#food *

[daily-deliciousness]

Mixed berry puff pastry tarts

[fullcravings]

Oreo Muffins

[fatty-food]

Louisiana voodoo fries (via Instagram)

[copperbadge]

Europeans, I have some questions.

Do you know what ambrosia salad is?

If so, is the version you know of a) a normal salad or b) a "dessert" salad?

Do you know what Dirt Cake is?

If so, is that common knowledge in your region?

(What country/region do you live in, other context you wish to add, etc)

I'm working on the new Shivadh novel and I underestimated the comedic potential of Simon, a classically trained French chef who has been cooking for European nobility for thirty years, trying to set a menu for a graduation party with Noah, your average American teenaged garbage disposal, and Eddie, who is literally based on Guy Fieri. Reminds me of the bit in Infinite Jes where Michaelis mentions that Eddie and Gerald had him judge a debate about Hot Pockets and then confesses he doesn't actually know what they are.

(Context for the end of the snippet -- Hugo and Gwen are Simon's brother and sister-in-law, Claude is his young nephew.)

"Huh, okay, so are we doing like a salad theme?" 

"How do you mean?" Noah asked.

"Oh, just, you've got a potato salad and a pasta salad. I'd suggest a Jello salad for dessert but..." Eddie broke off at Alanna's horrified look. "That is what you will see on everyone's face," he said to Noah, pointing at Alanna. 

"Not so, I could do an aspic," Simon protested. "Sweet or savory, very traditional -- not this nonsense from American cookbooks from sixty years ago."

"American nonsense is kinda my brand," Noah pointed out. "Uh, I don't think we realized we were building a giant salad course but I am into that, actually. I'd like to discuss the Jello Salad," he said, and Eddie crowed delightedly while Alanna blanched, so Simon had to mediate a good-natured but extensive debate about gelatin in sweet dessert salads. 

It was an education; when he showed Hugo and Gwen what Americans thought ambrosia salad was, later, their horror was gratifying. It was a fitting prelude to his next exhibit, the Dirt Cake pudding cup, which made Hugo pretend to faint but -- even better -- fascinated little Claude so much that he insisted he wanted them instead of a cake for his next birthday. 

"He'll forget by the time the birthday arrives," Simon assured Hugo, who pretended to mop a sweaty brow. "And if he doesn't, I can elevate this. A light coffee mousse with chocolate biscuits -- drizzle with a sweet wine reduction -- jellied candy flavored with dragonfruit and blackcurrant."

"Can we put bones in the dirt?" Claude asked, already exploring his terrible American dessert options on his tablet. 

"Not human," Gwen said hurriedly. "That's a bridge too far for a birthday party, my darling," she told Claude. 

"Dinosaur bones?" Claude asked hopefully. Gwen and Hugo both looked at Simon. 

"Meringue, or marzipan," Simon pronounced. "Yes, that could be done. Well, my little gravedigger, we will see," he told Claude, tousling his hair.

[daily-deliciousness]

One pan creamy chicken leg quarters with bacon and leeks

[lustingfood]

Triple Chocolate Brownie Skillet (x)

[yummyfoooooood]

Double Cheeseburgers

[fullcravings]

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

[fatty-food]

Maple Ol' Fashion Donuts (via Instagram)

[daily-deliciousness]

Oreo bubble shake (8 minutes only !)

[tinykitchenvegan]

Crispy Potato & Green Chile Rice Bowls

[copperbadge]

Not a full week after I mention in a story that Gerald's favorite candy is Violet Crumble, which is honeycomb candy covered in chocolate, and then discuss how it can be a little hard to find in America, I find this in the New Items shelf at Trader Joe's. Did I will it into existence? The world may never know.

[ID: A photograph of a package of Honeycomb Candy, with a beehive hexagon motif on the packaging; the image shows three chunks of chocolate-covered candy, and a fourth that has been split open to show the toffee "honeycomb" interior. Honeycomb candy is made by inducing a gas reaction in toffee while it's still molten; it puffs up and hardens with air pockets throughout, making it look like honeycomb. No actual honey is generally involved. Also they are delicious.]

[fullcravings]

Fresh Strawberry Pie (V)