Friday, September 18, 2009

Oh Sweet Madeleines



There are two cabinets in my kitchen that I avoid with a passion ~ where the pans are....(Connie Francis came to mind). I never seem to be able to keep the pans organized or lined up! This afternoon, I decided enough of this clanging around every time I go to grab one and to my surprise, I found my Madeleine baking mold. It's the silvery silicon model, but still remains top on my list for being able to remove the delicate cakes without harming them.
The recipe I followed came from 101 Cookbooks.com. I was particularly interested in the butter method that was suggested. It worked like a charm.....for a fleeting moment I imagined myself in Paris, parked on a sidewalk somewhere, sipping coffee, savoring my little cake and watching the day go by.

The part about the butter was interesting. I usually just melt the required butter and toss it in. This time, I melted 1 1/2 sticks of butter on a medium fire and heated the butter until it turned brown and gave off a nutty, delicious aroma, taking about 20 minutes. I kept repeating to myself, "I am actually frying this butter."Indeed I was! Then using a paper towel, stuffed into a mesh strainer, I removed the solids that appeared from the liquid unsalted butter. The butter was clear and hot and needed to cool to room temperature. I loved the aroma! When the butter had cooled, I gently folded it into the egg and flour mixture, stirring just enough to bring everything together.
The outcome was better than I hoped for. I even managed to stuff one, the Madeleine that is, into the mouth of my favorite UPS person as he handed me a package at the door, a package from my French sister...........

9 comments:

K and S said...

beautiful madeleines, I should make them soon :) Your UPS handler was so lucky!

Nina Timm said...

I have never tried this, because I am a bit clumsy when it comes to baking.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Madeleines are probably my favorite cookie project - so elegant and really so simple to make with the right pan. And, it sounds like we have similar issues with our baking pan closets!

Simona Carini said...

Beautiful! Thanks for the tip about the butter.

Juliana said...

Oh! These madeleines are so cute and delicate...yummie!

spike. said...

I've always wanted a madeleine pan! Yours are so beautiful

Unknown said...

I like the shape - if I recall my mad pan is a bit different in shape - and the photos are wonderful.

However, I seem to have developed some wheat allergy issues of late...

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love my madeleine pan. Unfortunately my madeleines are not as pretty as yours. I've even made cornbread in the pan and everyone loved them.
Sam

Julie Arnold said...

Great bblog you have