That's right, mes amies, the season for displaying skin is fast approaching.
It's usually around this time of year that we panic about how we will look in a bikini or our old mini-skirt, but are unable to change our winter routine of indulging. Quelle solution? Be relentless.
I have recently come up with a diet that is actually fun, though not terribly healthy. The cereal diet.
It consists of limiting our nutrition to cereal, skim milk, fruit and vegetables. (Though you can make an exception for your morning coffee.)
One or two bowls a day, and the other meal is a large mixed salad.
It's hard at first but eventually becomes enjoyable, and before you know it you've become addicted and are dropping the pounds just like that.
I know this is a short article for not having written for a long time, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.
Ciao!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The New Birthday Chic
I feel it necessary for the context of this article to point out that tomorrow is my birthday. I thought that my inspiration for more original plans might be interesting for you, and look forward to your thoughts on the matter. Enjoy!
{Bear in mind that my birthday is during a holiday period, which means that I will not have to put up with the ordeals of work. If yours does not have as much luck, try doing this for yourself or a friend on the weekend closest to the event and most convenient for those involved.}
Rather than going out (or staying in) with only one person (which can at times be stifling), or, even worse, many people (in which case you risk getting lost in the throng), get together your most intimate friends. No more than four or five, and it should be perfect.
You may, of course, elect to stay in for a more home-like atmosphere, but I thought it would be infinitely more fun to go out on the town.
Start by pampering yourself from the minute you wake up in the morning. Take a bubble bath, have whipped cream with your breakfast... All of those little things that you never really get a chance to do.
While we're on what you can do for yourself, it's always nice to buy yourself a present to honor the event. There's a certain satisfaction in gazing at an object with the knowledge that you and you alone are responsible for granting yourself the happiness that comes from it, wouldn't you agree?
Dedicating the morning or early afternoon to family members is usually a good idea, lest they take offense at being left out. (Personally, I am indulging my mother's desire for quality time, which I will in fact enjoy as much as she will.)
In the time between your various rendez-vous, do whatever you enjoy doing on your own. Take yourself shopping or out to lunch, get a manicure, pedicure, facial or massage...
If you feel like doing this with your lover or closest friend, that can be just as nice - it all depends on what kind of person you are.
If you decide to meet your assembly early on in the day, allow yourself some relaxing drifting time - a chance to talk between activities, for instance over coffee at a place that you've never tried before.
As far as the evening is concerned, try to choose a restaurant that you know you like. Splurge a little - after all, it's only once a year and it's the most important of the 365 days.
Now dessert: the best part of the meal. In my eyes, you have two options. Either you go light on dinner then have the waiters bring over a gigantic chocolate concoction, whipped cream, strawberries, second helpings and all; or you eat regularly at dinner and go a little more chic for dessert. Individualism, as promoted by Chanel, is on the rise, and from this I have drawn my inspiration: individual portions. Why not have the chocolate richness in the form of little cakes, one or two for each person? In my case, this revolution is taking place in the form of macaroons. Yes, macaroons, that Parisian delight of almond crunchiness and smooth cream on your tongue. Tomorrow, I will select enough macaroons of all different flavors to fill a rather large box. Then, in the evening, after my dinner has taken place and we have moved on to a bar or cafe, I will extract the box from my bag and allow them to put a candle in the largest macaroon, light it, and sing Happy Birthday to me over the drinks. Chic if it ever was, non? (I have always found there to be something divinely and uniquely charming about a single candle in a small pastry.)
Drinks can be taken outside or at your own apartment, depending on your personal tastes. (I have elected to do both to provide opportunity for both general socializing and intimate bonding.) Going dancing can be supremely fun as well, whether you're good at it or not. (In any case, one always dances better when one is tipsy - just a thought, and a foreshadow for tomorrow.)
Note: it is possible to arrange something of this nature for a friend as a surprise. You can have someone take her (or him) out while the rest set up little candles, a bottle of champagne and a couple of bouquets of flowers in their her apartment, then cook at home or take her out upon her return. Women in particular appreciate this kind of gesture. (One of my friends felt compelled by her emotions to cry when I arranged this. I was profoundly touched that my gesture meant so much to her.)
Don't forget: people say that presents don't matter, but they do. The point is not to be extravagant or expensive, but to demonstrate how well you know the person. Something characteristic of an inside joke is perfect.
{Bear in mind that my birthday is during a holiday period, which means that I will not have to put up with the ordeals of work. If yours does not have as much luck, try doing this for yourself or a friend on the weekend closest to the event and most convenient for those involved.}
Rather than going out (or staying in) with only one person (which can at times be stifling), or, even worse, many people (in which case you risk getting lost in the throng), get together your most intimate friends. No more than four or five, and it should be perfect.
