Saturday, October 4, 2008

Birthday Crème Brulee


My daughter Lily just turned a whopping 19 years old this week. I was prepared to make her a delicious cake smothered in her favorite frosting. It’s always been some type of character or kooky looking creation. But, she informed me that this year what she wanted was Crème Brulee. This really surprised me because each year her choice gets more and more outrageous in what she wants as her celebratory tribute.

My son Michael ALWAYS wants a cherry cake. I don’t think he’ll ever change that. He’s had a cherry cake since he was a tiny little guy, and there’s nothing tiny about him anymore. He’s turning 31, also this month, and is 6’2” and weighs over 200 pounds. But mama always made him a cherry cake.

My baby girl has had a football shaped cake, a jukebox cake, a Barney (remember him?) cake, you name it and she wanted it. This year she asked for Crème Brulee. I asked her why and her reply was, “Well, Mom, you never have a cake on your birthday. You always ask for an apple pie. Why can’t I ask for Crème Brulee?” Well, made sense to me. I guess she’s growing up. She hates the fact that this is her last teenage year. “Why can’t I just stay 19 forever?” Oh boy. She takes 15 hours at UTEP and she works about 30 hours a week. She’s tired, she’s stressed and she wants to stay 19. Don’t we all wish we could keep them little forever?

So Mama made Crème Brulee. This picture is the one from my “Mi Chita’s Mexican Chocolate Dessert Ecookbook”. I didn’t have the opportunity to take a picture of the one I made 2 days ago because it was gobbled up quickly. But I wanted you to see a picture of it and know that the taste and creaminess of this dessert is heavenly. I hope you try it. It’s a very simple and easy recipe.

So, for my baby girl, “Happy Birthday my Angel”. May you reach all your dreams and desires and my God protect you when I can’t.

Crème Brulee

2 cups whipping cream
2 cups half & half
8 ounces (about 2 ½ disks), chopped Mexican Chocolate
8 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
Cinnamon-brown sugar topping (8 tablespoons brown sugar plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
Amaretto Cherries*, optional

Preheat oven to 300°.
Bring whipping cream and half & half to a boil in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and add chocolate. Whisk until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
Whisk egg yolks and 1/3-cup sugar. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain.Divide custard among 8 custard cups.
Place filled cups in a large, deep baking pan. Add hot water to the pan to come ½ way up the outside of the cups. Bake until custard is set, about 50 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool 2 hours on a cooling rack.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Sprinkle each cup with 1 tablespoon cinnamon-brown sugar topping. Use a small butane fueled torch to caramelize the sugar topping. If you don’t have one, broil in the oven until sugar turns golden brown, about 3 minutes. Keep a close eye though, sugar burns quickly. Refrigerate until set. Serve with a tablespoon of Amaretto Cherries if desired. 8 servings.

*Amaretto Chocolate Sauce with Cherries:

2 cups chopped Mexican Chocolate
½ cup whipping cream
¼ cup Amaretto
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon instant coffee
Dash of cinnamon
Maraschino cherries

Combine first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Place chopped chocolate in medium size mixing bowl. As soon as cream mixture starts to boil, remove from heat and pour over chopped chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Stir in instant coffee and cinnamon and whisk until coffee is dissolved. Add cherries and allow to stand until cherries absorb the flavors of the chocolate mixture. Makes about 1¾ cups.

12 comments:

Gloria Chadwick said...

Teresa, that creme brulee looks so good. Happy Birthday to Lily! :) You're such a good mom and I know how proud you are of her. I love your prayer for her. Hugs.

anudivya said...

The creme brulee looks so good!
Awesome blog you got here...

Finla said...

Wow your daughter is so beautiful
Happy birthday to her and love the brulee.

Megan said...

I must say, you have a stunning daughter. And yes, I wish we could keep them little forever!!! I (kind of) miss the barney days.:)
My husband just had a birthday, we have wedding cake in the house, and my daughter is doing another cake tonight for her cake decorating class. My birthday is on the 8th and I have asked for NO CAKE!!! But cream brulee...now thats an idea. :)

Deb in Hawaii said...

What a beautiful daughter you have! Your B-day creme brulee looks and sounds delicious!

Dee said...

Oh Teresa, you're daughter is gorgeous! Hope she had a happy birthday - I know I would have with that amzing brulee :) I've only heard of Mexican chocolate but have never tried any. What's it like?

Andrea said...

Wow, your daughter is so beautiful! She seriously looks like a model. I love that she asked for creme brulee! I agree, if it's her birthday, why not? I always wanted a key lime pie, and no one ever argued with me, either!

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

I just visited another blog and found how she would dread baking... And it was all the same with me yet hope I get into baking after seeing all your tasty and wondeful brulee... Hope your daughter had a wonderful bday... I love the dish that you make its seriously tempting...

Maria said...

Your daughter is beautiful ... a happy belated birthday to her and many many more!
Creme brulee has to be one of my most favorite desserts and you know what, I have never made it myself. My sister bought me the torch and some ramekins for Christmas two whole years ago and they are still sitting in a kitchen cabinet waiting to be used!
Your brulee looks quite good.

Reeni said...

Your chocolate brulee looks fantastic. Happy B-day to your beautiful daughter!

Unknown said...

Your creme brulee looks FAB!! I ahve a daughter named Lily too!! Your daugthter is a beauty!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I will be back to visit you!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Tere, your daughter is beautiful! And she has good taste too. Happy Belated Birthday to her!

 

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