Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Daring Cooks make edible containers!

This month's challenge was a fun one, and I was only sorry that I could not create more dishes for it. I found out about a month-long business trip just after the challenge was announced, and I only managed 2 dishes in between frantic bouts of packing, tidying, baking, oh, and working too! Our host for the month was the lovely Renata, of Testado, Provado e Aprovado. She is one of the sweetest people on the Daring Kitchen forums and always has nice things to say to everyone. Not to mention the fact that she's incredibly talented and creative and blogs in English and Portuguese. I'm tired just thinking about it.
We were challenged to make savoury edible containers and fillings of our choice. The possibilities are endless, and if you check out the Daring Kitchen page, you'll see a selection of amazing dishes. What you can see above are eggs baked in tomatoes. They are delicious and perfect at any time of the day. As you can see, I like my yolks runny, but what you can't see is that I dropped one of the tomatoes upside-down while trying to maneuver it from baking dish to plate. It's a good thing my clumsiness didn't affect the taste.
The next dish is one that made leftovers seem new and exciting. I had some shrimp cooked in a tomatillo sauce with spinach and fresh cheese left over from a dinner. I cut cylinders of polenta, grilled them and filled them with the shrimp mixture. Wonderful. I haven't got the recipe with me, but it was based on a Rick Bayless one. 
While I didn't go wild with creativity on this challenge, I really enjoyed it and I will be making some more edible containers as soon as I get back home at the end of the month. For now I'll just have to enjoy the best Toronto has to offer, as I am without a kitchen this month. Thanks Renata for a fabulous challenge!

Check out the full challenge PDF and get inspired!

Blog-checking lines: Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! was our Daring Cooks’ April 2011 hostess. Renata challenged us to think “outside the plate” and create our own edible containers! Prizes are being awarded to the most creative edible container and filling, so vote on your favorite from April 17th to May 16th at http://thedaringkitchen.com!

26 comments:

Audax said...

Mary both of your dishes are so tasty looking I love baked eggs in tomatoes and those polenta cups are marvellous. Lovely photographs as always. Great work on this challenge, sorry to hear that you were flat-out for the month and couldn't do as much as you wanted.

Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

shelley c. said...

Man, to make two variations during a month when you had to travel for work? That is dedication! And both version look scrumptious - I will have to try the egg in a tomato - that must taste wonderful. And anything adapted from Rick Bayless just can't go wrong! Great, great job, and I hope you find some time to rest soon! :)

Anonymous said...

Very creative dishes, I like the idea of eggs baked easy in tomatoes! Great job, Mary, on both dishes, Top Chef-worthy! :) Hope you're still enjoying Toronto. Have you tried a Malaysian restaurant?

Melanie said...

I love your description of Renata! I get tired thinking about all the work she puts into DC too! I must try that tomato!

Rochelle (Acquired Life) said...

The tomatoes look so good with the runny yolk coming out. I think that it makes the picture look better than just seeing them all perfect in the tomatoes. It makes me want to give this a try even more and make sure yo have my yolks a little runny, mmm :D

Anonymous said...

The tomato cups look great! And the polenta cylinders are really creative!

Unknown said...

I will take one of each please, looks wonderful

Gloria Baker said...

Mary absolutely amazing and yummy, love both! gloria

MyMacaroniPie said...

Looks delicious - I especially like the polenta version. Delish!

Suz said...

Well, you put me to shame! I stayed put and still only managed two. Your tomato egg combo looks soooo delicious (mmmm, I love runny eggs) and your polenta filled shrimp - WOW. I'm currently stuffed full of dinner, but I'd still wolf this all down quite happily.

I hope Toronto's treating you well. :)

Suz said...

Shrimp filled polenta rather!

Beth said...

Enjoy your business trip (if that's not a contradiction in terms). Those photos are so cute!

Ruth H. said...

I hope that your busy month has been a successful one for you... Your edible containers certainly are wonderful! I very much want to try the eggs baked in tomatoes - what a yummy, fresh idea! As always, I love seeing your creativity at work!!

Valérie said...

I never would've thought to bake an egg in a tomato - and yet, eggs and tomatoes are such a natural combination! I also love the idea of polenta containers. I say you were plenty creative enough for this challenge!

FamilySpice said...

Great job with the polenta cups! I love baking eggs in tomatoes, and yes, the runnier, the better!

Renata said...

Mary, Thanks for your lovely compliments, I'm blushing! I'm thankful for all your effort on squeezing the challenge into your busy month! You did an amazing job on both versions. After dropping your tomato your dish became more colorful and I honestly thought you had done it intentionally :) I'm a tomato freak and I will have to add your suggestion to my list. Polenta is another thing that I love and you managed to shape it so beautifully. The filling also looks delicious!

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

Absolute beautiful presentation in both cases. If that puddle of egg yolk was an accident, esthetically it is a success. And to do 2 before your trip...devotion.

Monkeyshines in the Kitchen said...

Your creations are gorgeous! Love the use of leftovers in polenta cups - just so elegant!

Lisa said...

Oh, Mary..you did it again.managed to make my tummy growl and mouth water. Both of your bowls are brilliant! Love the idea of eggs baked in tomatoes, and the shrimp tomatillo in polenta is just YUM! Beautifully done as always!

Miss T said...

where could you possibly go wrong with shrimps (prawns to me down here) and polenta. YAY! Stunning.

Anonymous said...

I like runny eggs too and yours look mouth watering good! great job on this challenge

Anonymous said...

Your shrimp polenta version looks absolutely restaurant worthy!!
Best, sandie

cocoa and coconut said...

Your dishes really look incredible! The ingredients shine and the flavours, I imagine, would have been so yummy.

Jenni said...

I love your polenta cylanders! Such a great idea! And your baked tomatoes look great, too, so gooey and melty! yum yum yum!

TeaLady said...

Love the idea of the polenta cylinders. How creative is that? It all sounds delicious.

Nachiketa said...

2 daring creations in a month.... and super ones at that.....
Fabulous.. :)

Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts - Nachiketa
Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts