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MAKE IT! Results: "The Queen of Hot Pastries"

"Queen of Hot Pastries" is right! What fun it was making soufflés! I'm happy to say that Jamie and Wendy are keeping this feature alive and I am so grateful for their participation. Both of them made the Cheese soufflé and sent pictures and stories of other soufflés they made. All efforts were successful. Wendy and I both worried about every aspect our first attempts. Before making the cheese soufflé, Wendy made chocolate dessert soufflés that she had been meaning to make for quite a while. She said,"All along I kept thinking I'd messed it up. The chocolate wasn't right (I let it cook too long, it was too thick) I didn't beat the egg whites long enough or maybe I beat them too much, I errored on the side of caution and didn't fold enough..." But success! Everything came out perfectly. Judge for yourself!

In a completely fortuitous coincidence, the day I posted this MAKE IT! challenge Jamie's daughter had asked him to make soufflés for breakfast. He sent along this wonderful picture of what they made together: Potato Soufflé.

All three of use had the chance to make the recipe for Cheese Soufflé. We all loved it. Jamie, who wins the volume prize said it was "like eating a tasty cloud." Look at this puffy masterpiece:

And Wendy said,"It was wonderful!!!! The kids loved it. We loved it. I should have made two because this one was not enough."

I made it one evening when Yolanda & Frank and baby Sasha joined us for dinner and I worried and worried that I shouldn't have made it the first time for guests (I'll never learn!). But Yolanda reassured me and we were all delighted with the results.

I made the Grand Marnier Soufflé, which was a hit. I had much more confidence this time around and didn't worry too much about making it for the first time for guests also.

Finally, Jamie sent along this amazing lobster soufflé he undertook with a friend a couple of years back.

I'm getting ready to post another MAKE IT! and hope to snag a couple of additional participants this time! Thanks again to Jamie and Wendy!!

Filed under // baking chocolate make it! results soufflé vegetarian

MAKE IT! Results: Soupe à l'Oignon Grantinée

After two years of thinking about making Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée, I was not disappointed when I finally did make it. The technique was very easy, though somewhat more time consuming than I had imagined. I did end up caramelizing the onions which adds some additional prep time. I wonder if toasting the bread is entirely necessary. Next time, I think I will just use day- (or two) old bread.

Both Wendy and I used the Emmental cheese which makes a nice, crisp top crust. Wendy felt the "crusty cheese top was divine and totally made up for any mush." Jamie substituted Gruyere because Emmental was not available. The Gruyere did not seem to crisp up as well and Jamie finally ended up putting his soupe under the broiler.

As I mentioned, I caramelized the onions which took a little added time. It was worth it, in my opinion. I debated adding stock instead of salt water, as Jamie did, but settled on deglazing the onion pan with a little white wine and adding the salt water to the scrapings to make an onion-y broth. I think I would advise against using a meat broth, in the end. As Jamie said, "toasted bread, carmelized onions, yummy cheese, butter, and tomato puree turned out to provide plenty of richness."

The best part of making this dish was the construction. First, the toasted, buttered bread topped with cheese.

Then, a layer of onions with tomato puree drizzled over them.

Finally, a layer of cheese. Then repeat to fill the kettle.

Add the salty water and cook for 90 minutes, uncovered. The final picture is Wendy's. Yum!

The dish was thick, rich and delicious. My kids were a little reluctant to eat it, but liked it once they did. We only ate half of it on the day we made it. I reheated the leftovers the next night to use as a side dish and it was fabulous.

I love Wendy's family's reaction: "My husband and six-year-old LOVED it! I was surprised when my 6-year-old asked for seconds. The 4-year-old? Well, he doused his in ketchup and ate maybe two bites. I guess everyone's entitled to their opinion."

Thanks to those who participated in MAKE IT! If you didn't get around to it this time, I hope you'll try it next time.

Filed under // make it! results savory bread pudding soup

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MAKE IT! Results: "The Queen of Hot Pastries"

MAKE IT! Results: Soupe à l'Oignon Grantinée