Thanks for all the nice comments regarding the book thing. I will definitely be contacting each one of you who offered yourselves up for recipe-testing in the coming months, keeping in mind your geography and any preferences you've noted. I hope to be organized about this. We'll see. And, yes, the recipes will include metric conversions since the book will be distributed internationally. So, to all you Brits who offered help—yes, yes, yes!
The Cape was awesome last week with the family, minus that hideously hot day on Friday. I know I won't get any sympathy from all of you who had to sweat it out in a 105-degree brick oven of a city compared to my scenic-though-breezeless 99-degree coastal getaway. Still, take it from me: don't go to the bay side at low tide during a heat wave and expect any relief. The tidal flats just bake in the sun under those conditions and the shallow tidal pools are as warm as a bathtub, which may sound pleasant on this 69-degree evening, but are absolutely hideous when you're roasting in your own skin.
We waited it out for hours as the tide slowly came in, assuming that all the superheated sand was no match for the cold, cold water rushing in from the Atlantic depths. But no. The water was hot. HOT!!! Like a parched bedouin, I wandered for half an hour over those sandy flats and out to sea, waiting for the water to turn cold and/or reach my chin, preferably both, but it never did. When I finally looked back, I couldn't even see the shore I had walked out so far. I got a little freaked out, I'll admit, simmering in the middle of Cape Cod Bay all by myself like that. What if the water rushed in really fast and I was suddenly in over my head and had to swim the however many miles back to shore? I'm not a very strong swimmer. I probably couldn't do it before the tide went out again, which would then carry me further out to sea with the sharks and the tigers and only my own pee to keep me hydrated and no receptacle in which to capture said pee? (This is what I retained from Life of Pi.) And just when things were starting to go well! My last, dying words bubbling up to the water's surface would be: Curse you, Alanis Morrrrrissssseeetttttte... *bubble* *bubble*
Spoiler alert: I didn't die after all. But despite the fun, my vacation still did nothing to relax me. Apparently.
Yay for vacations! And for books! I tried to offer up recipe testing help on the previous post, but the comment never showed up? Regardless, my Portland, ME kitchen is up for any dessert you can throw at it! Cheers!
Posted by: klp | July 28, 2011 at 09:43 AM
"And, yes, the recipes will include metric conversions since the book will be distributed internationally."
In an ideal world, every baking book would include metric measure. Volume measure is stoopid. For me personally, seeing that a baking book doesn't have weight measure is enough reason to not buy it.
Posted by: Moopheus | July 28, 2011 at 09:54 AM
If Chelmsford is close enough to help with recipe testing, I'd love to give it a go. from one who enjoys puttering in the kitchen and trying new things.
Posted by: Deb | July 28, 2011 at 05:23 PM
count me in for recipe testing and whatever else you might need!
Posted by: Cindy | August 02, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Cindy: Thanks, Cindy Loo. I've added you to my tester list.
Deb: I would love your help. I've added you to the tester list as well. Thank you!
Moopheus: Ah, a true baker! I only just got a scale a few years back, so I'm going to get my money's worth this year.
klp: Don't know why that happened, but I have added you to my list. Thank you much!!
Posted by: Tammy | August 02, 2011 at 05:48 PM