Ep 2. Desserts

Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home is a cooking show that follows two culinary legends, Julia Child and Jacques Pépin, as they prepare delicious meals in Julia's home kitchen. In season 1 episode 2, titled "Desserts," the dynamic duo tackles the sweet side of cooking with a variety of delectable treats.

First up, Julia and Jacques demonstrate how to make a classic French dessert, crème caramel. They start by making the caramel sauce, which involves heating sugar over high heat until it turns a deep amber color. Then, they whip up a custard base with eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla and pour it into ramekins. The ramekins are then placed in a water bath and baked until set. Once cooled, the desserts are inverted onto plates, revealing a delicious layer of caramel on top.

Next, Julia and Jacques show off their skills with puff pastry by making Napoleons, a layered dessert filled with pastry cream and fresh strawberries. They create the pastry by layering butter and dough and then rolling it out several times to create layers. Then, they bake the pastry until golden brown and let it cool. They fill the layers with pastry cream and sliced strawberries, and top the dessert with a dusting of powdered sugar.

For their final dessert, Julia and Jacques opt for a lighter option with a fruit tart. They start by making a sweet tart crust with flour, butter, sugar, and egg yolks. Once the crust is baked and cooled, they fill it with a homemade vanilla pastry cream and top it with an array of sliced fruits, including kiwi, strawberries, and grapes. The result is a beautiful and flavorful dessert that is perfect for any occasion.

Throughout the episode, Julia and Jacques share tips and tricks for creating the perfect desserts, such as using a water bath to prevent cracking in the crème caramel and letting the pastry cream cool completely before filling the tart. They also emphasize the importance of using high-quality ingredients and taking your time to ensure the desserts turn out just right.

Overall, "Desserts" is a sweet and satisfying episode of Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home that showcases the depth of these two culinary icons' knowledge and skills. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, there's plenty to learn and enjoy from this mouth-watering episode.