Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Petits Pains Aux Bananes~

Some times ..often..good things come in small packages..

I love the way my banana bread turned out in my Financiers silicone molds..
Tiny little treats:)


And when you slice them? Even cuter.. My husband packs some in his small little golf cooler/picnic bag~
Smaller than a muffin actually..
Just use your favorite banana bread recipe..and make them smaller..tinier..minuscule if you wish..
They are also very good with tea..
I still favor the intricate beauty of these blooming teas..in their dried form..and once they have bloomed..

This one was called Heavenly Bliss..and it looked like that in my friends' huge Le Parfait jar..from France..on her mother n laws' exquisite tray.
It's nice to be able to share these teas..although a treat on their own just for one..the pleasure is doubled shared with someone else.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Soul Food #117~



I Kind..le..like it..a lot~

A friend of mine....I told her about Kindles when I saw it on Oprah..and I think almost 100% my friend Arlene bought one yrs ago.. . she hummed ..and bought one..and ever since she has been trying to convince me to buy one..
Well I think we were the last ones to buy a gas BBQ..an Ipod..etc..
Not state of the art electronic etc.. purchasers are we..
Oh except for that HUGE satellite dish my husband bought in the 80's..Oh lala.. that was an eyesore to me...Thank you ExpressVu.

So I kept hemming and hawing...

I love "HOLDING" a book said I.. for years~And was almost cantakerous in my assertion of this Holding A Book thing:)
My daughter bought one and I thought..cute..But I only briefly looked at it and never tried it..I was happy for HER..


But no desire.. to have one for myself..until Kindle offered at $79.00 ..while I was visiting the USA...it made me think twice..
So I gave in and bought one..the $79.00 one.


My only question?Why did I wait so long?

I really really like holding it..turning the pages.. making collections..seeing the Daily De

Now I am thinking..should I have Kindle Fire like my youngest daughter plans on doing?Should I have gone for the full 9 yards?I don't know..that touch feature seems hard to handle:)

Never look back.
I am thrilled w/ what this does..and by the time I master it..an evene may be available.
Really.. me and my staid ways.."I like holding a REAL book..":)~~~

This is just as good..better..compact.
Just wanted you to know:)Since quite a few of you had offered me their thoughts when I first mentioned them.
And for travel? Wow.

Ask Mr and or Mrs Claus..cause this is so nice to have and to hold.
I know this sounds materialistic..it is.. But it is worth it.
So neat.
And think of all the paper saved.




"An eBook is like a garden carried in the pocket."
Chinese Proverb



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Heavenly Almond~Raspberry Tart~

When you discover perfection~



You have to share~
My friend lends us her Irish magazines..We appreciate them..

While perusing one..

I found this recipe that tickled my taste buds..



Could the words..almonds.. rasbperry jam.. Ireland.. lemon zest..have anything to do with my wanting to make it right away?
Oui!


I knew it would be pretty..and I knew it would be good..
And so it is~


I hope you try it..and enjoy it..it's worth it..
The word missing from the title of the recipe in the magazine article is..♥
Un petit bijou.
Like lavender and roses are to the gardens.. little bijoux.




I just had to share this..

Because of a previous re my Rose Cottage/Potting Shed post..
Look how cute..
From The Graphics Fairy~


Thank you Karen..I am anxious to create tags with this:)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Soul Food #116~



* My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected.
Anna M. Uhlich



There are so many lovely Ocean Quotes~

A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets.
Gloria Stuart


A Google search displayed so many it was hard to pick only two.


The ocean speaks volumes..to each and everyone of us.. a different voice..different words..at different times..
Never have I not loved what it has said to me.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Dorie's Apple Cake~



When I saw Linda's cake..
I knew I would make it one day:)I loved her post..the cake..everything..so I did make it..and my husband loved it..Look..it looks like stained glass:)

I liked the idea of 4 big different,delicious apples:)



It's a cinch to make..and uses very little batter..I've made numerous apple cakes..and some are keepers..as this one is..
Thank you Linda and Dorie..
Great recipe!

As Linda said ..you can download the fabulous recipe here..
C'est vraiment bon~
Enjoy~

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Soul Food #115~



You know how much I have enjoyed my book Romantic Prairie Style..By Fifi..

Well she has a new book coming out in March.I have pre~ordered from Amazon.. a COOKBOOK:) Be still my beating heart~
The cover is subject to change..this is the photo she shared with us on her lovely blog..
I can't wait to add this book to my collection~
I bet many of you will be anxious also.
Fifi was a restauranteur..in Florida.. I have seen photos of her presentations..decors etc.. I even once had the chance of hearing someone tell Fifi how sad she was that Fifi had closed her restaurant..that nothing compared..in French restaurants ever since..
I can well believe it.
You know how fond I am of Fifi.. and how genuinely nice she is.
It makes holding a book that much more special.~
You can catch up on Fifi here..

