pastries.

16. What is the “strangest” food you ever ate?
I am not into the strange foods. Maybe a chocolate covered grasshopper? I didnt know that was what I was eating till after. I was not pleased.

17. What are three adjectives that describe you?
Thoughtful, goofy, quirky, loyal, lazy, fun, and right now hungry.

18. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
I am a good Mom.

19. Have you ever met a famous person? who?
Gwen Stefani. I passed out in the front row of a Goo Goo Dolls, No Doubt, Bush concert. They took me down to red cross and No Doubt was coming out of their dressing room. She asked if I was ok, as they wheeled me by. Hilarious.

20. What’s your favorite spice?
Salt. It can make or break a recipe for me.

21. Do you speak another language? (If yes, say something and translate)
Nope. I did take spanish in high school, but I have forgotten all of it.

22. Do you have any pets? (List what kind of pet, names etc)
No pets currently. However, I think a siamese fighting fish will be joining us on Christmas. And the boys are on us about getting a dog. Maybe next year sometime.

23. Are you a ‘morning’ or ‘night’ person?
Night for sure. I hate the morning. Best part is consuming lots and lots of coffee.

24. What was the last book you read?
Man, umm, Im unsure, its been a while since I had time to read. In the past few years, I tore through every Nicholas Sparks book. I am sure he was the last author I read.

25. “2 Truths And a Lie” – Share 3 unique things about yourself and your life, 2 of them true, 1 false, and let the group guess which one isn’t true.
(1) I have 5 brothers.
(2) I love jello.
(3) I told my high school guidance counselor I wanted to be a mattress tester as my career.

Warm welcome to TWD baker, Isabelle from Les gourmandises d’Isa, our host for the Arborio Rice Pudding this week.

(My apologies that it was posted a little late.)

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1. When did you start baking?
When I was 5 or 6, my first recipes were crepes. Later on, I had great teachers as all my uncles work in different fields of the culinary sphere.

Arborio Rice Pudding

2. Do you have a favorite baking memory?
Making croissants with my uncle. I would roll them and shape them, but the goal was always to end up having a couple of warm, right out of the oven croissants with him.

3. Who is your TWD blog idol?
I don’t have any idols per say. I do love what Vibi of “La casserole carrée” does, plus I’m lucky to count her as a great friend. She writes great posts that somehow, make one feel more intelligent. I also very much admire what Lynn of “Café Lynnylu” and Peabody, can achieve.

4. What has been your favorite TWD recipe so far?
The Most Extraordinary French Lemon Cream Tart.

The Most Extraordinary Lemon Cream Tart

5. What recipe are you dying to make that no one has picked yet?
All of them, if there was one in particular, I would have proposed it this week.

6. What 2 questions would you ask Dorie if you ever met her?
“Tell the truth Dorie… how are the French?”
“Have you ever heard of “pouding chômeur”? It is the best dessert in the world.”

7. Share one food item that best describes the last year of your life. (example: “frozen pizza” because I did a 180-degree turn this year, or “cinnamon roll” because it had lots of twists and turns but overall was pretty sweet)
An elaborate add-on cake, as we’ve been renovating all year.

8. What one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality?
My Kitchen Aid, I can ask him just about anything, he’s scared of nothing.

9. What’s your favorite band or CD of all time?
Thomas Fersen – “Pièce montée des grands jours”

10. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
In India. Indian aromas, colours and cuisine are of great interest to me.

11. Complete the statement “I recommend…” (it can be a show, movie, book, restaurant, website, activity, etc.)
Broadening your horizons; Opening yourself to other cultures, go towards others… try learning another language or at least, understanding it. Don’t confine yourself, visit blogs from all over the world (many of them have automatic translators, look for them!).

12. If you knew you could try anything and not fail (and money was no object), what dream would you attempt?
I’d open a bistro with music and dancing, next to a lake or a river… or perhaps a B&B.

Pumpkin Muffins

13. What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
I’d like to be rested in the blink of an eye. For obvious reasons.

14. If you had 1 hour of free time, no distractions, what would you do?
I’d spent time in a hamman (a middle-eastern type of spa).

15. What is the meal and dessert you would choose as your very last?
A huge platter of sea food, including lobster, shrimps, etc. and Martin Picard’s “pouding chômeur” for dessert.

16. What is the “strangest” food you ever ate?
I had Guinea pig and coypu pâté. There are a couple of Asian fruits and vegetables I find simply too strange.

17. What are three adjectives that describe you?
Persevering
Courageous
Always smiling, well… I try to be.

Kugelhopf

18. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
Duh… my pinky toe.

19. Have you ever met a famous person? who?
No one.

20. What’s your favorite spice?
A tie between Tonka bean, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.

21. Do you speak another language? (If yes, say something and translate)
I’m Francophone and Francophile. I can read and understand English. I understand Spanish, Italian, Greek and Latin. “Ich spreche Deutsh ein wenig” (I speak a little German).

22. Do you have any pets? (List what kind of pet, names etc)
Two cats : Fersen and Sacha. Come Springtime, I generally have 6 chicken, all called “Ginette” (One could perhpas translate “Ginette” with “Phillis” or “Gertrude”!)

