mad about madeleines

Still very much chuffed by Dorie Greenspan’s Baking From My Home to Yours, I took up recommendations for her recipes, and decided to try out her rendition of traditional madeleines.

You see, madeleines and me go way back. I’ve had them drowning in my teacup each time I walked past a local bakery store, Delifrance. I’ve drooled over the countless number of variations I’ve seen splashed all over the foodblogosphere, truly believing that the web not only transmits information by the bytes and whatnots (cut me some slack here, I’m no techgeek), but also came with an aroma aid, specifically suited for madeleines. Because nothing quite tickles my fancy like the promise of fresh warm madeleine photos. And ever since I started this blog, 100 posts ago, I had been tagging almost every madeleine post I could feast my eyes upon, wishing that I could get my hands on those intricately elusive madeleine moulds. But when push came to shove, or in this case, when I felt like enough was enough, I just had to make them, and the moulds can wait.

I had recently bought two really cute 18cm loaf tins from Daiso, a Japanese $2 store;– and by cute, I meant they were small, and I imagined they would be perfect for a little tea brunch party with dolls and little cups and saucers;– and so, I decided to make mini madeleine loaves! I’ve read reviews about this particular recipe not really making the cut, because of the lack of quintessential significant hump madeleines are known for, but they looked [and smelled] absolutely perfect when baked in these loaf tins. The light golden crust boasted its buttery texture, while the subtle lemon aroma tinged its every slice. There was the slightest hint of crunch with each bite that paved its way to a soft and cakey texture.

I had initially planned to give one loaf away as a gift, but with the many helpings returning to the dining table, they were wiped out easily before the end of the day. My parents loved the lemon tang, and while my mother ate the slices ala carte, my father had his sandwiched with jam, while I had mine for the evening, served with Nutella spread and strawberry preserves. That was of course, after I’ve had my own personal serving of leftover madeleine batter poured into a mini tart shell, with a small dollop of strawberry preserves inside. I just love the strawberry-lemon combination. Doesn’t she look like she’s smiling?

tens on my hundred

Some time ago, the talented Grace mentioned her interest in seeing my top ten pictures featured on this blog, and I had deliberately put it off (before you kill me, sweetie, read the disclaimer!) because I was saving it for this special occasion. What better way to celebrate my 100th post than to reflect upon some of the best memories I’ve had here.

So without further ado, here are the top 10 pictures, in random order:-

1. Fluffy buttermilk biscuits;
There’s always something warm and comforting in a basket of freshly-baked fluffy biscuits.

2. Fudgey cocoa brownies;
The brownies that not only uplifted me in my down moments, but also garnered a lot of interest (the highest traffic thus far). It makes me happy to hear the chocolatey love these brownies brought to those who tried the recipe out. A charmer, this one is.

3. Peanut butter and chocolate cookies;
The cookies that stole everyone’s hearts for its love, and its aesthetics.

4. Superman birthday cake;
My very first fondant cake, for the mister’s birthday. I’ll never forget his incessant hearty laughter and disbelief when he opened the cake box cover.

5. Marshmallow brownies;
Other than chocolate, I think another lexical word that never fails to catch my attention would be marshmallow. And to marry it with fudgey brownies is just a dream come true for me.

6. Buttermilk scones;
I like this photo because it captures my very personality; being an introvert, I prefer my days spent “far from the madding crowd”, with loved ones, a favourite pastime, and a simple bake.

7. Nutella cupcakes;
Again this is more of nostalgia, for Nutella cupcakes were the very first cupcakes that ever caught my attention, since I’m not big on cream frosting, and Nutella would make me go on my hands and knees anytime.

8. Banana cupcakes;
Fluffy naked banana cupcakes fresh from the oven that was too much a delight that they were wiped out [and reserved] before I could even frost them. I still have no idea how they would taste with frosting.

9. Oreo butter cake; and last but not least,
This photo is a favourite not only because of the lovely Oreo-crusted top and the speckles of Oreo throughout the texture, but because those white papers beneath the cooling rack just so happen to be my lecture notes, which I was supposed to be cramming with for the exams. Epicurean escapism indeed.

10. Chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting
My very first photo in my very first entry on this blog; without which, this blog wouldn’t have seen its 100th post.

two of five on two times five

A slice of ice-cream cake topped with two [cup]cake toppers the mister drew & made (the one in the back is my favourite chibi of us!)

The past two weeks had been pretty much a blur, with lots of happenings just whizzing by one after another. This year I was blessed with an extended birthday celebration; a mini-one with the family prior to the parents’ flight, a get-together with the siblings on my birthday night, a birthday treat from the sister two days on, a movie-cum-chicken-lovin’ birthday lunch with the mister (Arnold’s can rock my socks off anytime, I tells ya!), a save-the-best-for-last fantasy celebration with the mister last Saturday, and a lil office room birthday-cum-farewell celebration with the best friend the day after my birthday.

To all who made it possible, I can never thank you enough for the love and well wishes. I feel truly blessed.

A box of the popular roasted chicken wings from East Coast for the chicken lover in me to munch in the office.

I remember vividly being rushed into the room when I was much younger, each time someone comes home with yet-to-be-wrapped presents. I would be pressing my ear against the door, with hope that someone out there will inadvertently proclaim what they got for me. Of course that never happened. And so, I would spend the following day(s) searching high and low for the presents. They would almost always be on top of the cupboard in the bedroom next door, leaving me to jump up and down my brother’s bed to have a sneak peek of what the plastic bags contained. Just knowing the colour, the shape of the box, and even some undecipherable symbols on the box would be enough for me to dream the night away.

Mickey Mouse-shaped pizza! Birthday lunch treat at Disney Naturally from the mister. Absolutely loved the Disney-themed decor; it’s definitely a must-come-back-again for the Disney lover in me. Oh, and it helped that they were screening Finding Nemo when we arrived

They say that age leaves you jaded with life, particularly when it comes to birthday celebrations. That the anticipation and excitement will fade away as you grow older. To a certain extent, it is true for me. I find myself not wanting to know what my presents are, preferring instead to be [genuinely] surprised when I unwrap the beautiful packages. One of the defining traits I attained as I grew older was the dissipation of being too hopeful, lest I be disappointed. With that, I find myself appreciating the gifts and wishes I receive even more, as compared to standing by the table, armed with five hints given to me prior to my birthday, shaking the gift box, anticipating a particular Barbie doll, only to unravel a thick academic assessment book.

Moral of the story: kids have a great imagination, so don’t give them hints that would only lead them on!

A beautiful drawing from the 6-year-old niece, of her (“I’m the princess, that’s why I’m wearing the tiara, and you’re not”) and myself, celebrating my birthday in her castle.

Now that I’ve turned a quarter of a century, I know that the one thing that hasn’t changed at all would be my love for chocolates and chicken [and my hatred for cheese]. But having said that, the one way to tell that I have indeed grown older would be my acceptance towards non-chocolate desserts. And in some cases, my affinity towards them.