Pairing a classic dessert like Simple Crème Brûlée with the impactful novel "Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman creates an experience that balances elegance and emotion. The rich custard blends delightfully with a Hemingway Daiquiri, a cocktail as storied as the dessert is timeless. The introspective themes of Backman's narrative resonate with the indulgent simplicity of crème brûlée, making this combination a sensory and intellectual delight.
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for caramelizing)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Place 4-6 ramekins in a large baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream and the seeds scraped from the vanilla bean (or the vanilla extract). Heat over medium heat until the cream just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture becomes pale and slightly thickened.
- Gradually pour the warm cream into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling. Continue whisking until fully combined.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or another bowl to remove any cooked egg bits and ensure a smooth custard.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly into the ramekins, filling them about 3/4 full.
- Carefully pour hot water into the baking dish around the ramekins until the water reaches about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. This water bath helps the custards cook evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the custards are set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let them cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Just before serving, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar evenly over the top of each custard. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar by heating it until it melts and turns a deep golden brown. If you don’t have a torch, you can place the ramekins under a broiler for a few minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Let the caramelized sugar cool and harden for a minute before serving. Enjoy your Simple Crème Brûlée Dessert as a luxurious and impressive finale to any meal.
Anxious People
Anxious People is a poignant and humorous exploration of life's challenges and the anxiety that often accompanies them. Set in Sweden, this novel tells the story of a failed bank robbery that leads to a hostage situation during an apartment open house. As the tale unfolds, a mix of quirky characters and their interwoven backstories reveal the intricacies of human connections and the universal struggles everyone experiences.
#1 New York Times bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and “writer of astonishing depth” (The Washington Times) comes a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people. Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.
Discussion Questions
- What are the central themes explored in 'Anxious People' and how do they resonate with modern issues?
- How does Fredrik Backman use humor to address serious subjects in the book?
- Discuss the role of empathy in 'Anxious People'. How do the characters demonstrate this trait?
- How does the setting of the apartment open house add to the story's development?
- What did you think of the way Backman portrayed the relationships between different characters?
- How does the author use the structure and pacing of the novel to enhance the storytelling?
- What are some moments in 'Anxious People' that stood out to you, and why?
- How does the novel explore the concept of family, both biological and chosen?
- Discuss how Backman portrays mental health and anxiety in the novel.
- Did the novel change your perspective on any particular issue? If so, how?
Authors:
Fredrik Backman
ISBN: 9781501160837
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published Date: 2020-09-08
Hemingway Daiquiri
The Hemingway Daiquiri is a classic cocktail that brings a touch of elegance with its tangy sweetness and refined balance of flavors. Named after the legendary writer Ernest Hemingway, this drink combines rum with fresh grapefruit and lime juices, sweetened with a hint of maraschino liqueur.
Ingredients
- 2 oz white rum
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz maraschino liqueur
- 1/4 oz simple syrup (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or grapefruit slice, if desired.