My momma used to tell me that if I didn't have any thing nice to say about someone, I shouldn't say anything at all.
My momma is a wise woman.
I wonder if that same bit of wisdom also applies to food...
She also used to have a little plaque that sat over the stove that said: "Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and nudge me when I've said enough."
Man, I sure needed a lot of nudging as a child. I always seemed to have a bad case of "foot in mouth" syndrome. Constant. Much to my momma's chagrin.
I probably still need a lot of nudging. Sometimes, I still don't know when to hold my tongue. It can get me in trouble. I am better about it - usually. Until I've had enough. Fortunately, I have a very looonnggg temper. So that doesn't happen often. Truly!
Coconut friands. What do I say about you???
Crickets chirping.
Prolonged awkward silence.
Eyes averted.
I can't do shredded coconut. It just skeeves me out.
I love coconut in general. Coconut milk. Coconut cream. Coconut water. Even fresh coconut.
But dried shredded coconut?
No thank you.
Blech.
Ewwww.
Patooey.
Almond Joy candy bars? Gross.
Those little marshmallow candies covered in shredded coconut? No way.
German chocolate cake with all the coconut shavings? Tell me, why would you ruin a perfectly lovely cake that way?
And we won't even talk about those coconut cakes with the frosting that have been rolled in the stuff. I just can't deal... It kind of makes me want to run screaming from the room. It's just so, so wrong. The horror. I've had to make a few of those in my day. It was traumatizing.
Sorry. I just can't feel the love.
And I am committed to work through every recipe from Around My French Table. From sardine rillettes to cookies that make me fret.
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.
An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent.
An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent.
Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg
It's that simple, isn't it?
Life is too short to let personal hang-ups get in the way of bringing a little bit of happiness to the ones you love.
Even. If. It. Means. Shredded. Coconut.
Since I didn't have financier molds or mini cupcake tins, I used Madeleine molds and mini cake molds. It made things kind of fun... Just because I wasn't going to eat them was no reason to banish them to total ugliness... Just sayin'
The Dude and The Runner Girl were gobbling these up fresh out of the oven & The Dude took the leftovers with him to eat the next day during golf. I very happily sent them along :-)
This post participates in French Fridays with Dorie. Stop by & check out every one else's interpretation of this dessert/ cookie/ cake...
Have an amazing weekend, all!
Well, you certainly did a great job on somehting you don't like! I love that you made these in hearts & Madeleine pans - very lovely!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I wish I had used my madeleine molds too - yours are so pretty! Well done on this , you're a trooper!
ReplyDeleteI had issues with the dried coconut myself but I ended up actually liking it more than I thought I would. A revelation shall we say? Your madeleines look really cute! I thought about using mine too because I've only used my pan once but I chickened out and went the mini muffin route.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought, oooo, Madeleines! And then I realized ... (same coconut hang-up). But, they sure do look pretty!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done! You were a good sport to make these...and I'm wishing the coconut haters in my home would also take a vow of silence :)
ReplyDeleteI like coconut. I don't own Madeleine molds. Your ranting tickled me and I just may buy some molds and make this recipe! Thanks for sharing ... :) Blessings! Catherine at www.praycookblog.com
ReplyDeleteGood for you for baking them, even if you didn't eat them. Glad the fam liked them.
ReplyDeleteCher, you have been such a trooper this month, I hope May is filled with all of your favorite things as a reward for sticking with us. Your friands look great and I'm happy to hear that they made someone happy.
ReplyDeleteCher...sorry you didn't like the friands but for me it was great :) I added fresh cranberries to it and it was yummy. Glad that you made them eventhough you dont like dessicated coconut and you sure make the family happy with them :)
ReplyDeleteHi Cher, your friands look great, even if they aren't for you. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I was actually thinking of using my Madeleine pan to bake the batter as well. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe things we do, huh?! Kudos to you for going ahead with the recipe! They are such pretty shapes and I am sure were enjoyed by the coconut lovers at your house.
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to your dude and runner girl! They were amazing fresh out of the oven!
ReplyDeleteI love shredded coconut! But then again, I love sardines!
And if you ever work out how to build an internal "nudger" I will be the first to buy it :)
Good idea to use madeleine pans. I think you are my opposite today. I loved these as much as you dis-loved them! I admire you...I havn't been able to talk myself into the sardine rillettes yet...the imaginary smell of them won't let me start, but if you can do coconut then just maybe I can do.....no, not yet.
ReplyDeleteTo bake the Coconut Friands in Madeleine molds certainly was a very smart idea. The Friands not only look cute but also delicious. I probably would have a hard time handling an ingredient that I dislike, so, compliments to the Chef!