You may, of course, elect to stay in for a more home-like atmosphere, but I thought it would be infinitely more fun to go out on the town.
Start by pampering yourself from the minute you wake up in the morning. Take a bubble bath, have whipped cream with your breakfast... All of those little things that you never really get a chance to do.
While we're on what you can do for yourself, it's always nice to buy yourself a present to honor the event. There's a certain satisfaction in gazing at an object with the knowledge that you and you alone are responsible for granting yourself the happiness that comes from it, wouldn't you agree?
Dedicating the morning or early afternoon to family members is usually a good idea, lest they take offense at being left out. (Personally, I am indulging my mother's desire for quality time, which I will in fact enjoy as much as she will.)
In the time between your various rendez-vous, do whatever you enjoy doing on your own. Take yourself shopping or out to lunch, get a manicure, pedicure, facial or massage...
If you feel like doing this with your lover or closest friend, that can be just as nice - it all depends on what kind of person you are.
If you decide to meet your assembly early on in the day, allow yourself some relaxing drifting time - a chance to talk between activities, for instance over coffee at a place that you've never tried before.
As far as the evening is concerned, try to choose a restaurant that you know you like. Splurge a little - after all, it's only once a year and it's the most important of the 365 days.
Now dessert: the best part of the meal. In my eyes, you have two options. Either you go light on dinner then have the waiters bring over a gigantic chocolate concoction, whipped cream, strawberries, second helpings and all; or you eat regularly at dinner and go a little more chic for dessert. Individualism, as promoted by Chanel, is on the rise, and from this I have drawn my inspiration: individual portions. Why not have the chocolate richness in the form of little cakes, one or two for each person? In my case, this revolution is taking place in the form of macaroons. Yes, macaroons, that Parisian delight of almond crunchiness and smooth cream on your tongue. Tomorrow, I will select enough macaroons of all different flavors to fill a rather large box. Then, in the evening, after my dinner has taken place and we have moved on to a bar or cafe, I will extract the box from my bag and allow them to put a candle in the largest macaroon, light it, and sing Happy Birthday to me over the drinks. Chic if it ever was, non? (I have always found there to be something divinely and uniquely charming about a single candle in a small pastry.)
Drinks can be taken outside or at your own apartment, depending on your personal tastes. (I have elected to do both to provide opportunity for both general socializing and intimate bonding.) Going dancing can be supremely fun as well, whether you're good at it or not. (In any case, one always dances better when one is tipsy - just a thought, and a foreshadow for tomorrow.)
Note: it is possible to arrange something of this nature for a friend as a surprise. You can have someone take her (or him) out while the rest set up little candles, a bottle of champagne and a couple of bouquets of flowers in their her apartment, then cook at home or take her out upon her return. Women in particular appreciate this kind of gesture. (One of my friends felt compelled by her emotions to cry when I arranged this. I was profoundly touched that my gesture meant so much to her.)
Don't forget: people say that presents don't matter, but they do. The point is not to be extravagant or expensive, but to demonstrate how well you know the person. Something characteristic of an inside joke is perfect.
Just a note...
My dears, I apologize yet again for allowing such a large amount of time to go by between my posts. That is why I intend to provide you with two today. This one is no more than a quick note about a subject that really does not need a great deal of discussion...
Valentine's Day
You may think me a little late for this - almost a week, in fact. But that it precisely the point. For you single girls in particular (though this can just as easily apply to those in relationships) the holiday seems like a waste of time. Not to mention (in the case of some) a reminder of what you do not have. Perhaps even an opportunity for lovers to show off. That is why you may neglect to celebrate it. But that doesn't mean that you still can't take advantage.
In the week or even two weeks that follow February 14th, shops need to dispose of the numerous articles that they have purchased in 'honor' of the occasion (more plainly put, in order to make money off of what has become an almost entirely commercial holiday). These are not just thrown in the trash without a second's thought. No. These go on sale. And it is with those sales that we can have a little fun.
Buy the huge boxes of heart-shaped cookies and Mon Cherry chocolates. (All of the chocolates, for that matter.) Even buy the pink and red paper decorations if they're selling for what's in your change purse. Then get together some girlfriends with vodka and cranberry juice (to make pink cocktails, you see), throw in some Maraschino cherries and voilà! An evening deliberately making a mockery of commercial madness.
If you feel like hot chocolate with whipped cream, it goes very nicely with the occasion. You might even try making a chocolate fondue out of differently filled truffles (trust me, this is truly delicious).
Otherwise, mix sweets with alcohol with cocktails involving whipped cream and caramel syrup. I believe chocolate liqueur even exists... (I can't be sure, so don't resent me if you find its existence to be an urban myth.)
