CCH Soup

for Cold Cucumber & Honeydew Soup

This was featured in July's O! magazine. (Which I am loving, especially bec. of the feature on Sarah Jessica Parker's line for Steve & Barry. I can't wait to get to my ideal dress size so I can splurge at this store! All of SJP's clothes cost $25 or less and run all the way to size 22!)

For this soup, you puree a ripe honeydew, a medium cucumber and 3/4 c of light coconut milk. Top with toasted coconut and tada! (I haven't found toasted coconut yet, though.)

Unfortunately Teo wasn't keen on it, and Benjie found it strange, but refreshing. Only my friend Amanda (a vegetarian) really enjoyed it.

It IS a perfect foil to the hot, hot DC summer, and it makes a beautiful picture. Except I forgot yet again to take one!

Otsu

Adam made this during the hot memorial day weekend, and I planned it for today since it's been pretty hot in DC too. Unfortunately the timing was off--it was actually quite cool today!

But this dish is so tasty and lovely that it worked, although I can see how perfect it is for a hot day. It requires a minimum of heat, a bonus in my airless kitchen.

Adam got Heidi Swanson's permission to publish the recipe--as opposed to just summarizing--so you definitely should try it out!

The next time I make it, I'll cut the cayenne down to .5 tsp so that it isn't too hot for Teo.

Also, there's something to be said for using a genuine non-stick pan. I had a heck of a time browning the tofu, and the brown parts mostly stuck to the pan! (I know my pan was non-stick when I bought it 5 years ago. I think I've been washing it wrong and that's what damaged the surface.)

(Benjie loved this...rare for a dish with no animal protein in it! And then he asked me what I was cooking next...nueve?)

Dulce De Leche Brownies

This was a weekend of trying out Adam (Amateur Gourmet)'s recent recommendations.

He links to David Lebovitz's recipe for Dulce De Leche Brownies.

This was my second attempt to make this recipe, as I mistakenly bought caramel instead of DDL last weekend. (BTW, caramel works, just not as wicked as these!)

DDL is I think among my top 3 favorite ice cream flavors, so I was really looking forward to these! Plus I love how you basically just get 2 containers dirty--the saucepan, where you melt the butter & chips, and the brownie pan.

I followed the recipe to a T except I think I didn't use enough DDL. (I used a store brand. Making my own is a pain to the wallet, since a small container of condensed milk in WF costs more than half what one bottle of DDL does--and I can get 2-3 brownie pans out of the bottle!)

These came out beautifully moist, and not too sweet. I'm tempted to try it next time with Splenda instead of sugar.