Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, Recipes

[topaz119]

All the food mentioned along the way is real--either something I've eaten or something I've cooked. If I could find a recipe online, I had it open while I was writing.






How to Poach An Egg (youtube link. One of about 200 versions. Who knew so many people want to teach you how to poach an egg? I would have gone with Gordon Ramsey's version, except it ended up in some soup.)


Maine Lobster Pancakes with Pea Shoot Salad and a Ginger-Carrot Emulsion**
Sauteed Cod with Codcakes and Parsley Oil**
Lambchops With Summer Beans and Rosemary**
Strawberry and Champagne Terrine**

Coq au Vin
Tarte Tatin

Cassoulet de Canard (there's a link to a recipe at the beginning of the article.)
Lemon Sorbet

Baked Fresh Ham with Bread Stuffing

Caramel Corn

Frogmore-esque Stew
Braised Beef Short Ribs
Chocolate Cream Pie (alas, not the one I wanted to use, but that one's a trade secret or something…)

Red Velvet Peppermint Cake
Croquembouche, as assembled by a delightful Brit (youtube)
Buche de Noel (Jensen would not approve--the mushrooms are made of marzipan instead of meringue, but Jared would probably talk him down.)
Praline Cheesecake


**The French Laundry At Home is a gorgeous book, but if you *ever* make anything successfully from it, feel free to come brag about it to me. =)

Comments

[ala-tariel.livejournal.com]

Oh my! You made me hungry with all these recipes! :D:D:D

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

The worst part is that these are just the ones that made it into the final drafts--I had SO MANY other things bookmarked. =)

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

that strawberry terrine sounds like it'd be fantastically good with really good strawberries.

Alas, I haven't encountered any of them since moving home from the UK. (Where, seriously, during strawberry season you could walk into even a basic supermarket and the smell would just HIT you.)

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

Consider this an edit - is the French Laundry book one that you'd recommend? (I am one of those weird people who reads cookbooks for fun, but hardly ever follows actual recipes for anything except baking to the letter, so even really complicated stuff can be quite inspiring.)

I have a Barnes & Noble gift card I haven't used yet and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. :)

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

I love the French Laundry and the cookbook is beautiful, so if you're looking for a pretty read, then it might be good. If I had money to burn though, I think I'd go for Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours... Gorgeous, plus actual possibility of getting the recipes made. I borrowed it like 5 times from the library before I managed to get out and buy it.

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll put them both on the list to check out. :)

(I am honestly too lazy to actually use a recipe for most cooking; you have to find it and measure things out and all of that and I just cannot be bothered unless it's actually specifically necessary, like in the case of baking and some sauces and that sort of thing. Or canning/preserving, I measure there because if you get the amounts wrong it could end up being actually unsafe. But as a result, cookbooks get a lot of reading, but very little actual in-kitchen use when they belong to me. :) ) (Keeps 'em in nice condition, though!)

[banbury.livejournal.com]

Oh! That's just... I don't know, my hands itching to go to the kitchen and try something out, but it's almost two in the morning ::saving recipes like mad::
Thank you for all of this - fantastic story and i-want-to-try-it-all-right-this-minute recipes :-)

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that happens to when I read foodie fic. :)

(Right now I'm thinking about how much I really want to make greek-style chicken kabobs on the grill, though, because I just planted up some mint and oregano in the garden today.)

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

I had a really good time figuring out who would cook what, trying to figure out something that fit Jared's personality but would still work for a private dinner like that. Jensen was easier--he really did get to channel Julia Child. =)

[elanorofcastile.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I can't WAIT to read this! You caught me with the title and then stole my heart with the recipe list! Man, can it be the weekend already so I can read this while I'm making bread and pastry dough? 10pm is not a good time for me to start making brioche... *slaps wrist*

(And oooooooh, that looks like a cookbook I need to check out! I'll add it to my Christmas list with the other batch of cookbooks, lol.)

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

The French Laundry at Home is a *beautiful* cookbook. Just breathtaking. (And the baking book I rec'd a couple of comments up is seriously the most favorite thing I've bought in years. It is awesome; almost overwhelming.)