Just thought I would give you a heads up..Have a great week~

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Apples in Party Attire~La Cuisine Des Fées~



You may remember my telling you about this beautiful book~



It was spotted on a beautiful French blog..and I bought it..
I first made the cake I loved so much..I made galettes ..etc..The Gingerbread House ..a couple of Christmases ago..How I loved making it~
Recently~I made their little apple parcels..they are so pretty..


Delicious warm..with ice cream..however my ice cream would have melted so you are seeing the BIC pics:)

This book unlocks the child in you..




It takes popular fairy tales..and bakes around the theme..It is enchanting..

This recipe could not be easier..
you simmer your peeled apples w/ the stem on..in a simple syrup infused with vanilla.. ap 10 mins..just until tender..

Let sit until cooled..they recommend all day or overnight as the flavor enhances with time..
Wrap cooled apples in puff pastry taking care to leave the stem out..adorn with puff pastry leaves..and bake ap 45 mins..
Lovely for just you..the two of you..or more..
They remind me of another lovely make-ahead dessert that is so elegant..

Les Poires En Cage~

I am glad I saved my old photos from before my blog..



These are really really good and many of us who got to be friends on the web made them~

They puff up to perfection and the pears inside are a treat.






La Recette~

Pear Tart in a Cage ~ Tarte aux Poires en Cage

- 2 pkgs puff pastry
- 14 oz sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 pears
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup frangipane (almond paste)
- 1 egg
- 3-4 tbsp cream
- 3-4 tbsp apricot jam
- warm water

1. Heat oven to 350F.

2. Unroll thawed puff pastry flat and refreeze
3. Peel the pears, cut in half, core with a melon baler and rub with the lemon half.

4. Bring the sugar and water (simple syrup) to a simmer and add the pears. Cover with a damp dish cloth and simmer for approximately 15 minutes or until only a slight resistance to a knife. When done, set aside pears on a paper towel on a dish.

5. Take the dough out of the freezer and roll the lattice cutter across one of the sheets. You might need to go over the slits with a paring knife.
6. Slowly pull apart the dough so a beautiful lattice forms. (I let my dough get to soft so it was hard to pull apart evenly. Do this when the dough is as cold as possible but not so cold it breaks.) Chill.
7. Take the other sheet of puff pastry and cut out the shape of a pear. Chill.

You can do all this ahead of time. To assemble and bake:

8. Take out the pear cut-outs pastry. Place a small scoop of frangipane in the scopped out part of the pear and set it, cut side down, on the pastry.

9. In a small bowl combine the egg and cream. Brush the pastry around the sides of the pear.

10. Take out the lattice pastry and cut out the same pear shapes. You can make a cut out from a piece of cardboard such as the back of a pad of paper. Brush the top of the lattice pastry with egg wash.

11. Lay each piece gently on top of the pear (the colder the dough the easier to handle). Press down gently and trim the edges with a paring knife.

12. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes until it turns a golden brown.

13. Combine apricot jam and water and microwave until warm. Mix it together then strain it to get out the clums of apricot. Brush it over the pears when they come out of the oven to give it a shiny glaze.

Garnish it with caramel squiggles or a small scoop of the best vanilla ice cream you can find.


The above recipe is courtesy of Here..and you can find a detailed description with photos there also:)

In fact my friend Jain recently made some for a luncheon she gave at sea Dream~
Go see how beautiful they look by the ocean:)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Soul Food #114



Another lovely insert from my special envelope~


The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.


~ Rumi ~

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Easy Peasy~



The easiest Peanut Butter Cookies I have ever made..



La Recette~



Courtesy of my Extra Smooth Kraft Peanut Butter jar~


1 cup extra smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg

Mix all ingredients until homogenous..make 2 4 little balls place on a cookie sheet 2 inches apart .. make marks with fork an bake at 325 for ap 15 mins..don't overbake~
They melt in your mouth~




Have I told you I eat at least 1 tbsp of peanut butter every day? I've tried all natural.. almond..etc..Kraft is still my favorite..Must be childhood memories.I still love peanut butter and banana..and my mom often made me little rolled up ones with the banana in the middle..that's love:)

I used the words Easy peasy once with Lucas.. about an hour later they were his favorite words that day..He just kept saying it while doing things..Easy peasy.
Thank goodness I don't really have a potty mouth.