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Tartelette

Tartelette
Adventures of a French pastry chef, expat in SC

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Violet Macarons With Violet And Vanilla Bean Buttercream
2009-03-20 06:10:00
I know, in my last post I asked you what my mom should make as an upcoming guest blogger, ratatouille or apple tart and here I am giving you macarons! Remember discombobulated? We did make the ratatouille, styled it, photographed it and ate it but it will have to wait for next post. Still trying to find time for the tart. There is actual logic behind posting these delicious, Spring colored macarons filled with violet and vanilla bean buttercream and topped with crushed violet pearl sugar.Today is the official first day of Spring. Yeah! Aren't you just loving this lighter feeling in the air? Blooms are everywhere to be seen and I keep bokmarking a ton on my Flickr favorites. I am addicted! People seem to slowly shred their winter attitude. Smiles and random acts of kindness are more frequent. I am trying to savor each day this Spring. It won't be long before we melt under the scorching heat and humidity as Summer seems to start way too soon around our parts.It is also Macaron Day i...
More About: Violet , Bean , Vanilla

Meyer Lemon Curd and Chamomille Vanilla Mousse Verrines
2009-03-16 05:11:00
Discombobulated...New favorite word. It's always a bit of a struggle getting things organized with long term guests but there has been a lot of good work getting done. A lot of good meals and good times too. My parents are happily relaxing, talking walks in town, going to the beach, reading,.. with no particular agenda or schedule. Even the pupps are learning "discombulated". There is no telling who is going to walk them, feed them, play with them. All they know is that there are 4 more hands to pet them. Bliss...Even here it is bit "sans queue ni tete", posting the raspberry mousse tarts with pink macarons before posting about the macarons first. Indeed, a couple days after my parents arrived I made a small batch of pink macarons to go along with a verrine of Meyer lemon curd and chamomille - vanilla bean mousse. Then with the leftover macarons, I made the tarts. I think the mud cake cookie sandwiches were in their right place though. Imagine that!! See...discombobulated again.Wi...
More About: Lemon , Vanilla

Guest Posting: Cannelle Et Vanille's Flickr Favorites
2009-03-13 05:04:00
A few of you have left comments wondering how I find the time to bake, work, blog with my parents here for a month. Beside needing only a few hours of sleep, I have great friends willing to jump in here for a visit with you. I feel blessed to be able to count today's guest as one of my closest friends. We email each other anywhere between 5 to 15 times a day. She sends me pictures of her lovely boy and I of my crazy puppy (weird trade I know). I laugh out loud when one of us says "I made this today" and the other writes "get out! I just did that too!!" We can talk at length about our trade and not feel like complete pedantic geeks. She is been one of pillars of humor and stress relief (with Jen and Lisa) when I start freaking out about the book and everything around it. If we were neighbors, the key would be under the mat for her to come in anytime she wants. Scratch that...The door would be wide open, the coffee press and madeleines ready to go. I hope you enjoy her wonderful vi...
More About: Flickr , Guest , Favorites

Little Time, Little Chocolate Mud Cake Cookie Sandwiches
2009-03-10 06:29:00
I can hardly believe my parents have been here a week already. Actually, I can notice it rather clearly: I only had time to make cookies this week! But these little bites of heaven were enough to keep us talking and eating for a few days! Imagine a chocolate cake with a hint of coffee sandwiched between two dark chocolate shortbread cookies and held together by a dab of chocolate ganache. The combination of textures is just perfect.A good bit of time is spent around the dinner table catching up, making plans. It's like being on vacation at home. The weather has been gorgeous and we have spent most afternoons out and about, sightseeing, catching the first flower blooms and enjoying the warm, already summer like temperatures. I hope I don't sound like a broken record with my "parent stories" but it is one of the most important things on my agenda right now. I want to write it down and share so I can remember and be reminded. It's a good break for them and a good break for me.I know...
More About: Time , Cake , Chocolate , Sandwiches , Cookie

Rapberry Mousse Tartelettes and Pink Macarons
2009-03-06 08:43:00
I can't quite tell if it is my mother's warm hugs or Spring pointing its nose that has me thinking in all shades of pinks, purple and reds lately. Greens too. Colors are starting to pop everywhere and everyone around me seem to have that awakened sense of things changing around them.I have been sneaking some work time early morning and late nights but there is one particular thing I have been looking forward to when my parents said they'd come visit: sneaking into the bed with my mom after when dad gets up. Yep, I am slightly regressing and that is all fine by me! My dad gets up early and my mom likes to linger in bed just a half hour longer. When I hear his footsteps down the stairs, I fetch him a cup of coffee, kiss him "bonjour Papa" and make a rush for the bedroom. I love the morning sun there. It kisses you just so, making you want to roll over and just enjoy.I often told my mom that I like to pick up a book and start my day with a few pages up there, in the silence of the s...
More About: Pink