ReplyDeleteI am always impressed with the photography, the recipes
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny. And the Dr. Seuss quote is perfection! Poppa Trix is not a fan of the shredded coconut either. I don't mind it, but it certainly has an unpleasant way of getting stuck in your teeth. Yes, I do hope a Dorie recipe that you are all about comes up soon!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteCher, I guess I’m not so committed…I chose to skip the sardines! But boy do I love coconut…all those things you can’t stand…send them my way! I thought these were heavenly! Yours look so pretty made in your Madeleine mold! Sorry these were not a hit for you! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteGood idea to use the madeleine mold! I loved them and will be glad when my husband gets home to try them. I'm with you on hoping for a better May cooking expereince.
ReplyDeleteMy husband hates coconut too, so we finished these off after lunch. Way to be committed to the program!!
ReplyDeleteCher, It's great to see reviews of recipes with all (honest) opinions. It's boring to see everyone with the same opinion. Especially, if the opinion is not a true one. People think that saying what you think is confrontational. Not so. As long as it is said politely and respectfully, it's a good thing. Rock on with your 'not liking coconut'. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I love coconut. Almond Joy? Yum Yum :)
~Carmen
My husband was given the same plaque about nudging - he needs frequent reminders! I love the look of your cookies, and am so impressed that you made them even though you don't like shredded coconut.
ReplyDeleteI love coconut - might have to make these. They look great even if you're not a fan of the flavor.
ReplyDeleteI love your shapes! It's always goodto have a variety of testers around.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you made these knowing you wouldn't eat them. I find that when I'm not excited about a recipe, my lack of enthusiasm tends to show in the final product. But your cookies look great.
ReplyDeleteBTW -- congrats on pulling the hosting job for TWD!
You are so brave. :)
ReplyDeleteThey look so pretty! I hope your family appreciates you overcoming this aversion for their eating pleasure. (It sounds like they loved them.)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they were enjoyed by the shredded coconut lovers in the house!
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a shredded coconut person, either, but these were pretty darn good! Yours look beautiful. Glad your minions enjoyed them. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are such a trooper, that is awesome to cook them especially when the main ingredient skeeves you out! Your cookies look great, glad that your family liked them. I a totally with you on the foot in mouth thing, I tend to have a problem with the whole brain-mouth filter....yeah, it doesn't work for me a lot of time! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou are a better Dorista than I, Cher! I don't like shredded coconut at all, but neither does my husband or my neighbors, so what to do? I'm glad your family enjoyed them, even though you couldn't. I hope some of your May nominations get picked so you have a better FFWD month next month.
ReplyDeleteCher, Everyone used nice little molds - why didn't I? Oh, first one must think of it........... so now I have put all my molds in one place (it took me 2 hours this afternoon to find them - scattered all over the kitchen). On the subject of coconut - I didn't know there were such strong feelings about a little white product? I must admit, mid-way through this month's FFWD, my thought was, "What I wouldn't give for just a homemade chocolate chip cookie?" Guess what I am making a batch of tomorrow? And, I am NOT sharing. Good week-end back to you. Mary
ReplyDeleteYou made my day! This was just too funny Cher! You may despise coconut but your writing skills are spot on! Good on you for pushing through the horror.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I would have happily taken these off your hands, AFTER I dunked them in coconut frosting and dusted them with more coconut. Speaking of which, maybe a fistful of coconut would help with the cravings I'm suddenly having after hearing so much about your less-than-beloved coconut!
ReplyDeleteI always find it a little difficult to get motivated to make something I know I won't be eating, but given that at least half of my motivation for baking or cooking in the first place is seeing others enjoy it, it's not a dead loss :)
ReplyDeleteCher, how exciting that you're hostessing TWD! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness. Just saw that you are a hostess (with, mostess, I'm sure) for TWD. That's something to be happy about, isn't it. Made my day (it's 99 damn degrees here in Henderson and I am making a maple bundt cake). Out-of-my-Mind. Cher, you'll have fun with this. Mary
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look delicious! I'm sorry you can't stand shredded coconut, but you can send it all to me!!
ReplyDeleteI am committed to every recipe too and even though I don't make them in time usually I am still getting to them all. I will do these too as I love coconut so if you have any shredded left please send it my way. Yum. Love your choice of pan too!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for making these! I am committed to doing all the recipes too so I understand. They look very pretty made in the Madeleine pan, and I am happy to hear some of the members of your family were happy!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love the molds and your stalwart willingness to give it a go despite the horrors of coconut!
ReplyDeletelove that you chose to use madeline molds! I know the rest of us didnt think to do that! :)
ReplyDeleteAlice @ http://acookingmizer.wordpress.com
FIM disease is very difficult as an adult to deal with - fortunately like you I have a very long patience then I explode (I think it is something about the German/Swedish/Norwegian heritage)....but anyhow, I'm late to the party again this week and am glad I was because I was incredibly glum today until I read your post and now I have a smile on my face. As always I love your posts and the bit of humor you inject to our days!
ReplyDelete