Tuesday, April 16, 2013

TWD: Baking with Julia - Madeleines

This week's recipe for Tuesday's with Dorie was Madeleines.  I am happy to say that my sister recently found some Williams Sonoma Madeleine pans for me at a garage sale for like $1 each, so I already had the proper equipment!  However as you may know, I have been expecting a baby so I knew making this recipe would be tricky.  As it turns out, the clever baby was born on April 9 via an emergency c-section (no worries, we are both fine), so I was unable to actually bake the cookies myself.  I am obeying my doctor's orders and he specifically said that I was not to cook, bake, do any housework, etc while I am healing.  I had a guest baker assist with this recipe.  My sister!  I am so lucky that my family was able to come in town to help me with the baby and recovery - little did they know they would be helping me with my blog as well!

A madeleine is a small sponge cake that has a shell shape made by being baked in special pans with a shell-shaped depression.  The treat was named for a Madeleine Paulmier, a French pastry cook in either the 18th or 19th century (there is some debate as to the historical time-frame).   That is your history lesson for the day!

Most importantly, let me introduce you to the clever baby.  Isn't he a cutie-pie?  Besides being adorable (mother's bias), he is a very good-natured baby.  I am so lucky!



Here is my guest baker, my sister!

This batter is made similarly to the "Perfect Genoise"batter that was used for the French Strawberry cake last June.  I was not so impressed then and I'm not this time either.  My madeleines turned out more dense than they should be.  The batter also made fewer actual cookies.  It could be a "folding in" issue - something neither my sister nor I are very confident about.  It could also be due to a slight lag in filling the pans and baking - it was supposed to be done right away but I needed to nurse the baby before filling the pans.  Maybe the batter settled a bit.  Regardless, I think that the flavor of the madeleines is good and would also be quite tasty with almond extract instead of vanilla.  Some day I will figure out genoise...  but now is not the time!

For the recipe, please visit our host blog, Counter Dog.







  

15 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your newborn baby boy! He looks absolutely adorable! Nice to read that you are all doing well! And your guest baker/sister did a marvelous job on the Madeleines!
    Take good care of the both of you!

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  2. Oh, what a blessing!! Congratulations. Your madeleines look perfect!

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  3. Congratulations and YES he is a cutie-pie! Good job for following doctor's orders and letting someone else in the kitchen for awhile! The madeleines turned out great! Blessings to you and growing family! Catherine

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  4. Congratulations on your very beautiful baby!!! You should definitely be following the doctor’s orders. Let everyone pamper you while you recuperate!!
    Your madeleines look wonderful! Great job, ladies!!

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  5. Yes, that folding stuff is a little tricky. I kept thinking to myself, "I'm really glad no one is here to witness this lame attempt..." But really, who's got time to worry about a little egg settling when you've got an amazing, beautiful, sweet new person over which to kvell? (That's Yiddish for boasting -- not that you did this, but you should!) Thanks for sharing the picture. It makes me optimistic for the future on a day when we all need it. Mazel tov.

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  6. Congratulations! So impressed that you are blogging. Madeleines are supposed to be a little dense, so maybe you are closer than I was to the real thing. Take care of yourself and that cutie pie!

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  7. You're amazing! And that baby is sooo adorable!!
    xoxoxo

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  8. Oh, he is just as precious with his eyes open! Love it that your sis helped you out on this one:)

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  9. Forget the madeleines- that baby boy is a very precious blessing who will grow up with a sweet & wonderful Mom who cooks delicious foods for him! May you both be well and healthy.

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  10. He is a sweet one. Congrats!
    I am with Bev - forget the Madeleines;enjoy the baby :-)

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  11. You are right. Cutie!! Congrats on your new Bouncing Baby boy!!

    I thought the mads were a little dry. Ah, well. We carry on.

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  12. Only a true baker would post a picture of her baby boy beside the kitchen mixer :) Congrats on your son - he is cuuuuuuute! And let's not forget the kudos to your sister.

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  13. Congratulations on the baby and props to your sister! Love the photo with the baby next to the KitchenAid. Ha ha =)

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  14. Super cute! I'm so glad that "himself" has arrived safely and everyone is settling in.

    (And Hello to your guest baker!)

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  15. Congratulations! They'll be plenty of time to figure out genoise batter when he gets older, I'm sure. In the meantime, the madeleines that you and your sister produced look perfect.

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