Petits Fours~

Petits Fours.. one of my youngest recollection of a beautiful small dessert..was a Petit Four~ Not a Macaron..that came later..but a Petit Four..  then a Palmier..and a Mille ~Feuille~

Even now..I bake and bake and bake..and can resist most desserts..I have a salty tooth..not a sweet tooth..but place a PetitFour..a Palmier or a Mille~Feuille  in front of me..and I cannot resist the temptation of..even but one bite♥
For Mother's Day we went to one of our daughter's..I was to bring a salad..but I also felt like bringing a  memory of my youth dessert and opted for the petits fours..they are so feminine..

I made them yrs ago..and had no trouble at all.

In redoing them..the cake I chose was perfect..I halved the recipe and baked in an 8 x8 square..
Very very good..

I split it in half after carefully removing a small upper crust with a serrated knife..

I coated the middle with a slight strawberry jam..place the top on..and then placed a very thin layer of real Almond Paste bought at La Vieille Europe~
(SO GOOD)..not like the rolled one we buy..this one is SOGOOD:)

I refrigerated over night..

and sliced into ap 1x1 inch squares..
Tada..beautiful..now for the icing part..
I'll wait to share a better technique..suffice it to say..I used a fondue fork to dip in the poured fondant(w/white choclolate)..and food coloring..à la mauve because I was using candied violets I made this past week..
Oh lala..took longer to ice..and they are not perfect..than make the whole cake..and candied violets..~!
Nevertheless  I was pleased with their amateur look:)And am looking forward to making pink ones sooner than later~With a less sweet icing and a very different technique..
For a special occasion..I think these are worthy:)
My daughter's chocolate chip sour cream cake was far better:)~
The boys ..painted Tshirts for their mommies for Mother's Day when we babysat..:)♥
This is a craft that is suited for little hands that can squeeze a bottle of fabric paint..good idea if they are not dressed in their best clothes to do it..they are permanent:) And take ap 24 hrs to dry well..The child makes his drawing first w/ pencil or chalk or dressmaker's pen..then the Scribbler's go on top:)

The gardens are starting to emerge..and even fade!
Things happen quickly here..like our lives~
In a blink..of an eye...
My treat is bringing in fresh flowers..
What a gift!!
Most of my herbs are planted..still need lovage:) and borage..and a big big basil plant~

Then all I have to do after my annuals are planted and basketsare hung....is sit back..and..

enjoy watching everything grow..while going about just maintaining  without the huge Spring clean up~
and picking fresh herbs from the garden to cook and bake with.
Sheer bliss.

A new Standard Flowering Almond tree to plant and begonias to adorn La Maison Des Jardins~

With temps hovering in the 40's and 30's tonight..I am so glad I waited for the annuals.
Have a great week..