Pudding and Playlists
Last week was a whirlwind of flour, sugar, cool fall evenings, early morning drives to the industrial part of the city and some new baking friends. I enrolled in a one-week intensive baking course through San Francisco Baking Institute in methods and ingredient functionality. It was fascinating to learn the science behind what I do and love (the “why’s and “how’s” lurking behind recipes and formulas). I haven’t done the whole commute thing in a long, long time so after a few days of really bad morning radio I gathered up a new play list. And you know what I’ve found about this particular playlist? Not only is it fabulous for weaving in and out of traffic on Highway 101, it’s also great for shaking your booty while you’re making butterscotch pudding.
Here are a few of the musical highlights. Picture me weaving through traffic peacefully at the crack of dawn:
Carolina Chocolate Drops This North Carolina string band trio learned their skills from old-time fiddler Joe Thompson. Joe was in his 80’s when they would head over to his house and sit on the porch observing, learning, absorbing. “Memphis Shakedown” is the best song for stirring butterscotch pudding like there’s no tomorrow.
The Living Sisters are perfect late afternoon or Sunday morning music. There’s a quiet deliberation that I love, and a breathy old-timeyness. Check out “Blue” and “Double Knots.”
I don’t completely know how to describe Joanna Newson other than magically odd and mildly addicting. You have to be in the right mood, but if you haven’t experienced the crazy stuff she does with the harp and her eerily powerful vocals, you’re missing out.
My crush on Eddie Vedder is deep-seated, and it hasn’t ended with the few songs he did for the Eat, Pray Love soundtrack. Regardless of what you thought of the book or the movie,”Better Days” and “The Long Road” make me smile and slow down.
Oh Regina Spektor, your lyrics are smart and your voice stops me in my tracks. Check out “Better” and “Fidelity.”
She and Him‘s Volume Two is my go-to shower or driving to work album. Turns out it’s great for pudding stirring as well. Who knew? My two favorite songs are “Thieves” and “Don’t Look Back.”
And of course, you can’t go wrong with some Bob Dylan, Jay Z., old Violent Femmes, Wilco, Gillian Welch, or Jenny Lewis. Happy listening, driving, stirring, baking…or whatever you’re up to this week.
And now for some pudding. This recipe is from the Baked cookbook. I’m obsessed with Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito’s first effort and their newest book, Baked Explorations, is just as exciting. The Baked boys have a little bakery in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn and a location in South Carolina as well–they do classic American desserts with playful, innovative ingredients (malt, pepper, milk powder). and I can’t wait to actually visit the bakery while in New York in November. For now, we’ve got their pudding.
Butterscotch Pudding
- Yield: 4 (small serving); 6 (larger serving)
- Prep time: 20 mins
- Cook time: 20 mins
- Total time: 40 mins
Adapted from: Baked
Ingredients
Instructions
Put the egg yolks in a large heatproof bowl and set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water and stir gently with wooden spoon or heatproof spatula to combine. Avoid splashing the sides of the pan. Cook over medium heat until sugar’s dissolved, then increase the heat to medium-high and cook until mixture reaches a dark amber color. Don’t stir during this time–to keep the color consistent, you can swirl the pan if necessary. Remove from heat and let stand one minute before slowly stirring in the cream. Pour the caramel mixture into a small bowl and set aside.
In another small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch and salt and stir in the milk with a whisk to combine. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and using the tip of a knife, scrape the seeds into the milk mixture. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally, until it comes to a full boil. Remove from the heat and add the caramel. Whisk until combined, then pour one third of the mixture over the eggs to temper them. Don’t add the entire mixture at one time. Keep whisking the egg mixture and add another third of the hot milk mixture. Transfer the egg mixture back to the saucepan with the milk mixture and, whisking constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it comes to a boil, continue to boil for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly, or until it reaches a thicker almost pudding-like consistency. Pudding will also thicken as it sets, so don’t worry if it’s not the perfect pudding consistency at this time.
Remove from heat and add the butter and the whiskey. Keep whisking for about one minute to cool the pudding. Remove the vanilla bean. If your pudding looks chunky, filter through a mesh seive. Cover the top of the pudding with plastic wrap and press lightly down so it touches the surface of the pudding. This will prohibit the pudding from getting a thick skin on top. Refrigerate until ready to use. Pudding will thicken and continue to set.
To put together: whip the heavy cream (with a teaspoon of sugar if you’d like) and add a dollop on top of each serving of pudding. Then top with chocolate shavings.
