I have been known to mention that I am more of a fan of canapes or hors d'ouevres than I am of proper main courses. There is nothing I like more than a succession of little nibbles, each carefully constructed and intensely flavoured - far more so than you could get away with in the case of a big plate of food. And if I am a fan of little savoury nibbles, it should come as no surprise that I am also a fan of little sweet nibbles. I don't have a sweet tooth as such and I'm the kind of weirdo that can quite easily be satisfied with 2 squares of chocolate - there is no way I'll eat the whole bar! Rather give me a bite-sized but intriguing sweet morsel. Rather let me have the cheese course and bring me little macaroons with my coffee. Bliss.
Last week I was minding my own business, trying to finish my mammoth post on our Mexican cooking day, when out of the blue, an offer landed in my lap - an offer to host Sugar High Friday! Seeing as I haven't participated since April 2005 (!!) I was surprised that anybody would entrust this fine event to me - but entrust it they have, bless them :-) For those of you who still don't know, Sugar High Friday is the brainchild of the lovely Jennifer over at The Domestic Goddess who started this event way back in October 2004. The idea was to have a monthly cooking event where bloggers would all make something sweet in line with the host's chosen theme that month. Past themes have included things like puff pastry, coffee, caramel, tarts and a holiday cookie swap. Something for everyone, really!
Which brings me back to my first paragraph and this month's theme. I have nothing against great big steaming bowls of bread and butter pudding, or chocolate souffles, or pears poached in red wine. But there is something about petits fours (or mignardises or friandises) that simply enchants me. So much effort and attention to detail going into something so small and so delicate; so much flavour packed into a little parcel. What's not to like? They are the dessert equivalent of a canape - small and perfectly formed, and they always leave their audience panting for more. Kind of like Dita von Teese, with frosting :o) So I hereby declare this month's theme to be Little Bites of Delight, because good things come in small packages.
So what do you need to do?
1. Find or create a recipe for petits fours, mignardises or friandises and make some. Just two a words of warning here: 1) please do NOT make chocolate truffles - these will soon form the theme of their very own event, and we don't want you to be all truffled out before then; and 2) please do NOT make cookies as there is another cookie swap planned and we don't want you to use up all your good ideas yet! [apparently not true - so bring on the florentines and financiers! - Ed.]
2. Write up your beautiful little bites of delight on your blog. A photo would be lovely too :-) If you do not have a blog, don't worry - you too can now participate in Sugar High Friday! Alanna has set up a special site where non-bloggers can be bloggers-for-a-day and see their sugary creations on the net. Follow the simple instructions on the site and I will make sure your contribution appears both on the site and in the SHF roundup.
3. Once you have posted your little treasures (and this is important, folks), send me an e-mail including a link to your post. If you don't let me know about your creation, I can't include it in the roundup!
4. The deadline for all of this is Friday 27 October. Anything I receive by the time I wake up on Saturday 28 October (about 9 GMT) will be included in the round-up. Anything after that is on shaky ground.
Easy enough? So off you go and find your own personal bites of delight.
[If it's inspiration you are after, try Petit Fours' phenomenally lovely website (from which the gorgeous photo was borrowed); or this guy's site; or Sam's recent slide show about making mignardises.]
***STOP PRESS*** If you want to see how everybody interpreted this theme, check out my SHF#24 roundup - over 40 petit four inspirations!
as you might imagine i am totally all over this idea
Posted by: sam | October 11, 2006 at 08:12 PM
It's as if you picked this theme just for me!! Count me in.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 11, 2006 at 08:33 PM
Ooh, very cool! I don't think I've ever really made something like that. I'm intrigued!
Posted by: Anne | October 11, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Wonderful choice for SHF #24!!!
I'm cracking open my cookbooks right away!
Posted by: Ivonne | October 12, 2006 at 03:00 AM
Hi Sam
As well you should be - it was your slide show that jogged my memory of when I made caramel-dipped fruit friandises for 30 people at my 30th birthday party. Siiiiigh. Good times, good times!
Hi Stephanie
Thrilled that you like the theme so much! I did think of your blogparty when I was doing the announcement. Maybe my good choice of theme will go some way to earning forgiveness for being such an infrequent participant??
Hi Anne
I haven't either - not for a few years anyway. I usually like other people to make them and I just sit and nibble! Can't wait to see what you come up with :-)
Hi Ivonne
Glad you like it!! Lots of agonising went into it, but it looks as if I made the right choice :-)
Posted by: Jeanne | October 12, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Hmmm...I've been delinquent in the kitchen for too long - this exquisite challenge will be tough. But I'm going to start looking for remedial-level options. Great theme. BTW - I saw Miss Dita von Teese in person a few months ago at a high tea in honor of her new book, and she is truly teenie, tiny in person - and absolutely perfect to behold!