Sacha the cat

23. Are you a ‘morning’ or ‘night’ person?
Both… I never stop.

24. What was the last book you read?
Herbert Liberman – Le tueur et son ombre (A thriller that could be translated by “The killer and his shadow”).

25. “2 Truths And a Lie” – Share 3 unique things about yourself and your life, 2 of them true, 1 false, and let the group guess which one isn’t true.
1. I was born on the day J.F.K. was shot.
2. I’m not canadian.
3. I hate pumpkin.

Time to give it up for Grace of Piggy’s Cooking Journal who chose the Rugelach this week!

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1. When did you start baking?
I started baking when I was a teenager. My younger brother was the ‘victim’ of my baking adventures, as I would make him finished all my baked goods, regardless of whether it was edible or not. To this day, he still remembers my mint flavored cake, which he aptly renamed as “Colgate Cake”, and unfortunately I have to agree with him.

2. Do you have a favorite baking memory?
The first time I successfully made tart crust. You have no idea how many attempts I took before I realized my mistake – overworked the tart dough! I was extremely happy when the dough was not as sticky as before and I was able to roll it out and cover the tart pan.

3. Who is your TWD blog idol?
That would be Laurie, I admire her for the time and efforts she spends on TWD site. Thanks Laurie!

4. What has been your favorite TWD recipe so far?
Of all the TWD recipes I’ve tried out so far, my favourite has to be Dimply Plum Cake (I used peaches instead). I like its soft and moist texture, well, I can’t resist any desserts with fruits in them anyway.

5. What recipe are you dying to make that no one has picked yet?
Swedish Visiting Cake on page 197. It seems like a simple cake but there’s something about the rustic look of the picture that makes it appealing. And I also find it interesting to bake the cake in a skillet.

6. What 2 questions would you ask Dorie if you ever met her?
a. Can I be the assistant in your kitchen for 1 day? Pleaseeeee…. ?
b. What is your favourite French pastry of all time?

7. Share one food item that best describes the last year of your life. (example: “frozen pizza” because I did a 180-degree turn this year, or “cinnamon roll” because it had lots of twists and turns but overall was pretty sweet)
Cookies because that’s what I bake very often.

8. What one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality?
My blender. It is capable of grinding any ingredients in a very short time, which suits my personality because I’m impatient and tend to do things fast.

9. What’s your favorite band or CD of all time?
I have too many favorite bands, Queen, U2 etc, just to name a few. The CD that I listen to pretty often is “Best Collections of Antonio Carlos Jobim”.

10. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
That would be Japan! And I would make sure that I eat a different pastry everyday. If you’ve been to the food malls of departmental stores in Japan, you’ll get what I mean. The dessert selections are awesome!

11. Complete the statement “I recommend…” (it can be a show, movie, book, restaurant, website, activity, etc.)
I recommend www.allrecipes.com. I visit the site often to get ideas and inspirations in baking.

12. If you knew you could you try anything and not fail (and money was no object), what dream would you attempt?
I’d like to enroll in Le Cordon Bleu and then open my own bakery shop.

13. What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
To be able to eat all day without feeling full. Does that count?

14. If you had 1 hour of free time, no distractions, what would you do?
Hmm… this is a tough one. I have lots of free time ever since my hubby and I move to Saudi Arabia in July this year. Going out by myself is a bit difficult, and so I’ve been staying at home most of the time. I spend time by reading cookbooks.

15. What is the meal and dessert you would choose as your very last?
I’m a HUGE seafood fan. So I’d love to have a seafood feast and I would eat as much as I can without having to worry for my cholesterol level. Wouldn’t that be great?

16. What is the “strangest” food you ever ate?
A green color soup I had in Agra, India. I do love Indian food but this particular soup is just beyond anything I’ve ever tasted, it’s simply weird.

17. What are three adjectives that describe you?
Impatient, loyal and er… lazy.

18. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
My eyes… I think.

19. Have you ever met a famous person? who?
Unfortunately, no. I’d love to meet Dorie Greenspan or Pierre Hermé though.

20. What’s your favorite spice?
Five spice powder, which I use to cook my favourite braised pork dish.

21. Do you speak another language? (If yes, say something and translate)
Other than English and Mandarin (my mother tongue), I can speak some basic Japanese, just enough to get by when I go to Japan for holidays. Minnasan, ogenkidesuka? (Hello everyone, how are you?)

22. Do you have any pets? (List what kind of pet, names etc)
Yes. I have a doggy by the name of Ringo, that means “apple” in Japanese, and a hamster calls Ginger. I named all my pets after food, I used to have two rabbits – Brownie & Cookie, and another two hamsters – Pumpkin & Cornflake.

23. Are you a ‘morning’ or ‘night’ person?
Definitely a night person. I have a rather unusual sleeping cycle, I sleep at 4am and wake up at 12 noon. My hubby thinks that I must be an owl in my past life.

24. What was the last book you read?
Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise. She’s my favourite food writer by far, I love the way she describes food and after reading her books, I wish I can be a restaurant critic too!

25. “2 Truths And a Lie” – Share 3 unique things about yourself and your life, 2 of them true, 1 false, and let the group guess which one isn’t true.
- I’m short and petite.
- I grew up in Malaysia but spend all my adult life in Singapore.
- Other than cooking, I do sewing and crocheting too.