Friday, April 20, 2012

FFwD: Coconut Friands

I have no specific problem with coconut, except that, given a list of flavors, it would likely be my last pick. I don't mind it as a background ingredient, but I don't like it when it coats the outside of a cake (in the same way that I don't like nuts in my ice cream. It interferes with the texture in a way that other add-ins do not), or when it's the primary flavor of something, because it usually is TOO coconutty for my taste.

That said, this week's French Fridays with Dorie pick of Coconut Friands (little cakes baked in mini muffin tins) was perfectly timed. I was having a lousy Wednesday (fourth anniversary since my dad died) and a little baking therapy was just what I needed. This recipe made me happy because I had all the ingredients already, it used up my coconut and four egg whites that I had in the freezer (trying to eat through the contents of my pantry before I move this summer), and it was easy as can be. I wasn't in a mind-space to do much besides stir ingredients together, so it was perfect.
All that was left by the time I remembered to snap a photo. Don't judge me. haha
I was delighted at how much I liked these little cakes. Especially when they were fresh from the oven, the edges and sides were a little crisp, almost like they'd caramelized. That effect was gone by the next day, but it was lovely while it lasted. They certainly tasted of coconut, but the flavor seemed mild because it was so well balanced by vanilla. I think that the use of unsweetened coconut was crucial to keeping the flavor in check. Hot, they tasted of whipped cream, somehow. I can't explain that.

Needless to say, therapy baking turned into therapy eating. Oh well, it was just for a day. Charlie liked these too, much to my surprise. Maybe I've just been baking the wrong flavored treats for his palate. He ate one and then ran to the kitchen and was stretching to reach another off the counter. Eat up, lad, eat up. Please, don't make me eat them all myself.

Conclusion: Loved them.

Also, consider this a public service announcement. I made the Basic White Loaf from Baking with Julia that was previously covered by Tuesdays with Dorie. The bread was easy and delicious, but the damn dough broke my Kitchenaid mixer. Online searches have revealed to me that you are not supposed to turn the Kitchenaid mixer on higher than level "2" when using the bread hook or it will burn out the motor, so when the recipe instructed me to raise the speed to medium, things went wrong. I had no idea, and I'm guessing some of you don't know either. I have to take her apart this weekend to check out her innards, because the interwebs tell me that the most common problem can be fixed with a $25 replacement part--some failsafe piece that it designed to break before the motor is actually damaged. Fingers crossed!
How can I stay mad at a face like that?
Let me just tell you, kneading butter into a stiff dough by hand is no fun. No fun at all.

21 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you were having a tough week. Baking therapy does help sometimes, doesn't it? And - bonus, Charlie approved.

    Wow! I didn't realize your move was so close. I hope you don't have to spend too much of the summer in oh-so-hot Corpus.

    Sorry about your mixer. Fingers crossed on the repairs.

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    1. Yep, the big move is coming up fast. Matt's last day of work is July 23, and we have to be in Italy by mid-August. It feels even shorter, though, b/c Charlie and I'll probably head to NY in June to help my mom out after she has a hip replacement surgery. June is not far away AT ALL. Deep breaths...

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  2. Your coconut friands looks good and I agree with you that the edges are crispy and that is the best part of these coconut friands. I added fresh cranberries and guess what, Dorie is right..it is delicious !

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  3. Wow, looks like you have a hectic few months ahead of you. Hope your mom's surgery goes smoothly and your move to Italy (hate you) takes place seamlessly. Now as for your friands, isn't it funny how when you give it a chance, some things end up surprising you? Glad you liked these coconut-ey treats, and even Charlie approved. Yaaay!

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  4. Baking therapy is the best and I'm happy to hear that your therapy turned out a worthwhile treat. AND you got to clean out your cupboard, don't you just love that feeling! I always get a little high.

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  5. I'm so sorry to hear about the anniversary of your father's death. Though, it sounds like the friands and the bread helped.

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  6. I think kitchen therapy is some of the most productive therapy out there. It fills your tummy and helps you create all at the same time. I can't wait to hear more about this move to Italy as the time gets closer!

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  7. oh baking therapy is amazing! it's usually what I do when my one year old is taking a nap in the afternoon or her last nap at night before we go to bed (a couple hours later) and its just so nice, along with appreciating what you have created after its done!

    I have found that the dough is too much for the mixers to handle (really) and if you just melt and cool the butter before you add it in at the beginning after you have bloomed your yeast, its not a very hard dough to knead and it proofs higher and tastes less dense. give that a try! my mixer died last year (not due to bread dough) and I have found that kneading and baking bread can be very therapeutic also! :)

    Alice @ http://acookingmizer.wordpress.com

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  8. Hope all goes well for your kitchenaid! These little cakes were oh so good, weren't they? Hope your difficult days are behind you.

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  9. What a busy summer ahead for you both. Hope your Mom's surgery goes well, and your trip to
    Italy too. Tricia's son is heading to Italy at the end of summer for a high school study year abroad.
    We are all excited. Your friands look great, and this was truly a simple recipe that hubby and I both
    enjoyed.

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  10. Hope everything goes well with your Mom's surgery and the move to Italy. Italy sounds like a great place to be, and I often dream of moving there - I'll look forward to reading about your experiences. Oh, and I hope the mixer is able to get fixed. I had some issues with mine also but it seemed to reset itself when I turned it off for a while and let it rest.

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  11. Funny, while I don't mind the flavor of coconut, like in Thai food, it's the texture of shredded coconut that I don't like. I couldn't figure out to adapt this to my taste, so my sister made them instead. Her family loves coconut. How exciting to be moving to Italy. It will be a whole new experience. Can't wait to hear about it. And I'm sending you a virtual hug. The anniversary of a big loss is always hard.

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  12. I'm glad these little cakes were both tasty and healing. I agree that baking can be therapeutic - it's almost a kind of meditation for me, when it's going well. I hope everything goes well and that your KitchenAid is easy to fix.

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  13. therapy comes in many forms I've found.
    Your friands look delicious, I loved them as well.
    And very impressed with the loaf! You've made me think about giving it a go!

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  14. I'm so sorry about your mixer! A lot of us had problems with our machines on that one. Hopefully it will be an easy fix. Don't fret about having a splurge day with the friands -sometimes you just need it. I liked these a lot more than I thought I would too.

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  15. Baking and cooking therapy have been the best possible therapies for me while dealing with losses of my loved ones, Ei. I am glad it is the same for you. And I am glad that these pleasantly surprised you. I also loved that caramelized coating on them. Both your friands and your bread look perfect!

    When I bought my Kitchenaid there was a sticker on my dough hook that warned about not using it with a speed above 2 and I have kept it on there as a reminder (not that hard since I haven't used the dough hook only a couple of times). I am so sorry this happened to your mixer and I hope you can get it fixed or a replacement without spending $$$.

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  16. Baking therapy to the rescue :) Those friands look wonderful! Good tip on the mixer. I don't own one (i've asked for one for my birthday) so I'll remember this for future bread makage!

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  17. I'm sorry it was a tough day for you! I think a little friand therapy was perfect for a broken heart...

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  18. Love the coconut friands, too, and same with the white loaf. Lovely to have you baking with us.

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  19. Please give us an update on your mixer. I also have a Kitchen Aid but, as usual, never read directions so I was glad for the info. Your bread does look delicious. Lots going on at your house. Glad you liked the friands flavor.

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  20. Sorry with your Kitchen Aid fiasco. I have one also but, of course, never read the manual so didn't know its limitations. Thank you. You sound as if your household is busy and it doesn't help to have to handle sad memories also. Glad you liked the friands.

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