What Flavor Do I Feel Like Today?

Some days I know what’s comin’…I’m gonna end up in the kitchen. It’s not a craving, per se, just a creative feeling…which is immediately followed by the question, “What flavor(s) do I feel like today?” 

I made passion fruit curd this afternoon, and already put up my blog post about how I used some of it to fill the Danish pastries I’d made subsequently. Since I had a lot of egg whites left over from the curd preparation, I figured I’d make some meringues. That’s when the flavor query hit me.

Very often, I want something “different.” Today it was rose water. As I was writing the recipe, and about to include the customary vanilla extract, I thought better of it. Almond extract instead. And a new, unique treat was born. 

Wow. The flavor combination of almond and rose water was subtle, and out of this world. It lent a kind of ”linger longer” sensation until the last bit melted away on my tongue. I’ve already made some minor recipe adjustments for future batches (like including some edible rose petal flakes I’d forgotten about until the meringues were in the oven), but these little light and luscious meltaway mounds will land a pretty high rank within my repertoire.