Page 185 - COMING UNSTUCK by Sara tuck
P. 185

Believe it or not I am a reasonably skinny    In this last year I have been the equivalent
                  chick – and when you look through this        of Little Red Riding Hood with a laden basket
                  chapter you might wonder why. My basic        – but instead of visiting Grandma, I have been
                  principle is this – I never forgo the sweet stuff   sharing baked goodies with friends over cups
                  in life, but I do keep my portions small.     of tea. I regularly arrive at places with white
                  I firmly believe in indulgence, just not in    chocolate, macadamia & caramel slice (see
                  a reckless abandoned way (well, mostly not),   p194); or big bad carrot cake (see p208); but
                  so as you look through the following pages,   the wickedest treat of all (maybe I’m actually
                  just remember, some things are good for the   the wolf?) are the salted caramel cheesecake
                  soul, life is too short, etc etc – just don’t eat   bites (see p220)… totally outrageous.
                  the whole bloody thing!
                                                                If you are a novice baker, I have one main
                  Sweet stuff has many benefits – it is the     bit of advice: while cooking is quite an art
                  final flourish to a dinner party, giving you   – throw in a bit of this or that, be wild, free
                  the chance to show off with something a bit   and go for it – baking is science. All you need
                  flash such as pear tarte Tatin (see p211); dark   to do is weigh, measure, use the specified sized
                  chocolate self-saucing pudding with prunes    tins and the correct ingredients and success
                  and port (see p219); or my hallmark, the      is assured… otherwise, not so much.
                  classic lemon tart (see p193). And as it is the
                  last thing guests will remember at the end of   And lastly, I’d like to give a shout out to
                  the night, you may as well go all out! Also,   stuff-this-shit chocolate mousse (see p199).
                  importantly, sweet stuff is made for sharing   Can we please just agree that sometimes
                  – it is actually proven (I promise, I read the   all you need is a cloud of pillowy, luscious,
                  research somewhere) that baking for others    smooth, rich chocolate to make everything
                  makes you feel better. The art of giving and   right with the world? Or for a good 10 minutes
                  thinking outside yourself is therapy indeed.   while you eat it anyway.




















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