[elanorofcastile.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

Oh man, I've been trying to form a rational response to your fic, but all I can come up with is flailing and unintelligible sounds of excitement! Seriously, one of the best things I've read in a long while, and I'll keep coming back to it for future reads ♥ Seriously, SO. MUCH. LOVE.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! ♥

[elanorofcastile.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to send another wave of love your way! My last cookbook adventure I resisted buying the French Laundry cookbook in favor of the CIA's baking and pastry text, but it's on my Christmas list! :P

There was a recent article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/12/FD1F26JG.DTL) about a day in the FL kitchen which spurred me into re-reading. Still fabulous and makes me itch to cook this weekend, oh mannnnn.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool; thanks! I hadn't seen that, but I did just see this photo essay (http://www.life.com/image/ugc1125351/in-gallery/42842/cutting-edge-food-with-grant-achatz) from Life magazine, with Grant Achatz of Alinea talking about molecular gastronomy. Those are *crazy* dinners.

[elizardbits.livejournal.com]

I worked my way through most of the French Laundry cookbook (aside from recipes involving horrid nasty fish/shellfish) when I was living in Europe. How I managed to not get immensely fat is still a srs bznss mystery.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

I am so jealous, you don't even know. I love that cookbook, but I have never really had time to work with it. (I have 3 teenage boys at home--dinner just has to get on the table FAST.) As for the weight non-gain, I think that when you work to make something like that, it's just so satisfying that you aren't eating mindlessly, you're savoring every bite and end up eating less than if you're just eating. Maybe?

[klingoncat.livejournal.com]

haven't read it yet - but can hardly wait, but I gotta say, I clicked on the link for the Red Velvet Peppermint Cake and was totally surprised to find a recipe site that posts a recipe using cake mixes... I want a REAL recipe from scratch (not bitching at you - just surprised that they would do that) LOL guess I'll have to make my own or search for another one.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

ah, but that one is a recipe from Jared's mom. *g* They were using it because it was a family favorite. I think Paula Deen has a from-scratch red velvet cake recipe--use half of the batter that makes & half of a really light white cake recipe & you'll be good to go. =)

[klingoncat.livejournal.com]

cool, I just hate using mixes, and I just finished reading the story and LOVED it, will be saving and rereading for sure. Thanks (also checking out some of the recipes)

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Thanks--I'm so glad the story worked for you!

[cantarina]

Thank you for these! I'm going to have to start throwing those dinner parties I keep talking about so that I can try some of them. Fic like this always makes me want to get more creative in the kitchen!

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

You're welcome--and I definitely vote for more dinner parties. They're the only time I usually get around to trying new things. =)

[zelda-zee.livejournal.com]

The French Laundry at Home is just food porn and good for a laugh. I mean, Keller's a genius but who cooks like that at home - for ANY occasion??

Fun recipes - and a great idea to include them with the fic.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know! You should see his second book--it's even more crazy. I do have a friend who will tackle a recipe or two, but that's the occasion: Come to dinner--I'm trying the French Laundry again.

[strokeof-genie.livejournal.com]

Loved the story! Especially Sugar Shock; as a pastry chef, a croquembouche is something I've made before and would loathe to have to do it again. Well, in Christmas I know I'll have to, but I hate it.

And since you said we could brag...I have made the strawberry terrine. Well, not exactly, since the people wanted a more summer-y flair to it. We used more Grand Marnier instead of champagne.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

As for the croquembouche, back when I was single and had time to be nuts, one of my friends and I made them for the holidays and it was quite the involved process. I know there are pictures of them (and us) somewhere but we haven't attempted them since.

And congrats on the strawberry terrine! The GM sounds like a yummy switch.

[abrokencompass.livejournal.com]

not only an awesome story, but some amazing recipes as well? I have hearts in my eyes.

[topaz119.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I had a ridiculous number of recipes bookmarked for this story; it was a sad day when I had to sit down and make myself plan out their menus and let go of the other ideas. ;)