White Chocolate, Vanilla Bean Cardamom Mousse and Raspberry Layers
2009-03-03 07:10:00
Hugging my mom, joking with my dad. This is pretty much all I have done in the past 24 hours. It had been a year since I last put my arms around maman and two(!) since I was able to share some fun tidbits with papa. It had never been that long but such has been life on both sides of the ocean, with timing, responsibilities, projects and happenings that we have been this long apart since I moved here. After a long delayed connecting flight and one suitcase missing, I was finally able to kiss them profusedly and start planning some fun things to do in between work and more work while they are here.Once home, we sat down to a simple meal of quiche and salad and talked for almost three hours at the dinner table. Things don't change. Time slows down a bit when they are here and I am perfectly fine with that. Today felt like a Sunday and I have no doubt that tomorrow will feel like a Saturday...When they visit, I still cook as I would for B. and myself and try to give my mom a real vacat...
More About: Raspberry , Cardamom , White , Bean , Chocolate

A Daring Bakers' Flourless Chocolate Cake....Oh The Possibilities!
2009-02-28 06:58:00
I can't believe today is the last day of February! This month has flown by! Tomorrow, my parents will be here. March will be filled with more deadlines, assignments and anticipation of things to come. End of the month? Well, that must mean another Daring Bakers ' challenge. Yes indeed! A Flourless Chocolate Cake to be precise. And ice cream...hmmhmmm.As I do with many of the challenges, I read the recipe and walked away. I like to look at the structure of recipes and think about how I could play with them. This one was perfect for some afternoon fun in the kitchen. I like to take out molds and baking pans and ponder about how to make a recipe work with what I have on hand but I really had little time lately to play as much as I would have wanted to (manuscript due in about a month!). Once the cake batter was made, I divided it up in different ways: square silicone molds, round cake rings and a half sheet pan. For the ice cream, my MO these days is "one recipe-several applications" ...

Savory Tartelettes: In The Kitchen At Design*Sponge
2009-02-27 14:01:00
I live for the little things in life, the simple and little things that are enough to make us happy and brighten our day. Being contacted by Kristina, one of the editors of Design *Sponge was definitely one of them. I think I read her email about four times saying out loud "You would like to do a "In The Kitchen " feature with me?", "vraiment?", really? I love Design*Sponge, I love the articles, the features, the styles. I have discovered so many great talents and artists that I felt a little very nervous participating.Kristina asked if I could create something savory for the feature, to give their readers a bit of a change. Hmmmm....even if you are new here, it won't take long to notice that there is not one bit of savory on this blog...It's pastry, pastry and more pastry. It took about five seconds for me to decide I was going to make: savory tartelettes! After the initial nervousness disappeared, I did start to look forward to baking and photographing a savory item. I know, I kno...
More About: Savory

Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream & Strawberry Thyme Shortbreads
2009-02-24 06:34:00
We have a winner! Beside the winning combination of Strawberry Ice Cream and Strawberry Thyme Shortbreads Cookies, I am happy to announce that Maryann from Finding La Dolce Vita is the winner of The Baker's Odyssey! Congrats Maryann! Shoot me an email with your address and the book is on it way!I realized last evening when someone called to hire B's band at the last minute for today that it was Mardi Gras! Ah! As a kid it was one of my favorite celebration in the year because I'd get to dress up and I loved to play dress up...ask my mother. I think I just about drove her crazy most years but she knew how much I loved becoming someone completely different even for just a day. So "Bon Mardis Gras" to anybody celebrating!This past weekend I had the opportunity to play dress up. A different kind though. I played the adult, hardcore. I held the hand of a person in pain and massaged her back. I read her stories and cooked dinner. I did someone else's laundry and folded someone else's...
More About: Vanilla Ice , Vanilla