Posted by: Libby | October 12, 2006 at 05:14 PM
Cool!!
I have my idea - I might come up with more ideas!!! Gonna make some "Chocolate Sushi" (this is how we call this petit four in my house, easy to make, very very yummy and good looking ;) will write about it in my blog! My first SHF I am excited!
Posted by: Gitit | October 14, 2006 at 09:11 PM
I have never participated, but this one sounds just like me: after the cheese I don't have space left for sweets, and I love baking, but don't really like eating it. But little bites ..... good idea. Now all I need to do is put a reminder in my brain, and I participate :-)
Posted by: Isis | October 16, 2006 at 12:35 PM
Sign me up for this one! I've been thinking about what to make ever since you posted! What a great challange!!!
Posted by: Bonnie | October 16, 2006 at 07:43 PM
I'm totally up for it...
I have a million and one ideas as I adore little bites!
How to narrow it down to one or find the right amount of time are my only hurdles.
Posted by: Bron | October 17, 2006 at 01:00 AM
Awesome idea, I also love bite-sized treats as you can either do lots or less depending on your sweet tooth.
Count me in!
Posted by: jenjen | October 17, 2006 at 01:22 PM
Oh.. I love petit fours!
*panics* need.. more time.. argh.. so many things happening..
*takes deep breath* ok, I'm in!
Posted by: ilingc | October 18, 2006 at 01:01 PM
Not being a sweet tooth myself, I find this quite a 'comfortable' theme, hehe!
My first and last SHF entry was ages ago but I might just have something for you Jeanne! :-)
Posted by: Karen | October 19, 2006 at 02:49 AM
Now I've got this image in my head of Dita von Teese covered in chocolate, off for a cold shower then.....
Posted by: Yorkshire Soul | October 19, 2006 at 11:19 PM
Hi Libby
You saw Dita?? Lucky you! She is just uber- fabulous and I was thrilled to find a cunning way to mention her on a foodblog ;-) And yes - I find the theme pretty challenging myself - far more used to eating petit fours made by other people!
Hi Gitit
Thrilled to have you joining in so enthusiastically! And chocolate sushi sounds perfectly divine...
Hi Isis
I'm so with you - I peak too early on the cheese and after than although the spirit is willing I have no more capacity for dessert... except in exquisite little morsels. Can't wait to see what you come up with :-)
Hi Bonnie
Glad to have piqued your interest & look forward to your creation!
Hi Bron
Mmmmm, a million ideas for petit fours sounds fab! And of course, I can't wait to see your gorgeous photos.
Hi JenJen
My point exactly! And as somebody without much of a sweeet tooth, I'd rather have one small but outstanding bite than a big bowl...
Hi Ilingc
I know how you feel... But just take a deep breath and everything will fall into place! Or fall apart. But don't forget to breathe!!
Hi Karen
You and me both - I have been very slack about participating. But I'm thinking that hosting might get me back into the habit!
Hi Yorkshire Soul
Sorry, did't mean to totally distract you....! Hope the cold shower wasn't too chilly :o)
Posted by: Jeanne | October 25, 2006 at 03:08 PM
Now THIS was a bunch of fun! I simply can't wait to see what folks have come up with...
Posted by: Julianne | October 25, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Thanks for hosting this - it was fun! The people at my office are eating the results today. It's only 9:30am, and 1/2 the plate is gone, so I guess that's a good thing!
Posted by: Jen | October 27, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Here's my contribution!
http://barbie2be.blogspot.com/2006/10/sugar-high-friday-24-little-bites-of.html
Posted by: barbie2be | October 27, 2006 at 05:52 PM
Here is my recipe : http://www.odelices.com/recette_gb.php?num=626
Posted by: Marie-Laure | October 27, 2006 at 08:54 PM
it's too late??? pour mes "délices citron et chocolat"...
http://ptibouchon.canalblog.com/archives/2006/10/22/2916292.html
...!!!
Posted by: Pti bouchon | October 28, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Here's my entry, Jeanne - forgot to email it to you last night!
http://nami-nami.blogspot.com/2006/10/shf24-little-bites-of-delight.html
Posted by: Pille | October 28, 2006 at 07:37 AM
Not going to make your deadline I'm afraid, camera card is full!
Pastry is resting in the fridge, un-baked! Sigh... next time perhaps!
Posted by: Bron | October 28, 2006 at 08:50 AM
Yikes! My glacé fruit didn't photograph well. I'll just post something in the spirit of fun.
Posted by: Karen | October 28, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Excuse my for a such a late comment. But who has won the competition?
Posted by: Dest | March 01, 2009 at 08:38 PM