My very first Daring Baker’s Challenge!!!

This month’s challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

I was SO excited to create these yummy little tuile treats for my very first Daring Baker’s Challenge! It was a super fun challenge, and created a HUGE mess in my kitchen, and burnt my finger really super bad on the sugar, but well worth it at the end of the day. I’m a couple days late in posting this, because work was caarrrrrrrrazy this week….but I finally got to it, and hope you all enjoy it. Please find the recipe for the Nougatine Tuiles below.

I made four different “shapes” for my tuiles…and accompanied them with four slightly different variations on a theme. I did a flavored mousse for each shape. The little cup was filled with a blueberry mousse, and topped with fresh blueberries…MMMmmm! The cone shape was filled with a lemon mousse, and topped with some fresh lemon zest, and garnished with a slice of lemon. The circle ring shape was filled with a white chocolate mousse and topped with some fresh diced kiwi. And finally, the little triangle tuile was accompanied by a slice of banana, topped with a chocolate mousse and some bittersweet chocolate shavings. YUM! YUM!
 

Nougatine:
From Michel Roux: Finest Desserts

5.1/4 cups / 500 grams sliced almonds
(or 4.1/3 cups/500 grams slivered almonds)
3.1/3 cups / 660 grams sugar
4 tbs / 60 grams butter (optional)
2 tbs oil (vegetable, sunflower, peanut)

Makes 2.3/4 lbs/1.2 kgs! (This is the yield of the recipe given in the book, feel free to downsize!)
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Preheat oven: 180C/350F

Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Cook the sugar in a heavy based saucepan over low heat, stirring gently and continuously with a spatula, until it melts to a light golden caramel. Add the almonds and stir over low heat for 1 minute, then stir in the butter until completely absorbed. (This is not essential, but will give the nougat an added sheen) Pour the nougatine onto an oiled baking sheet.

Shaping: place a bakingsheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable. Work with one piece at a time, of a size appropriate to the shape you want. Roll out each piece on a warm, lightly oiled baking sheet or lightly oiled marbled surface. It is essential to work quickly, since the nougatine rapidly becomes brittle. Heat the nougatine in a microwave oven for a few seconds only to soften it if needed.

Roll the nougatine into the appropriate thickness for your desired shape, but never thicker than 1/8 inch or 3 mm. Quickly cut out your chosen shapes using cookie cutters, or the blade or heel of a chef’s knife. To mold the nougatine, drape it very rapidly over the mold so that it follows the shape and contours. Leave until completely cold before removing from the mold.
Or, cut out and using your fingers or a knife, push into folds or pleats… use as a basket, twirl round a knitting needle..

Nougatine based shapes can be made two or three days in advance, Keep them in a very dry place and do not fill with something like a mousse more than 2 hours prior to serving.

 

Thanks so much to Lisa and Ivonne over at the Daring Bakers for giving me such a cool and fun opportunity to join the ranks! 🙂

3 comments February 1st, 2009