Pot luck rescue...

… I hope.

There’s a Mardi Gras pot luck at the SO’s place of employment today. Last night she attempted beignets, using some Café du Monde mix we had in the cupboard. There are two problems with this: First, beignets should be eaten immediately after removing them from the oil and dusting them with powdered sugar. Second, beignets might not puff up if the mix is too old; and we only had enough for one attempt. (I thought maybe the mix could be ‘revived’ by the addition of some baking powder if they didn’t turn out.)

They came out flat. This morning, the powdered sugar was mostly melted into a sticky glaze. The SO mentioned last night that the oil had to be 270º. I thought that was low, but she’s the one with the box. I looked at the box just now, and the temperature of the oil needed to be 370º. She may have just misspoke. Either way, no beignets for the pot luck!

Since I’m telecommuting today, I made some chipotle-cheddar cornbread using a recipe by the ex-husband of a former Doper. I’ve made it before, and it’s good. I like three chipotle chiles in it, but some people think two make it too hot. I’ve noticed that people in the PNW don’t ‘do’ hot, too. So I only used one. (OK, one and a little piece of one.) At worst, the SO’s coworkers will get cheesy, corny, cornbread with just a hint of spice. At least I hope that’s the worst. At best, they’ll really like it.

I hope they like it.

Oh, yeah. Beignets don’t travel or hold well at all, even if made fresh. Good save with the cornbread.

I agree that people in the PNW have no sense of taste when it comes to heat in food. In fact, it was a Chinese place in Bellingham that once served me kung pao chicken with no peppers in it!

:eek:

I live near Bellingham. Please tell this place so I can avoid it!

I always use Pillsbury’s country biscuit dough to make NO-style doughnuts. Drop into hot oil until golden brown and presto! Dust with powdered sugar and serve with cafe au lait. Just like they serve at the Cafe du Monde.

Apparently, it was. I cooked the cornbread in a 10" cast-iron frying pan. Given the diameter times pi, it looks like they cut the cornbread into 16 slices. Fourteen and a half slices had been taken. I took the whole slice and ate it last night.

Definitely not spicy enough, but I also eat cornbread without any chiles in it; so it’s all good.

I have a wonderful popover pan from King Arthur but haven’t used it because of having to make them pretty much immediately before serving, and that makes me stressed if I’m cooking for others. I will have to pull it out and make them with a friend who is much more spontaneous in the kitchen.