Category: Desserts and cookies

Desserts and cookies

Chestnut cake

By on March 30, 2015

Chestnut cake or Ardéchois is an amazing recipe that will surprise your guests.  It is easy and will hit the spot at craving-o-clock, what do you think?

I say YES!  I take my coffee black to go with it.

I have been making this recipe for about at least 20  years.  And I am sharing it just now.  I know, I am sorry, you’ll be even more mad at me after you tried it.  Mélanie, why are you giving it just now?  I am sorry.

Oh, I started baking young… Just in case you started crunching numbers to guess my age.

Chestnut cake

This cake is offering moisture, sweetness but not too much, just from the spread.  There is also that buttery nutty taste….

Guys, just try it.   I am torturing myself describing it and I don’t have any to bite into.  Tor-ture. Sight.

If you are not big on chestnut spread, no worries.   Give it a try regardless, chances are you will like it.  Hubby, El Cubano, did.  And other persons have too.  I love chestnut spread, they used to sell it in a tube, like a toothpaste tube but smaller.  I would eat it just like that. J. might remember our recess breaks and my snacks?  This and condensed milk.  Hi Sugar-rush!

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Desserts and cookies

Rustic chocolate pear tart

By on February 2, 2015

Or shall I call it Poire Belle-Hélène tart?  You see, a Poire Belle Hélène is a pear served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.  Sounds good, eh?  Well, I am offering it to you in a slice!

Chocolate pear tart

That’s the decadent dessert that you want to end your dinner.  This recipe is a small batch. It’s perfect for a romantic dinner for 2 or in our case it was 2 adult sizes and 2 small ones for the kids.  Score!

You need it in your life now!  It has the comforting chocolate, the juicy pears and a flacky chocolate crust, does life get any better than that when you take a bite of it?  Probably not!

Chocolate pear tart

On top of those pears, there is some white chocolate and then some shaved dark chocolate.

Sometimes, in life, this gets rocky and you have some ups and downs and I am part of those people who eat their emotions and need comfort in my plate.  Mostly sweet but I also love savory-feel-better-dishes.

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Desserts and cookies

French Galette des rois

By on January 6, 2015

Because we don’t eat and indulge enough during the holidays, here’s an excuse for you to eat some more today, on January 6.  It’s a French tradition, la Galette des rois, or Kings’ cake, is eaten on Epiphany Day.

Galette des rois

No need to twist your arm to eat it, I promise.  It’s just amazingly good stuff.  A nicely golden puff pastry filled up with a frangipane.   Frangipane is a filling made with almond, it also has butter and sugar.  Admit it, you can’t go wrong.

La galette des rois is the reason you need to push your new year resolution to later.  How can you resist that buttery pie?

Galette des rois

Speaking of which, I am not a big believer in New Year resolutions, why do people feel like a resolution should be taken on a new year, new month or a new week? I know that there is this sense of clean slate but I kinda of think I can be on a Tuesday, 14 of the month, in March? or July? Why not?

Regardless, El Cubano decide to get healthier since he tends to be the picky eater of the house and started exercising.  So to encourage him, while he exercises downstairs, I do cardio upstairs.  The kids love it, they jump for 30 minutes.  Let’s see how long we last!

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Desserts and cookies | Finger food

French Madeleines

By on December 30, 2014

French Madeleines? Say no more.  It’s French so it’s good, right?  Well, I’m might be biased. But I made it so it’s good!  How about that? And I’m French! Hehe, and quite modest, I may add.

French Madeleines

Although I have been living in Canada for 8 years, I still ask my parents to bring me several French products.  The very first years, the list was long and their suitcases heavy, it was anything from food to my favorite product to remove my make up or a deodorant.  Now, the list is way shorter and revolves mostly around food.

Don’t you love having something that comes from home?  I know that there are things I can find here, but it’s just not the same.  When you are an expat, products from your home country are always ”better”, just because.

French Madeleines

As you might have understood, madeleines were a good that used to be personally imported.  Special request for my breakfast.  In France, it’s also sold in a ”finger” shape, oh-my-god, the perfect shape for dunking!  That’s a little pleasure of life that warms up my heart and makes me feel like I am having a coffee in my Dad’s house with him and my not-so-little-anymore brother.  Yeah, because he is like taller than me and quite stronger too.  Still has been somehow, even though he is 13 years younger than me!

French Madeleines

About those madeleines…  Where shall I start from?  The perfect buttery taste that warms up your mouth?  Or the simplicity of the recipe?  Really, have some butter out of the fridge for an hour or so, so it’s easy to work with.

I got this recipe from my mom, she did it at school (she works in a school) and I have to give the credit to Bénédicte for the recipe that I have adapted.  I reduced the butter and the sugar a little.  Also, I choose to flavor it with some vanilla extract.

Easy and quick?  Yes m’dame!  Just a bowl and elbow grease, although you can use your electric hand mixer but don’t be lazy, it’s fast enough that you won’t need it.  Make sure your oven is preheated while your prepare the madeleines mix and there you have it.  Perfect French Madeleines!

French Madeleines

See, Little Princess had enough of my talking to convince you there are super tasty, she just grabbed it while I was taking a picture.  She is a 2-year-old-opportunist like that! 🙂

What is your little weakness that reminds you of home? Even if home is around the corner.

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French Madeleines

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Serving Size: 18 madeleines

Ingredients

  • - 1 cup of soft butter
  • - 3/4 of a cup of sugar
  • - 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • - 2 eggs, medium size
  • - 1 cup of flour

Instructions

  1. - Preheat the oven at 405F.
  2. - In a bowl, mix the butter and sugar until it looks like a creamy spread. Add the vanilla, mix some more.
  3. - Incorporate one egg and then the other. Mix well.
  4. - Sift the flour and mix until there are no lumps.
  5. - Put one tablespoon of the mixture in each madeleine mold and place in the oven at 405F for 9 minutes or until slightly golden.
http://bonappeteat.ca/french-madeleines/


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Desserts and cookies

Salted caramel Tarte Tatin

By on September 22, 2014

I know, just with the title and you’re drooling already.  It’s okay, it’s not embarrassing, it happens when it sounds that good.  I mean, who can resist the perfect flaky crust?  The juicy fall apples cooked in a salted caramel butter?  NO ONE obviously!

Gala apples

Of course, Fall is around the corner and bloggers are sharing their best pumpkin Latte or an apple recipe.  Groceries stores are no different and are pushing to buy pumpkins, squashes or apples.

In an effort to cooperate with the rest of North America, I’ll give you an A-MA-ZING recipe.  You asked for it.  Of course, being French ”cocorico”, I’ll give you this French Tarte Tatin that will blow your mind!

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