Healthy Comfort Food
Thai Carrot, Coconut and Cauliflower Soup
People describe raising young kids as a particular season in life. I hadn't heard this until we had a baby, but it brought me a lot of comfort when I'd start to let my mind wander, late at night between feedings, to fears that we'd never travel internationally again or have a sit-down meal in our dining room. Would I ever eat a cardamom bun in Sweden? Soak in Iceland? I loved the heck out of our tiny Oliver, but man what had we done?! Friends would swoop in and reassure us that this was just a season, a blip in the big picture of it all. They promised we'd likely not even remember walking around the house in circles singing made-up songs while eating freezer burritos at odd hours of the day (or night). And it's true.
Oliver is turning two next month, and those all-encompassing baby days feel like a different time, a different Us. In many ways, dare I say it, Toddlerhood actually feels a bit harder. Lately Oliver has become extremely opinionated about what he will and will not wear -- and he enforces these opinions with fervor. Don't get near the kid with a button-down shirt. This week at least. He's obsessed with his rain boots and if it were up to him, he'd keep them on at all times, especially during meals. He insists on ketchup with everything (I created a damn monster), has learned the word "trash" and insists on throwing found items away on his own that really, truly are not trash. I came to pick him up from daycare the other day and he was randomly wearing a bike helmet -- his teacher mentioned he'd had it on most of the day and really, really didn't want to take it off. The kid has FEELINGS. I love that about him, and wouldn't want it any other way. But, man it's also exhausting.
Cheesy Quinoa Cauliflower Bake
I just finished washing out Oliver's lunchbox and laying it out to dry for the weekend. My favorite time of day is (finally) here: the quiet of the evening when I can actually talk to Sam about our day or sit and reflect on my own thoughts after the inevitable dance party or band practice that precedes the bedtime routine lately. Before becoming pregnant for the second time, I'd have had a glass of wine with the back door propped open right about now -- these days though, I have sparkling water or occasionally take a sip from one of Sam's hard ciders. Except now the back door's closed and we even turned on the heat for the first time yesterday. The racing to water the lawn and clean the grill have been replaced by cozier dinners at home and longer baths in the evening. You blink and it's the first day of fall.
Stuffed Shells with Fennel and Radicchio
I'd heard from many friends that buying a house wasn't for the faint of heart. But I always shrugged it off, figuring I probably kept better files or was more organized and, really, how hard could it be? Well, I've started (and stopped) writing this post a good fifteen times which may indicate something. BUT! First thing's first: we bought a house! I think! I'm pretty sure! We're still waiting for some tax transcripts to come through and barring any hiccough with that, we'll be moving out of our beloved craftsman in a few weeks and down the block to a great, brick Tudor house that we wanted the second we laid eyes on it. The only problem: it seemed everyone else in Seattle had also laid eyes on it, and wanted it equally as much. I'm not really sure why the homeowner chose us in the end. Our offer actually wasn't the highest, but apparently there were some issues with a few of them. We wrote a letter introducing ourselves and describing why we'd be the best candidates and why we were so drawn to the house; we have a really wonderful broker who pulled out all the stops, and after sifting through 10 offers and spending a number of hours deliberating, they ended up going with ours. We were at a friend's book event at the time when Sam showed me the text from our broker and I kind of just collapsed into his arms. We were both in ecstatic denial (wait, is this real?! Did we just buy a house?) and celebrated by getting chicken salad and potato salad from the neighborhood grocery store and eating it, dazed, on our living room floor. Potato salad never tasted so good.
Smoky Butternut Squash and Three Bean Chili
If your house is anything like ours, last week wasn't our most inspired in terms of cooking. We're all suffering from the post-election blues -- the sole upside being Oliver's decision to sleep-in until 7 am for the first time in many, many months; I think he's trying to tell us that pulling the covers over our heads and hibernating for awhile is ok. It's half-convincing. For much of the week, instead of cooking, there'd been takeout pizza and canned soup before, at week's end, I decided it was time to pour a glass of wine and get back into the kitchen. I was craving something hearty and comforting that we could eat for a few days. Something that wouldn't remind me too much of Thanksgiving because, frankly, I can't quite gather the steam to start planning for that yet. It was time for a big bowl of chili.
To Talk Porridge
Porridge is not the sexiest of breakfasts, it's true. It doesn't have a stylish name like strata or shakshuka, and it doesn't have perfectly domed tops like your favorite fruity muffin. It doesn't crumble into delightful bits like a good scone nor does it fall into buttery shards like a well-made croissant. But when you wake up and it's 17 degrees outside (as it has been, give or take a few, for the last week), there's nothing that satisfies like a bowl of porridge or oatmeal. It's warm and hearty and can be made sweet or savory with any number of toppings. The problem? Over the years, it's gotten a bad rap as gluey or gummy or just downright boring or dutiful -- and it's because not everyone knows the secrets to making a great pot of warm morning cereal. So let's talk porridge (also: my cookbook comes out this month! So let's take a peek inside, shall we?)
