Monday, March 7, 2011

pure gold

Is he hip or is he homeless?
When you're living in super trendy East Los Angeles sometimes that's a valid question. Where the fashion is at times questionable and basic hygiene seems entirely optional, there have been times where you legitimately don't know.
Are you going to buy me a drink?... Or should I actually be buying you one?
To be honest, I've had better conversations with some of the homeless people in this area than half the men that are out and about sporting their distressed garb.  We've discussed the relevance of Aristotle, debated the opposing fundamentals of Plato and then of course Justin Beiber {because who cares about anything else really} all while I'm reaching for whatever change I have left in my purse.
And sometimes, when I'm really lucky I'll find a little bar of gold.. At least that's where these guys got their name {yes judger, sometimes I carry cake in my purse}. "Financiers" were supposedly created in a Parisian Financial district and modeled in rectangular tins to replica little bars of gold.  I decided to make mine in mini cupcake tins which I highly recommend. Made mostly out of almond meal and egg whites, it's a light and slightly chewy tea cake that really should be treated like the bar of Gold is was modeled after.  Okay fine, it's a little bourgeois, but once you get past it's upperclass beginnings, you'll realize that it's just a fancy cupcake that really wants to live out its destiny by going mainstream.


Financiers
5 large egg whites
11 tablespoons of melted butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
87 grams of Almond Meal
50 grams of all purpose flour
185 grams of icing sugar

Preheat Oven to 350F
Yields around 36 mini Financiers
Generously butter mini cupcake tins but also feel free to use liners for easier cleaning and removal. Beat together egg whites until incorporated. Don't worry about stiff peaks or anything, as soon as you've created a few air bubbles that should do the trick. Then add remaining ingredients all bar raspberries. Mix until evenly incorporated. Add around two tablespoons of mixture to mini cupcake tins and place one raspberry on the centre of each mold. Bake for around 12 minutes until skewer comes out clean.
It doesn't get easier!
If only I could actually financially trade with these guys I'd be set! And so would my neighbors and half the homeless guys in my neighborhood.
Dedicated to John.

xo tash

21 comments:

  1. Yeah it's true, why does hip look homeless? And yes, 9 times out of 10 you'll have a better conversation with the homeless dude than the hipster.
    Looks melt in your mouth Tash. So it's just one raspberry? You make it look so easy...I'm gonna try this!
    Cupcake
    xo

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  2. these look adorable,you had me at the raspeberries!
    xoxo
    C.

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  3. YUM! Trust me; you're not the only one who sometimes has trouble distinguishing between a hipster and a homeless person. San Francisco is a hipster mecca, and sometimes those raggedy bears and thrift store shirts make me do a double-take. And this coming from a girl who doesn't even like the groomed, polished look in men!

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  4. these are beautiful.

    i really enjoy a conversation with a stranger, homeless or other... i suppose that makes me a bit odd.

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  5. HOLY shit this looks amazing. WOW. I'm bookmarking this recipe and getting up to make them right now. I have all the stuff. Yum!

    Muah!
    www.brittanyhavican.blogspot.com

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  6. Delish! Yummy! And how cute that they make a little heart shape!

    yeah, I agree- not a fan of the dirty look, and every third dude in LA seems to be sporting it.

    PS. Still figuring out when the next LA Bloggers thing will be on , but I will be sure to announce it when it's all figured out.

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  7. I just finished lunch and I'm craving something sweet-of course I had to see these amazing looking treats at just this moment!

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  8. haha, i love this post. i know exactly what you mean. "homeless or hipster" is a fun little game we like to play in the neighborhood too. :) these tea cakes look amazing and so easy to make! i'll have to get some almond meal soon and try these out. mmm!

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  9. Gorgeous and funny, as per ush. xo

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  10. I made these to take to a party a few months ago, big hit. Didn't know where they got their name, that would have been a fun tidbit of info to have :)
    No judging here, you wouldn't believe what I've carried in my purse. Chinese takeout smuggled into a movie comes to mind...

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  11. East LA definitely confuses me. When I was visiting with Kim recently, I had this reaction to a few guys on the street. Your account is just too true and too funny. And these Financiers -- yum! One of those would be an excellent mid-afternoon snack.

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  12. I felt like I was in your kitchen (what I imagine of it) as you talked about men (homeless or otherwise) and made these weirdly-named, yummy treats.

    Smart post!

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  13. I felt the exact same as Marjorie Rose - just like I was baking these along side of you with giggles of conversation about the irony in the EMO culture. Fantastic post - thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! Thanks for the yumminess! xo Samantha

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  14. anything with a sweet raspberry and I am all over it!!
    xx
    callie

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  15. this is so true chick, and can i say how much i love your blog-makes me smile. these look amazing~

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  16. You know, homeless people are just free of all the "stuff" and are much more in tune with surroundings in general and people...as they watch so many go by! I have always known that we are no better than anyone else and a moment spent connecting with another human being is worth gold for sure! I love the way you write. Beautiful post and yummy treats too! XO, Kelly

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  17. They look absolutely delish!! I love your thought on the LA Fashion Scene!

    Do come and enter my Artful Offering!It is truly beautiful!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  18. oh god..this looks heaven...im officially drooling,lol.

    Cinz
    http://cinzee.wordpress.com

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  19. My god those sound delightful! I can't wait to have my own non-roommate-cluttered kitchen to actually utilize for its original intentions! I'm keeping a record of all the great recipes you post, and I can't wait to try them!

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