When I hear the words Floating Islands, this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie selection, I picture this:
Apparently, Floating Islands (in French, Ile flottante) in the dessert world are more like this:
From "Baking...From My Home to Yours" Dorie Greenspan page 403
A dessert consisting of islands of meringues, floating in a sea of crème anglaise. Crème anglaise is pretty much unfrozen French vanilla ice cream. Maybe a little thicker.
But, because when I picture this:
I think of this:
And even though it is only February, bathing suit season is fast approaching…
…So I made mini-floating islands or Floating Islets for better portion control. I floated my islets in a tiny bit of crème anglaise, drizzled a bit of homemade lemon {lemon screams ‘light’ even though it is not} caramel syrup (recipe from David Lebovitz‘s The Perfect Scoop), and added a couple blackberries {fruit screams ‘light’ too}.
Each little bowl holds two teaspoonfuls of crème anglaise, my smallest scooper ( 1 1/2 teaspoons) of meringue, 2 blackberries, and a drizzle of lemon carmel syrup.
The end result was perfect. The crème anglaise was heaven, the lemon caramel syrup was ‘light’ 😛 and refreshing {although I do have to work on my forking technique–instead of fine strands, I got drops} and paired well with the blackberries, and the meringue truly was light and ethereal.
Thanks to Shari of Whisk: a food blog who is hosting this week. Please visit her blog to get the recipe.
Phew! Now I’m safe to do this…
Thanks for reminding me about bathing suit season, yikes! I didn’t have to worry this week but I am a little nervous about not being able to say no to another slice of next weeks TWD pick. Anyway, your floating islets look lovely, I love the blackberry garnish and the lemon caramel sounds amazing. Great job making minis!
How pretty! Mine didn’t win any awards in the scenic island category, but this was so much fun to do and I learned a lot. The lemon caramel syrup sounds wonderful!
Well …I think I should stop baking !!! I must start thinking about swimsuits !! Your little islamds are so beautiful !!
Those look AMAZING! I love the blackberry additions… I think the same thing when I think of “floating islands”. Little tropical islands in the south pacific. 🙂
Great post! Your desserts look wonderful and so cute. I love the small portions and the blackberries next to the meringue is really pretty.
love the portions you did–I loved these too! And thanks for some great tropical photos for me to gaze at on a chilly CT morning! 🙂
Love your little desserts – they turned out perfectly. And, umm, thanks for the bathing suit reminder. Cute post.
Nancy
I love the minis! So cute!! I guess I better get ready for bathing suit season!!
These look awesome! I love the light modifications that you made; I bet that swimsuit model eats these daily. Yours look pretty and perfect!
I love the blackberries, nice addition. I wish I was eating this on an island in the sun. perfection
They look wonderful, perfectly sized for something sweet.
Hahaha–I loved this post (and that swimsuit….). The mini islands look delicious!
Wowwy, Pinkstripes… yours look even wayyyyyy better than Dorie’s!!!
…and with lemon syrup, must have make it so nice!
Very, very well done! A little taste of paradise… (sigh)
I wish I looked like that in a bikini!
Your islet’s look lovely and the lemon caramel was such a good idea.
(I love Dave Lebovitz’s cookbook and blog, too!)
Just the thought of bathing suit season is enough to make me cringe.
Nice “light” dessert, though.
Love this, the minis are adorable. I also had visions of bikinis when I decided not to make this recipe. I still made meringues but with some lighter accompaniments.
I am going to South Beach in Miami in April. I should stop eating my desserts.
Your minis look awesome. Mine was boring. It tasted too eggy and the hubs wasn’t a fan of the custard. Oh well, we are simpletons that way. Feed us cake instead . . wait, got to remember South Beach. Ugh! 😉
Those look heavenly but “light”!! LOL! Do you know what they scream to me? grab me & eat me now!!
Great photos too! I wanna be on the cruise ship in my bikini eating one or two of those while sailing to some gorgeous remote island!
~ingrid
What a great post. I haven’t made mine yet but I’m going to try to this evening. I definitely want to go the tiny route as well although I know that I won’t be near as creative as you were!
Beautiful islets. I have to go work on portion control now. The swim suit season is approaching way too fast.
cute idea! i’ve always wanted to make ille flotante or ouegs a la neige at home as they’re one of my favorite desserts!
yikes, bathing suit weather is coming up way too soon. i love the lighter version you made, the lemon caramel sounds fantastic.
