So I joined a yoga class. I mostly decided to do this because of my running. Runners tend to work the same muscles and tendons over and over until one day a mutinous subset decide they’re going on strike. It could be the foot, or the knee, or the hamstring; or, more likely, muscles and tendons and fascia you’ve never heard of before. Whatever the case may be, it usually involves days or possibly weeks of being sidelined. Runners do not like to be sidelined. They fret. They mope. They make themselves a nuisance to the easy-going, bright-eyed, happy-go-lucky types who come into their orbit.
Yoga works muscles that I haven’t used since 1978. It forces me into very silly poses. On the first day, everything about me screamed “Novice!” to the class. Ten minutes in, the instructor gently reminded “everyone” to remove their socks and I noticed that I was the only one who still had them on. In downward dog, which we must have done 20 times, my loose shirt billowed up toward my head, exposing far more of my “core” than I would have liked. But the poses stretch and strengthen and improve balance. So I go.
I think about balance a lot, mostly as it relates to work/family. And the “tree pose” (which in my case should be renamed “falling-tree” pose) forces me to work on balance, too. In baking, I tend to forget, especially when it comes to an ingredient I adore, like chocolate. Chocolate is good. More chocolate is even better.
This chocolate-crunched caramel tart recipe made more ganache than I could fit into the tart. What did I do? Well, I flooded the tart up to its tippy top, filling every available inch with chocolate ganache. And I’m struggling to say this, because it goes against my basic nature, but I think it was too… much… chocolate.
There, I said it. The amazingly delicious caramel and the addictive honey-roasted peanuts were fairly drowned by the deep layer of chocolate ganache, and the tart wasn’t well-balanced. It’s my own fault. I’m sure other wise and thoughtful Tuesdays with Dorie bakers froze their extra chocolate ganache for another use or whipped up a second gorgeous dessert on the spot. Not me. Apres moi, le deluge. So, if you make this lovely tart, by all means make the full batch of ganache, but set some aside for another worthy purpose, like eating it straight from a spoon. You’ll have a perfectly balanced tart (without the sweat-stained mats and pretzel poses).
Thanks to Carla of Chocolate Moosey for selecting this chocolate-crunched caramel tart. You can find the recipe on her site or on pp. 355-357 of Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours.
Your layer of caramel is so high! Looks wonderful 🙂 I added my extra ganache 15-20 minutes into the chilling process, worked beautifully!
That tart looks amazing! I am a complete clutz when it comes to yoga poses – I laughed about your comment about your shirt exposing your “core” – that happened to me too!
I love your yoga story.Im a runner too and I started yoga years ago. It really helps with the stretching of those sore muscles used in running.
Your tart looks so good and Im glad you liked it!
Don’t forget to take off your socks!:)
I am a runner, and I take yoga classes 2-3 times a week. I promise you will be soooo happy that you started! I look forward to my yoga classes even more than my runs! Your tart looks awesome! And I can’t imagine it was too chocolately!! 🙂
Hahahaha my tree pose is always a falling tree pose!!! But hey, you could always have a slice of this after some stretching and getting in touch with your chi! Gorgeous job!
Enjoyed your yoga story–and the comment about the socks. Sounds like me.
Your pie is beautiful–even if you think there is too much chocolate. That peanut on top is the finishing touch.
You are right – finding the perfect balance is tricky in so many situations. Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve good enough results with the caramel on this one to get to the part about balancing it well with the chocolate! Your tart looks great, and next time I’m sure you’ll get the perfect ratio!
omg (as my 13-y-o would write), your recipes are wonderful, Amy. I get to see you so seldom that it’s a terrific treat to “see” you–to hear your writing voice, at least, and to read about and see what you’re eating–on this bloggable feast. As Arnold said, I’ll be beck. And I’ll be cooking more this winter.
Great Blog!……There’s always something here to make me laugh…Keep doing what ya do 🙂