Although I have been lucky enough to have lived in and travelled to many places, some places really resonate with me in a particular way. For me, Paris has got to be at the top of that list. So in order to better partake in all that the beautiful City of Lights has to offer, I have been struggling to improve my French for the last several years. We have a weekly meeting of some French-speaking and English- speaking women and we converse together to improve our language skills. (To be honest, I think French people speak English quite well so I think that I benefit from this far more than they but that’s our secret….)
Another major benefit of this group is that since we take turns meeting in each other’s homes over tea and coffee, we get to sample one another’s baked treats. This benefit alone is well worth the pain and humiliation I feel whenever I bungle yet another sentence in French. Recently, Yannick, a very elegant French lady in the group, prepared for us the most delicious home-made cannelés. When I saw these glorious little darlings on a large platter, I nearly swooned. And then I proceeded to eat one cannelé after another like a possessed person. Cannelés, for those who are new to this amazing dessert, are small to medium-sized pastries that are a bit crunchy on the outside and spongy on the inside. These are a specialty of the Bordeaux region in France and truly divine. So imagine how happy I felt when Yannick shared her recipe with us!
Then another dear friend and a very loyal Foodie, Karine, shared with us her very special recipe for Pistachio Cake. Wow, is that delicious and so easy to make! I am a big fan of the pistachio macarons that one gets in France but in a cake form, this is even better. I have visions of these special cakes being churned out by our hardcore Foodies and being served with such panache to their amazed guests.
(Please, please, please share your stories with me if you make them and tell me what you think!)
Finally, there is a wonderful recipe that Nilima has been asking me to obtain for her. She has been raving about these amazing waffles (not the breakfast kind as the ones in America – these are more for dessert) such as the ones you find in Europe. She recalls them being made for a charity bake sale and the waffles being sold out in practically a nano-second with people clamoring for more. As luck would have it, the creator of these delectable treats, Muriel, is also a member of the French group and she so very graciously shared her secret recipe with us. The first time I read the recipe, I marveled at how simple ingredients can create such magic. I think you will agree.
I hope you will try some of these incredible recipes for a taste of France in your home (and don’t forget to invite me for a tasting!).
Wishing you all the best,
Namee Oberst
Founder, Food for Cause
Vive la France! (or French Pastries)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011