Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Monet...The Prototype and Maple Cream








Finally located a Maple Cream Recipe that was shared with me quite a few years back. Only requiring 2 ingredient's, and it is AMAZING. Tastes just like the filling of a Maple Bun Candy Bar.
Remember those?

Temperature is everything. In fact this is the reason I own a candy thermometer.  To make Maple Cream you need:

100% Maple Syrup  (for a very small batch I use one cup...just keep the ratio to cream right and you can make the batch as large as you want.)

2 tablespoons of heavy cream.

Boil the Maple Syrup in a small saucepan until the thermometer reads 232...then immediately remove from heat. If it boils longer it will either turn into Maple Sugar...or (more likely) burn.

Use an ice bath (double bowl filled with ice) to quickly cool the entire mixture to 100 degrees.

Add cream and whip together (or if doing this by hand start stirring....forever)

It will be very dark at first...but keep whipping or stirring...and the entire mixture will begin to turn a light taffy colour and get lighter and lighter as the sugar crystallizes and builds body.

It happens quickly once the colour changes.

Transfer into a wide mouthed glass jar or a dish and refrigerate. It will keep a long time...assuming it isn't eaten in the next two-three days.

Can be used as a dessert topping. Great on ice cream. Can be made into fondant for candies. Yes...you could even make a home-made BUN if you so desired. Wonderful on morning toast...or just by the spoonful :)

Had some this morning with my tea.

A drop-in by my youngest son; who never ceases to amaze me.

For the last couple of weeks he has been researching the use of electromagnetic charge to propel an object. An electromagnetic "gun" as it were. He explained in detail the way that the coils would need to interact with each other to achieve this. Then last week he began working on a tiny prototype.  Just to see if he could do it..to see if  he could make it work.  Yes...people build electromagnetic guns all the time. The Navy has a huge one. But, it was a challenge to him. Something to accomplish.








Demonstrating to me the ability to fire a finishing nail a short distance using only electromagnetic force. Just by pushing a button. And completely silent.  Impressive.

And finishing two of the books I have been using to accompany my Virtual France Adventure.



A collection of recipes from Monet's Journals in Giverny. And a nice glimpse into his life at the time. Gleaned several interesting culinary adventures from this that I plan to try soon.



And Stephanie Cowell's Historical Fiction Novel (...made into a theatrical release, as well)




Depicting the life and times of Claude Monet and his wife/muse, Camille.

Monet...who actually gave the name to the movement that would come to be  known from thereafter as Impressionistic and all the painters of this style as Impressionist's.

Excellent read...going to try to find the film.

Lennon who is heading into his final semester at college...and received the Girl Scout Cookies I mailed him (compliments of Hannah...our GSC Connection)





                                                 (SKYPED)

We've decided that the inscription on his college ring should read

"Free At Last!"

And I so understand!

And photos from Donna of my Oldest and Middle grandson this week


.                                              Brenden and Donna

                  The Amazing Preston...who is rapidly becoming a teenager!




Can't wait to see all of you again! Soon :) Thanks, hon!






And it's only Wednesday.

More anon...