Profiteroles With Chartreuse Ice Cream & A Book Giveaway
2009-02-20 20:11:00
(For the book giveaway, scroll down to the end of this post)I am really excited to introduce you to Anita from Married With Dinner as my guest blogger this weekend. When I first started blogging, there weren't as many blogs to get lost into captivated by delicious recipes and lovely photos. One lucky day 3 years ago, I landed on Anita's blog and I could not stop reading, still can't. We virtually met around a box of macarons and I can't wait for the day I bake a batch with her. As their "about" page states, "Married ?with dinner chronicles the continuing adventures of a couple of San Francisco food dorks. Cameron and Anita are both professional writers, amateur cooks, cocktail geeks, and avid diners." I am always in admiration of their mixology knowledge and creations, as well as their awareness of local artisans, food and produce. I can't wait for the day we meet when we can celebrate life and friendship around a good meal.When Tartelette asked me to take a turn at posting, I ...
More About: Ice Cream , Book , Cream

Cold Strawberry Mint Soup and Apricot Tea Cakes
2009-02-18 06:11:00
Some things are meant to be paired. You know, that cute mug and that lovely tea, cookies and milk, cupcakes and frosting, apple pie and vanilla ice cream, etc.. They are tasty on their own, and we can survive without one or the other, but they make sense together so why pass on the opportunity to have them both, at the same time, together, dunked, dipped, smeared, spooned, and scooped?....This is what happened the other day with apricot teacakes and cold strawberry mint soup. I had a long night ahead of me and decided to make some tea cakes to help me through hours of file organizing instead of popping open a bag of chips and mindlessly muching my way through the entire bag. Withing 40 minutes or so I had about one dozen dried apricot tea cakes cooling down and we could not resist sampling one. Delicious and satisfying on its own.That same day I also had become the instant parent of a 6 pound box of strawberries (they are in season right now in the Southern US) and after making ice ...
More About: Strawberry , Cold , Cakes , Soup , Mint

Blackberry Apple Galettes And Burnt Sugar Ice Cream
2009-02-15 07:02:00
Yesterday I woke up to the sound of my husband's trombone and although he rarely rehearses at home it did not strike me as unusual. It felt nice actually. Deep, resonant notes, slightly muted as they came through the floor and walls. I immediately recognized the melody of "our" song, "Can't give you anything but love". The trombone stopped, the pupps rushed down the steps toward the bedroom and when they saw the door open, the immediately jumped on the bed to give me a good round of morning licks. Nice..although not earth shaterring new.The unusual part was they were spotting brand new heart shaped name tags and a love poem was tucked inside a notch of their collars. Ah! Love Day! A serenade, two pimped up furry fuzz balls and the man whose love is more beautiful than anything I have ever known. Love and the little funny things in life, as we try to live them everyday. Except he tied it all up in a virtual red bow and I had extra butterflies in my stomach. Singletons out there, do...
More About: Apple , Ice Cream , Blackberry , Sugar , Cream

Guest Blogging : Quaint Tea
2009-02-12 06:20:00
I am playing hooky today... Well, not really, but I am getting pudding brains this close to deadline and I need all the extra bit of time I can find. After coming to the conclusion that sleep is highly overrated and lunch has been replaced by a cup of soup and a piece of toast in one hand, whisk and camera in the other, (yes, I am also amazed of my newfound dexterity!), I asked one of my favorite bloggers to come and keep you company. I discovered Cindy in one of my late night blog hopping and I instantly fell in love with hers inventive crafts, thoughtful posts and awesome pictures of New York. When I ask someone to guest blog I always tell them to do what they please and have fun. Cindy went beyond the call of duty and baked you something tasty, comforting and perfect for a little Valentine's day breakfast. I guess I am in love mode after all! I hope you'll show Cindy the same enthusiasm and support you show me day after day. Enjoy!Hi Everyone - I'm Cindy from quaint handmade a...
More About: Blogging , Guest

I *heart* Macarons
2009-02-09 07:02:00
You would have to live in a cave these days not to realize that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Those lovely sweet tarts! And the chocolate kisses! And the heart shaped cookies! And the cutest heart adorned cupcakes! Shades of pink and red... everywhere. Well, I guess I live in one because when a friend called and asked if I could make her some macarons for Valentine's Day, I replied "oh yes sure, just remind me when it's closer to that time". Silence. "Ugh, it's soon, really. Like next week!" My turn to be silent.I admit we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. For as long as I remember I was always stuck at work that evening and even now that we could, B. always seems to have a music gig that night. Nothing against V-Day, not even the countless years of having me hide rings and earrings in desserts at the restaurant! I love romance. I am a hopeless romantic. I love old, well - read books and often create a romantic, often sad story behind their earmarked pages. ...
More About: I heart , Heart

