I made creme fraiche! Now what?

I tried making creme fraiche according to the absurdly simple recipe online: stir two tablespoons of cultured buttermilk into a pint of heavy cream, and let the mixture sit out on the counter overnight.

It worked! It thickened up into a beautiful rich, creamy substance tasting faintly of buttermilk but mostly of sweet cream. I stirred it up and put it in the fridge. Now what’ll I do? If strawberries were in season, I’d sweeten some up and serve them on the creme, but other than that, I have no ideas. At least not this early in the morning.

Raspberries and blackberries are decent substitutes. Strawberries are not at their best right now, but they’re in the stores at least around here.

Creamy pasta sauce?

Yum, good idea. I see a simple recipe in your link for a sauce of creme fraiche, parmesan, and garlic to dress tagliatelle. I have a batch of tagliatelle in the cupboard. That’ll be dinner tonight, I think.

I’ve been on a refried bean kick lately and a dollop of cool creamy dairy is a classic condimental contrast.

A can of La Preferita Authentic, it has a touch of lard.
About 15 whole cumin seeds, toasted in a dry skillet & pulvo a mano.
After the cumin is done and the pan cools a hair, I quickly toast, it burns fast, a fat pinch of guajillo chile powder.
Juice of a lime & some more salt.

I’ve been reheating covered in the microwave, a few minutes at 50%, stir, repeat. When hot, serve with chilled crema & cilantro.

I’d say put it on homemade poundcake or Madeleines. The slight twang of creme fraiche works especially well for me on slightly oversweet/over-rich baked goods.