Ooh I love the addition of lemon, lemon and custard go so well together, as well as the addition of the blackberries. Now you have me brainstorming which fruits to add to mine the next time around 🙂
pleased that you liked them. I liked the creme anglaise, but not so fussed on the poached meringues!
Take it from me – PORTION CONTROL IS NEVER SEXY. However, running around in one’s bikini is pretty much the best thing ever, except for when one is running around in one’s bikini with an awesome meringue dessert. You are the whip for making this – good job. I am totally impressed. You could wear an outfit exactly like MIA’s at the grammys, and I will still bow down in wholehearted respect and admiration.
Your floating islands look wonderful! I love that you made little individual ones. These weren’t my favorite, but I’m glad so many of the other TWD bakers enjoyed them.
Love the little mini’s. The main reason I didn’t make these was all the egg and cream I just should partake of! Awesome photos!
Now see, you made me want to make them. Love the mini floaters!
Your little minis are so cute! Very creative.
Swimsuit season? What? Oh no! Great idea with the beautiful little “islets.”
Love the islets! I opted out due to BSAD (Bathing Suit Anxiety Disorder) but a mini version of this recipe might be in my not so distant future.
With just two teaspoons of crème anglaise, you are doing no damage regarding the swim suit situation. My problem would be eating all 15 mini portions myself! The berries are a great addition.
Those are SOOO cute. I bet the blackberries were perfect with them.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed them – from the way you describe them I think I will make them myself. They look lovely.
Thanks for reminding me of bathing suit season! After I’ve eaten 3 batches of this! Ugh. Your islets are perfect, though. Thanks for baking along with me this week. BTW, I have an award for you over at my post!
I really wish I could just indulge in one of your “light” portions. It sounds fabulous and looks beautiful. I love your pictures and thanks for the reminder about bathing suits being around the corner! oh no!!!
What a great idea – and your pictures are so great! Thanks for the mini vacation to the islands and with your islands. Very creative!
Yours look lovely, and I love all the travel photos!
Lol, love the reasoning. Smaller portions wouldn’t help me though; I’d just have another. They do look stunning, you know 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try these. Yours look delicious! (and that J. Crew swimsuit shot would scare me too at this point in the year!)
Great post! =) I love the mini version. And I’m definitely going to check out the recipe for the lemon caramel.
AH! You are so right about bathing suit season! Way to make the tiny floating islands for the portion control! I’m all about the portion control! They look great!
What gorgeous little portions – they look so dainty!
ahh…perfectly sweet little bites! now i will be dreaming about clear blue water and white sand…
I love the mini version, great idea! I have started to make half recipes just to save on calories. And, yes, swimsuit season is closer than we think.
Great idea to make everything “light”!
I thought about using 2% milk.. but didn’t
know what I would end up with.. its good
to have health in mind while cooking.
I love how your islands came out.
Thanks for visiting me!
Wow – these are so pretty, and such a greta idea. The lemon syrup sounds like a great idea. And those island photos – take me there please!
These are amazing! Soooo cute and adorable!
Hehehe! I can’t decide which islands I prefer. They both look pretty tempting.
Back again — I left you an award on my blog!
Wendy! Love the Minis. They are just the right size for those of us trying to cut down. Now if we could just make sugar-free caramel… (NOT!!!!)
My problem would be that I would eat 5 or 6 of your little beauties, LOL.
My vote for “cutest TWD entry” definitely goes to your adorable little island-ettes.
awesome job…
and to be on a warm, sunny beach anywhere…ahhh.
Hey, I just wanted to add that I tagged you on my blog (http://onehungrysoul.blogspot.com/2009/02/sixth-folder-sixth-photo.html). If you’ve got the time and an image you want to share, please do!
Your mini islands are soooo cute!!!
This really makes me want to go somewhere tropical. Your islands look fantastic. I have to try again soon!
Your islet version is a great idea. The lemon caramel syrup sounds divine. Lovely dessert!
I went the mini route too, but it just meant I ate more 😛 Yours are absolutely adorable, and now I need to pull out my copy of The Perfect Scoop to find that lemon caramel syrup.
Wow, I love the presentation! So lovely. 🙂