Lauren
An excellent mix. :) I would add Neko Case and a sprinkling of Tim Buckley. I don't know if these puddings can be improved on though! Purty. Anyways, hi from a sometimes lurker!
Lori
I LOVE butterscotch and BAKED. Can't wait to try this recipe.
Janet
Yum! Want. Love the new music to listen to, too! Thanks for all the recommendations!
A Canadian Foodie
I looks incredible - how does it taste??? (Love the music notes.)
:)
Valerie
megang
Tastes fabulous, Valerie. Really rich pudding--perfect for cool evenings. The Baked boys call it "toothsome."
dixie
Well hot damn! My mom will love this and whiskey? Can't go wrong there. I will try this next time my mom is in town.
Sally
Amazing, this looks delicious, I have never made anything like this I might have to give it a go!
lenzy
Thanks for this recipe....
Lori@FakeFoodFree
I haven't had homemade pudding in what seems like forever. This sounds incredible, especially with that bit of whiskey in there. I just reviewed Baked Explorations and love it. Looks like I need to get my hands on a copy of Baked as well.
Laura Flowers
Oh yum oh yum oh yum oh yum!!! I love butterscotch pudding!
Laura
Taylor
Love the playlist! This butterscotch pudding looks to die for...I would definitely make it with crushed butterfinger on top :)
Melanie
My favorite pudding. YUM!!
Kelsey/TheNaptimeChef
Umm, New York in November? Lets make a date!
Suzanne T-H
Megan, you tackled the devilish carmel making step with this delicious pudding. You are a brave lady. It is such a fine line between perfect amber and too dark -yikes does that taste burned??? Then there is the problem of the whole thing suddenly crystalizing. (Can you tell I've had experience with this?) Luckily all went well and the pudding is delicious. Did you learn any tricks for caramelizing sugar in your class?
I vote for Greg Brown & John Prine on a good play list. Take care.
kickpleat
I'm not really a fan of pudding - i can only eat a spoonful or two before it becomes too much. But I think this would be great in a tart shell (maybe it's a texture thing and adding some crunch would mean the world to me!). This actually has me drooling a bit ;)
Maddie
Music is so important, and I love that you've touched on that here. (I'm seeing some interesting new names, too...) Baked goods from Baked are very important too, though. :) I'm really excited to test out their new stuff!
Laura
I just had some pudding tonight...thanks for the inspiration!! Yours is my favorite blog...I love reading it!!! Thanks so much for your cooking, writing, and sharing!
megang
Lauren: good call on Neko Case. Agreed (love)!
Lori: You'll love Baked Explorations.
Suzanne: No, didn't taste burned...look too dark to you? I didn't learn it in my recent class, but have helped out in a bakery over many weekends and have seen the head baker do similar sugar work. The timing is certainly tricky.
Jeanette: Yes! The Baked boys actually do it in a tart with oatey buttery crust which I think would be incredible. I thought, for this go-around, I'd just do a straight shot of the pudding. But good call on that one.
Laura: Thanks for the generous comment! I'm so glad you enjoy the blog.
Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite
You made a less pronounced whuskey taste? megan - what's wrong with you? Oh, right, that commute thing - it's a drag huh? Glad you found a way to make it better with music! Your course sounds amazing...
Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite
Or even, ahem, whIskey. It's early here!
Adriana from Baking Powders
great playlist, even better pudding... you know, i miss your posts when it's been a while...
Delishhh
YUM! Pudding. I don't know why but i never make pudding. This one i have to save and try.
Damaris Palmer
I am a total pudding fanatic. Is that wrong?!
101 is fun. HWY 1 is even better but my all time favorite is 17. It's the one I take from sana cruz to SF.
crazy.
LimeCake
that pudding just looks amazing! i love the Baked book. the recipes in there are delicious!
Dana
Love the music suggestions! I am new music challenged so I look forward to checking out the people you mentioned here. Awesome pudding. Butterscotch is one of Randy's favorite flavors and I never think to make pudding. I have the new Baked book. It's awesome!
Jessie
This looks awesome! i love butterscotch! if only my family was just as fond of it as i am, i would be making this all the time! thanks for the recipe :)
Tim
Thanks for this post, Megan. I have been wondering about this recipe and am glad you test drove it for us. I tend to reduce alcohol in recipes like this, too. Excited to give it a try...
Danielle
Have you heard of Aurgasm (http://aurgasm.us), it's a great site for showcasing up and coming musicians, and it's where I discovered the Living Sisters too. Love their voice!
Tablet
Hey, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
megang
Hmm, strange. Thank you so much. I'll check this out.