I have to admit, being able to write this post gives me a fan-girl moment. I asked in Baen’s Bar and she actually took the time to answer me and suggest a dish. Lois McMaster Bujold has long been one of my favorite authors, and possibly the most influential one in my life, so I’m tickled pink to be able to include her in this series.
And in the department of timing being everything, she has a brand-new release this week, the book that I have been looking forward to since she made me cry shamelessly at the end of Cryoburn. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen is the return of Cordelia Vorkosigan and I am gloating over it on my Kindle and waiting for a good time to read it. I’ll be publishing a list of books starring feisty old (at least middle-aged) ladies in the next week or so – I expect this one will lead the list for me. I already know that her Paladin of Souls will be on that list, at least. Speaking of that, I just found that the Curse of Chalion is only $1.99 at Amazon. You must buy it if you haven’t got it already. I rarely say this, but you must. Caz is my First Reader in a lot of ways – I know that isn’t a sales point for most of my readers, but it’s also one of the best fantasies out there.
Anyway, getting back to the food! This recipe stems from one of the funniest scenes and sub-plots in her work, the infamous Bug Butter from A Civil Campaign. She tells me that for those of us who haven’t got access to the real thing, you can use yogurt, or as in this recipe, silken tofu instead.
Bug Butter Chocolate Pie
-
12 oz (1 bag) of bittersweet chocolate chips (note: if you use coffee liqueur, use milk chocolate instead)
- 1/3 c maple liqueur (use coffee liqueur if you can’t find that)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 11 oz extra-soft or silken tofu
- 2 1/2 tbsp Maple syrup
- a prepared pie crust
Put the chocolate chips, liqueur, and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl (I favor a Pyrex 8-cup measure or mix-and-pour). Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, microwave another 30 seconds, stir, repeat until the mixture is all melted and smoothly combined.
In a blender, put the tofu, maple syrup, and then the chocolate mixture. Process until smooth and completely combined, which only takes a minute or two. Pour the filling into the crust. Slide the pie into the fridge and grab one of the great books I listed above. Read for an hour or so, and this pie will set up to be a potent wedge of chocolaty, silky goodness that you won’t believe has tofu bug butter in it!
Note: I used a premade graham cracker crust I had on hand, that was a mistake. This pie deserves better. I’ve linked to the recipe I usually use for pice crust, but really, you could just put this stuff in a parfait glass or wineglass and it would be delectable and elegant. If you can do lactose, whipped cream would be a lovely finishing touch, but it’s wonderful as-is.
The First Reader proclaimed it ‘too chocolaty,’ so there’s that for you, too. He’s not fond of chocolate.
You can find the ETWYRT Index Page here, and to take part in the fun, the ETWYRT group on facebook is here.
Comments
5 responses to “Eat This While You Read That: Lois McMaster Bujold”
Bug Butter. Awesome reference. I got Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen as part of the book bundle. The novel unlocked on Saturday and the first problem was that my wife wanted to interact with me during the weekend instead of her realizing that I was not at home in Philly, I was actually on a far distant planet and spending some quality time with Cordelia and Oliver.
And during our first try at the recipe we will rein in our tendency to tinker with the ingredients. (although the addition of peanut butter, or Nutella will be in the forefront of our minds, and the chocolate could be tempered with some raspberry jam, or raspberry syrup)
Tinker away, I always do ๐ this makes a very firm, fudge-like filling, and the maple is as much homage to Barrayar as the bug butter.
Fillings like this are just about the only place I ever use tofu; it just seems to make a better base.
Sigh, I must resist this one, for the nonce. The holidays are barely over (and the eating machine, aka Son, is back at MCT).
You know where to find it when you want it ๐ the next recipe up is more savoury and hearty for the season.
I just had a fan-girl moment too… ๐ Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the writers I read over and over.