Daring Bakers' Challenge: Candylicious!

Hello! 
This challenge was my second.
I was very glad, when I saw this challenge, because my best friend celebrate birthday at august. I made for her white chocolate truffles with rose water and rose water caramel. For my family i made watermelon and srtrwberry pate de fruit beause we have season of watermelons in Russia now. It`s was really great! I never made candy, so it was very exciting for me.

I wanted that my gift for Dasha was girly and looks beautiful, and i hope I was able to.

The August 2011 Daring Bakers’ Challenge was hosted by Lisa of Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drive and Mandy of What the Fruitcake?!. These two sugar mavens challenged us to make sinfully delicious candies! This was a special challenge for the Daring Bakers because the good folks at http://www.chocoley.com offered an amazing prize for the winner of the most creative and delicious candy! 

Fallen friends & chocolate almond mousse bars

I think it is very important, to have such friends, seeing that even for a few years, can call and simply ask "how are you ?".
Do not lose touch with those who've then in high school, institute, went to a dance group ... True, this is rare, except that the university comrades still somehow accompany people through life.
 My mom was lucky: after 20 years, she still keeps in touch with classmates, constantly communicating with those with whom she studied at the institute. Of course, occur infrequently, have all their work, work, someone has moved.  But every encounter is always full of joy.





One day, as time and place, this meeting with my mother's school friend. And quite by accident, speaking with on the phone about an hour, my mother spontaneously offered to meet and walk a bit. And why not? And he took me with him, and Julia, his daughter Nastia, we broke up into pairs, hour later communicated with each other.
I must say that Julia absolutely amazing person. She is bright and interesting speech, which makes conversation with her is fun, smart, and still-wonderful cook. Several years ago, my mother even got down to baking, she borrowed a few recipes. And not a single failure! sponge cake, custard cake with butter cream ... All that we have loved ever since.
Skirted around our local lake, plenty of forest air breathed, we are happy, separated only in the 11th hour of the evening. And then, perhaps, because all procedures were frozen:)





Already preparing to go to bed, my mother held out her "how I want something with cream!" Why not, while impressions are fresh and there is inspiration? And the next morning coffee accompanied by chocolate cake with a delicate creamy mousse. 

Rice pudding with honey roasted apricots

For a week I was haunted by memories: exactly one year ago at this very moment I returned from vacation. Contrary to expectations, I was not delighted with the constant unbearable heat, not great food at the hotel and just what I'm really homesick, did not allow to relax. Every other day we went to the local market, where to buy themselves dairy products, honey, fruits and vegetables, and other not wanted.
Fruits ... Perhaps, but the sea is what I remember with great affection: figs, melons, fresh peaches and apricots, huge bunches of grapes, it was paradise! I'm sure of two weeks, I gained a vitamin with an annual supply. And, going home, most of the luggage took a hefty package of fragrant fruit and a few jars of local honey.

After arriving in his native city and breathing the cool morning air from St. Petersburg, I realized that there was nothing snacking on the road will not: and, going into the apartment and smiled a happy smile, I took off and things began to prepare myself the breakfast, which I dreamed.
For me, the perfect start to the day with deststva were toast, which my grandfather brought me to the bed, sumptuous pancakes or porridge-oats, millet, rice ... Probably, I'm ready to have their plates! So at that time, looking at the shelves and found some rice in an open pack, I made it his. She opened a jar of honey brought .... And then I thought it was the most delicious food in the world. Honest.
And today, in memories of those days, I wanted to unite all the flavors together: honey, ripe apricots and my favorite milk rice.

Peach, Gooseberry and Red Currant Galettes

This summer I am not in the country as often as in past years. And, one might say, even just do not go. Too much studying (yeah, do not miss any opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge before entering), family circumstances in which I think the best stay at home. But, nevertheless, without fresh fruits and vegetables
I did not stay very happy when I see the big baskets, imported from suburban area, literally filled with vitamins, Cut Flowers , as modest and discreet, and really bright, striking colors.



Eaten enough, we begin the most enjoyable yet complex process of harvesting these oh- jams and marmalades! To be honest, having spent half the night, filling glass jars with colored jam, only forces are to ensure that lie down and then go to sleep ... But the next day to find the bottom of the basket just a handful of each kind of fruit, I, in spite of being tired, I can not deny myself the pleasure  have my breakfast with fresh pastries . The main thing is that the freezer was a piece of dough, then loved for half an hour you can get something amazing flavorful and easy-such as biscuit.

Recipe adapted from Cannelle et Vanille and changed a little: as a basis, I took my favorite Pate Sucree and nectarines instead of peaches, a couple who had found in the refrigerator.