Sunday, September 5, 2010

Cirque Du Soleil & Lemon Lavender Sables
















Last Saturday, I know, I know--a whole week ago! I finally had the opportunity to fulfill one of my dreams and see a performance by Cirque Du Soleil. I was thrilled when I found out they would finally be coming to Boston. In the months leading up to my birthday, I dropped some not-so-subtle hints to Daph about how much I wanted to see the show, something he already knew. But this show in particular, 'Ovo',' which means 'Egg' in Portuguese. The story is told through the eyes of insects. The premise of the story revolved around the search for this 'Ovo', and the love story between two bugs.

I've long been fascinated by a bugs life, and creatures too small too matter in any significant way until you're bitten or find yourself swatting at one that's buzzing around your head. If you read my birthday post, you already know that Daph got me a ticket to the show for my birthday.

As this was my first Cirque Du Soleil experience, I haven't any other of their shows to compare it to. I loved it. Despite being there alone on, what was apparently "couple's night", I was very close to the stage, so it was easy to get caught up in the magic. One of my favorite things is how interactive the show was.
From the moment we entered the big top we were greeted by men wearing bee keeper uniforms who searched us all for bugs. Throughout the show different cast members would come into the audience which made you feel a part of the show. I laughed out loud. I was drawn in by the acrobats, synchronized balancing performances, costumes and, what could only be described as, a gravity defying use of bodies.
A headstand on the seat of a unicycle while riding back and forth on a rope suspended in the air, Really? Wow!

Being part Portuguese but growing up in an English speaking home, I also had a special appreciation for the music, which was all sung with a live band playing background, in Portuguese.

During intermission we were treated to a 10-minute fireworks display that was pretty spectacular. But I always find fireworks spectacular. Not sure if that display is something that takes place often over Boston's New Waterfront or not. Nonetheless, I really appreciated it.
At the end of the show all of the cast members came out onto the stage to sing, dance and take their bow. Everyone cheered the masterful performances while gold and orange butterflies rained down on the stage and first few rows of the audience.









































With my handwritten directions from google maps to guide me, I headed down Seaport Blvd., over the bridge, by foot.
















In the distance I spot what appears to be a blue and yellow big top. Cirque was set up to look and feel like a traditional circus.
















Finally! Running a few minutes late, so no interior shots, but I made it.
















*This recipe is essentially Joy the Baker's Citrus Sables which I've blogged about Before. I adapted the recipe by omitting the lime, doubling the lemon, adding extract and lavender (flowers, buds and sugar).



















Lemon Lavender Sables (Suh-Bleez)

Recipe courtesy and Adapted from Joy the Baker

Ingredients:

2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted before measuring
1/2 teaspoon salt, preferably sea salt
2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-2 Teaspoon(s) culinary lavender (dried is fine)

Zest of 1-2 lemons, Two teaspoons
1 teaspoon lemon extract


To Finish:

Dust cookies with confectioner's sugar (Powdered sugar)

Directions:

1. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment or hand mixer, add butter to bowl and mix on medium speed until light and creamy. In small bowl, add sugar and, using your fingertips, rub lemon zest into sugar. Pour granulated sugar and sifted confectioner's sugar, salt and lemon extract to bowl with creamed butter, mix on medium speed until until smooth and satiny, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and mix in egg yolks one at a time, mix until blended.

2. Turn mixer off, In medium bowl, add lavender and flour, mix with fork, Add flour to bowl with creamed butter and other ingredients. You may want to partially cover bowl with clean dish towel before proceeding to next step. Once flour is added, pulse mixer five times on low speed for 1 to 2 seconds. Remove towel. If flour remains that has not incorporated, stir to incorporate for about 30 more seconds. You want the dough to be moist throughout, and soft, but remain clumpy.

