Making Rosettes with Betty

Remember that big snow from this post? Well, those photos were taken a couple days after the big snow when the roads were plowed and the sky was blue. But on that very day, after the first 10 inches or so, Rick and I went out to a wonderful dinner!  And we got to help!

We met Doug and Betty on New Year's Eve and they invited us all to a winter dinner. Oh, so good with white chicken chili and salad, bread, wine and dessert. And we were going to help make the dessert!

When Betty came to New Year's she brought a tray of beautiful rosette pastries (below) and we were all wanting to learn how to make these crunchy cookies. So, Betty taught us! This may be old news to some of you, but join us in the kitchen.

First, you heat the oil to 350 --

-- and keep an eye on the temperature with the candy thermometer. You don't want it too hot -- or too cold. Just like Mama Bear.

Then you mix up this batter...

...and get out this handy thing! (Which, I am told, is available at World Market and probably a zillion other places including Amazon.)

So, you take the rosette iron...

...and dip it in the oil, empty. Then dip it in your batter. Not all the way, just up to the top.

Then you put it in the hot oil.

In a very short time it will loosen up and help it off the iron with a chopstick, like Kate is doing here.

Then let it stay in the oil till it's the desired amount of brown-ness for you. Mark liked his a little darker.

All this you do with an eager and very interested audience!

Well, not everyone is that interested.

After you remove them from the oil, place on paper towels to drain grease and dry a bit.

The sprinkle with powdered sugar -- perfect for our snowy night!

And serve! The rest of Betty's dessert included a delicious slice of grilled pineapple and ice cream.

There was another part of the evening that was special to me. Betty's cat, Max.

Max bears a more than striking relationship with the late, great Stimpy. That's Stimpy on the left and Max on the right. I can't even put their photos in the same file because I'm not sure I could tell them apart, save for the background!

 

Stimpy was my first cat-boy and a wonderful animal. And, if you remember my Valentine post, Stimpy is responsible for my meeting Rick!

I'm convinced of the nine lives theory (even the timing worked out!). Happy to see my boy again, in new form and with a wonderful home.

It was a night to remember! Thanks, Betty and Doug!

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