Milk Chocolate And Chestnut Mousse Verrines
2009-02-05 06:26:00
I hold dear and close the big things in life like love, family, friendships, and connections. I also believe they are all enhanced by the little things. The little things in life...Those little trickets or thoughts that we hang onto. They might be in a shoe box in your closet or the attic, they might be on your nightstand. Special paper and photographs in your desk drawers. A dish or an ingredient that you are cherishing to the last crumb.When I moved to the US, I came with the two suitcases and a few little things that kept me connected to my home. Among those items were "Pipou" a stuffed rabbit that I got when I was born and a tiny porcelain box with my name on it. What was I thinking?. Imagine the first time B. stayed over: "oh and by the way, meet my favorite blankie type thingie, Pipou" Now that a sure way to get rid of your date!! Or was I so afraid to become mute that the box would become another way to give my name out?! Well I know why they came along but retrospectively it...
More About: Milk , Chocolate , Chestnut

Strawberry & Vanilla Floating Islands
2009-02-02 07:05:00
It had been a while since I had the night off to bake something just for us. No book recipe to test, no challenge, no order or request. Just for us. In moments like this I tend to gravitate towards childhood memories and desserts I learned to make with my mother and grandmother. Simple desserts made so often that I bake them from memories with only the guidelines they used to whisper as I was standing on the little step stool next to the kitchen counter. It always amazes me how clearly I can still hear my grandmother's voice every time I make Floating Islands for example.Many years after her passing, Mamie Paulette is still here as I separate the eggs and mix them with sugar to make those lovely clouds of meringues. Everytime I cut through a vanilla bean I respectfully scrape every bean to the last one "pour ne pas gaspiller" (not to waste) and put the pods in small jars of sugar to flavor it. Whenever we would make creme brulees, we would have floating islands or "iles flottantes"...
More About: Strawberry , Vanilla

A Daring Baker's Tuile Frenzy
2009-01-29 06:16:00
Sometimes I feel B. thinks I am crazy. Often, I know B. thinks I am crazy. Prime example this month was when he walked in the kitchen one day and saw all countertops covered with all sorts of tuile (twea-l) cookies. Traditional dough tuiles, nougatine tuiles, chocolate tuiles, mousses and sorbets of all sorts, tuile cones, tuiles cups, tuiles cannoli... He looked at me puzzled and said "I thought you said you did not know what you wanted to do with the Daring Bakers' challenge". I looked up and exclaimed "well, I could not decide which one to do so I made them all. Hungry?!"This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.Yes, this month we could chose from 3 different recipes to make the tuile cookies and we had complete freedom for the choices of filling. I like tuiles. A lot. I like making them. A ...
More About: Bailey , Frenzy

White Chocolate Meyer Lemon Souffles To Thank You
2009-01-28 07:59:00
Thank you all for stopping by in the last couple of days and offer your nice words about the awards. I am blown away by your enthusiasm, but again I should not be surprised. Now its' my turn, so this post is all about you! You are the best! A four sentence bit at the end of a post is not enough to tell you the gratitude I feel so I made you something to celebrate: White Chocolate Lemon Souffles.Thank you for your support and dedication, your listening ear and welcoming hearts. They have made it so much fun to come here and share bits and pieces of life. I am still rubbing my eyes at everything that has happened in the last year. I also want to dedicate this celebratory dessert to my pal Jen. She knows why. If there were an award for the Best Food Blogger - Friend category, she would totally own it.I need to clarify that I have not reached my 500th post yet but I am really close. One reader suggested that I ask you what to bake to celebrate this little milestone. I like that idea, b...

Tangerine Creme Brulees Tartelettes
2009-01-26 06:32:00
I was making a dessert for a client the other day to celebrate their anniversary when I started wondering if there was any anniversary for B. and I to celebrate soon. No first kiss, first dinner cooked together, no first trip anniversary in sight. Actually there is one soon...if I wrote real fast and everyday: I almost have written 500 posts on this blog. Five hundred stories, five hundred desserts, five hundred times I shared, laughed and cried with you... Now that made me nervous, like after a first date..."Did I talk to much? Did I laugh too hard? Did he/she have a good time?" Thanks for stopping by and offering a minute of your time as well as your stories, comments and emails. Let's plan a big bash for post 500! Any (sweet) suggestions welcome!Back to that lady's anniversary and dessert. I like bumping into patrons I knew at the restaurant, it's always fun to catch up and as fate would have it, I always end up with an order for macarons, tarts, cakes, you name it. The occasi...
More About: Tangerine , Creme

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