3. Lay plastic wrap over clean, flat surface. Scrape dough out of bowl onto work surface. Gently work dough into ball, If making shapes with cookie cutters form dough into ball and flatten, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready. If slicing round shape cookies form dough into ball then cut into two equal parts. Shape each divided half into log shape. Wrap both logs individually, using two separate pieces of plastic and place in refrigerator to chill for no less than two hours. Dough can be stored in refrigerator for 3 days or kept frozen for 2 months.

4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees For Cookie Cutter Shapes OR, 350 degrees For Round Shape. Use parchment paper to line baking sheet.

5. For cookie cutter cookies: Remove ball of dough from refrigerator and unwrap plastic. Place dough onto wax paper. Roll out ball of dough to between 1/2 & 1/3 thickness, cut out shapes using cookie cutters.For round shape cookies: If edges of log are not smooth, trim off so log if uniform in size and shape from end to end. Slice cookies to 1/3 inch thickness.

6. Leaving an inch of space between each cookie, place cookies on baking sheet and bake for Cookie Cutter Shapes, 10-13 minutes OR for Round Cookies, 17 to 20 minutes. Turn baking sheet around halfway through baking. Once baked, cookies will be light golden brown around edges, even lighter on top and golden brown on the bottom. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes before using metal spatula to transfer cookies to cooling rack.
Once baking sheet has cooled completely repeat same process with second log of dough if using now.

7. If dusting cookies with confectioner's sugar, allow cookies to cool completely. Place cooled cookies on wax or parchment paper and lightly sift with confectioner's sugar.























Butterfly and Ovo shaped cookies cooled and ready to be shared.


17 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, Ree...it sounds absolutely magical! I'm so happy that you got to go! And these cookies sound pretty stinkin' magical, too....LOOOOOVE the lavender. Love it!

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  2. p.s...I like your new background =)

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  3. It must have been wonderful. Your cookies are gorgeous and beg to be eaten. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  4. Ree, I love lavender cookies! Imagine the whole kitchen being filled with the pleasant fragrance while you baked these cookies....how lovely!

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  5. That's so fun that you got to see it! Oooh and those cookies look incredible!

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  6. Yummy cookies, or suhbleez as you called it:D Glad you get to enjoy the show...I love live shows too, really showed the great performances put up by the actors to the max!

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  7. These cookies look adorable! I love the combo of citrus and herbs!

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  8. I'm thrilled for you! It sounds like it was everything you could wish for. And the 'bug' theme is cute - imagine them actually searching you for bugs - how very clever!

    I bet your cookies are like little bites of heaven! Or maybe even sunshine with all that lovely lemon and lavender.

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  9. I LOVE Cirque du soleil,and i love your sables too.Pleased to meet you!

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  10. I have also had the pleasure of seeing a cirque show...my husband and I saw 'O' in Vegas several years ago, and it was amazing. Your show sounds like the perfect birthday present for you!
    These sables sound amazing too!

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  11. Cirque du Soleil is fabulous. I went years ago- Ovo sounds amazing! Those cookies sound so good with the lemon and lavender- yum!

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  12. Ree, they look so good...yum! I love your pictures and stories as always! We go to a cirque du soleil show yearly...they are truely amazing...nothing compares! I am so glad you were able to go. I saw a tv show on the making and design of Ovo...I cannot wait to go someday!

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  13. How wonderful that you got to see OVO - it's coming to DC next and we're going for my birthday at the end of the month :) We go to all Cirque du Soleil shows - aren't they amazing? Yummy cookies!

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  14. Ree...this goes with your 'about me'--so well :) I once watched cirque du soleil...I liked it a lot!

    you do spread pieces of cake and cookies :)

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  15. Love your description and excitement as you took in the show. So much fun - I didn't know it was over there in the seaport!!

    What a creative batch of cookies. I'm smelling the lavendar and lemon wafting off the computer screen just looking at those shots!

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  16. Sounds like you had a great time! Great cookies too!

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  17. Oh how pretty! Love that you used your lavender in them, I can just imagine how wonderful the smelled and tasted. Thanks for sharing them with Grow Your Own!

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