Happy Birthday, Julia!
What would be of this party without a cake?
As I prepare to embark on my French voyage to Paris in late September, my heart has been pulsing more rapidly, and my fears have been growing more significantly. I like to think I'd be crazy not to worry, but I also hate worrying so much. So I think of Julia.
And in like many situations in my life, I let her wisdom guide me. I think of how she would embrace this opportunity and, more importantly, how she would like me to welcome it. The second is a product of my imagination, advice from the Julia I never met, but that somehow mentorships me. And it helps. And if it helps, it's worth taking the time to think about it. It's like spreading that extra, extra pat of butter on your steamy baguette. Why not? If it makes your world a better place to be.
Perhaps today, on Julia's birthday, when I can see her comforting smile and quotes all over the internet, I understand even better what this lady's passion means to me. Her message, so clear to me during The Julia Child Challenge and even before when I first set foot in this country to learn how to speak, cook, and eat, remains the same:
"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking (as well as in going to Le Cordon Bleu, shall we?), you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
I love you for your lessons, Julia. And I love you even more because you taught me how to turn any meeting into a party. Joyeux Anniversaire!
Passionfruit-soaked Almond Cake with Doce de Leite Frosting.
I wanted to bake Julia something special. Nothing speaks more special to me than the combination of almonds & dulce de leche. Dulce de leche, this sweet South American staple—for those who are not familiar—, is basically milk & sugar cooked down until it reaches this creamy, seductive texture. Its intensely sweet flavors with bitter tones and its amber color might remind you of caramel. It's not caramel. It's something, well, more special.
As you know, simple cakes is my middle name, and I just wanted a good combination that would be Julia-worthy. I've been wanting to bake a Gâteau Nantais, which my cake is not, but baking is always an arrangement of inspiration, isn’t it? And this is where I took my inspiration from. So, I thought about the tenderness of a buttery almond cake and the floral tanginess of a passionfruit soaking syrup combined with the lusciousness of the doce de leite. First, I loved it in my mind. Later, I loved it in my mouth. It's guaranteed happiness with each bite, just like a birthday cake should be.
I hope Julia likes it. What cake would you bake to celebrate Julia?
Bom apetite!
