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What is your favourite inherited recipe? My granny was a baker and she taught me how to make millionaire’s shortbread. You can’t beat it, it has all the right textures in one go. She said the vital ingredient was good-quality butter. I added sea-salted caramel to her recipe, and serve it in my shops.

What is the most underrated ingredient? Sesame. It’s the perfect accompaniment to chocolate. We use it in a lot of our creations, both couture chocolates and nibbles.

What is the best food present anyone has ever given you? The Roux Brothers on Patisserie book when I was 16. I had never really seen a book like that before – it was a milestone in British cooking. It was essential to what we do and helped me understand how kitchens work.

williamcurley.co.uk

How to get the most out of chocolate

Best chocolate to cook with Clean chocolate with no additives. Storage In a cool, dry room away from sunlight and other foods. Melting Always use a bowl with a lip when using a bain marie – steam makes chocolate difficult to work with. Quick recipe Molleaux au chocolat (makes 8-10): Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Line a muffin mould with parchment paper. Melt 100g dark chocolate over a bain marie. Cream 100g unsalted butter and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Mix in the chocolate and gradually add two beaten eggs. Fold in 85g plain flour and ½ tsp baking powder. Spoon the mixture into the mould, sprinkle with cocoa nibs and bake for 16-18 minutes (from Couture Chocolate by William Curley; Jacqui Small, £30). Ingredients that work well with chocolate Raspberries, wasabi, fresh herbs (especially rosemary), Japanese black vinegar. Ingredients that don’t I’ve tried for years to get seaweed to work – it always tastes like fish and chocolate.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

by sassyNpunk

If you're a regular customer or window shopper at sassyNpunk Boutique, you know we have a lot of love for the Macaroon. Well, guess how high I jumped out of my seat when I saw this little gadget available at Japan Trend Shop , the Hajimete Macaroon Maker! Not only is this cutie shaped like a giant pink Macaroon to make the experience even more awesome, but it allows you to make six different shapes of Macaroon! I am no stranger to making these little French concoctions by hand, so I know how hard it can be just to get the basic round shape cookie to come out right! If my love for this kitchen wonder isn't enough to get you excited, let's take a closer look at some visual evidence of it's overwhelming greatness!

Source: sassyNpunk Blog: Homemade Macaroon Maker from Japan Trend ...