{You can easily replace all of the aforementioned beverages with red wine if you want to be a touch more classy. It's perfectly appropriate as well, obviously.}
If you would rather not share your criticism, simply take advantage of the chocolate while enjoying your favorite guilty-pleasure movie. (The alcohol or hot chocolate can work here, too).
For those happily-coupled women, don't take this the wrong way. We don't ridicule you, we simply envy you occasionally, while nonetheless wishing you all the very best. (Though I have heard a couple of married friends say that they would love to be single again just to spend Valentine's Day at one of my famous chocolate and Rafaello with Bridget Jones movies evenings.)
Valentine's Day
You may think me a little late for this - almost a week, in fact. But that it precisely the point. For you single girls in particular (though this can just as easily apply to those in relationships) the holiday seems like a waste of time. Not to mention (in the case of some) a reminder of what you do not have. Perhaps even an opportunity for lovers to show off. That is why you may neglect to celebrate it. But that doesn't mean that you still can't take advantage.
In the week or even two weeks that follow February 14th, shops need to dispose of the numerous articles that they have purchased in 'honor' of the occasion (more plainly put, in order to make money off of what has become an almost entirely commercial holiday). These are not just thrown in the trash without a second's thought. No. These go on sale. And it is with those sales that we can have a little fun.
Buy the huge boxes of heart-shaped cookies and Mon Cherry chocolates. (All of the chocolates, for that matter.) Even buy the pink and red paper decorations if they're selling for what's in your change purse. Then get together some girlfriends with vodka and cranberry juice (to make pink cocktails, you see), throw in some Maraschino cherries and voilà! An evening deliberately making a mockery of commercial madness.
If you feel like hot chocolate with whipped cream, it goes very nicely with the occasion. You might even try making a chocolate fondue out of differently filled truffles (trust me, this is truly delicious).
Otherwise, mix sweets with alcohol with cocktails involving whipped cream and caramel syrup. I believe chocolate liqueur even exists... (I can't be sure, so don't resent me if you find its existence to be an urban myth.)
{You can easily replace all of the aforementioned beverages with red wine if you want to be a touch more classy. It's perfectly appropriate as well, obviously.}
If you would rather not share your criticism, simply take advantage of the chocolate while enjoying your favorite guilty-pleasure movie. (The alcohol or hot chocolate can work here, too).
For those happily-coupled women, don't take this the wrong way. We don't ridicule you, we simply envy you occasionally, while nonetheless wishing you all the very best. (Though I have heard a couple of married friends say that they would love to be single again just to spend Valentine's Day at one of my famous chocolate and Rafaello with Bridget Jones movies evenings.)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
La Girly Attitude
Bonjour mes chères!
I hope you've all been having a fabulous January. Mine has been a little stressful, but I've been dealing with it, as we all must.
On a more cheerful note, I have a good topic to talk to you about today, one that comes from a behavior pattern that I noticed about myself.
La fille philosophie
You all know the gestures and habits characteristic to us ladies. The trick is turning them into a style.
A ribbon in the hair (but not a bright shade of pink, I beg of you!) can nicely set off any outfit.
The color pink (as long as it isn't too fluorescent) can perk up your spirits in the morning and during the rest of the day.
Otherwise, there are the old girl power classic music pieces - Aretha Franklin, Janice Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, etcetera. Again, a fabulous spirit booster.
With an iPod full of songs like this goes a couple of satisfyingly indulgent magazines - Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Elle. They're not exactly the haute-chic bible (otherwise said, Vogue) but they're more than capable of feeding a woman's glossy and compulsive desires.
Why not take it all the way and have a cocktail evening with some girlfriends. Caramel liqueur, anything involving whipped cream, and apple or cranberry martinis should make up part of the menu. The presence of champagne is mandatory.
In fact, why not just make these for yourself during an evening at home? They taste even better when you're lying among scented bubbles in your bathtub with a couple of even more scented candles. Spend as much time as you can pampering yourself, and I guarantee that your confidence will be incredibly improved by the time you're done.
While on the theme of toilette, smother yourself in body lotion before going to sleep and using potent, perfume-scented shower gel. This makes your skin feel smooth and pampered. Even buy some of that discreetly sparkling powder that comes in a box with the giant puff. (Let's admit it - we've all always wanted to have one of those.) If you add some particularly exquisite lingerie, you'll go through the day feeling light and sexy. (There is a possibility that it will effect your behavior.)
As for dessert, let your sweet-tooth choose for you. Anything with chocolate, strawberries and whipped cream (aphrodisiacs selfishly kept for yourself).
Softer and chewy meringues are amazing, too. (Just whip two egg-whites until stiff, then add 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar and maybe a couple of drops of lemon juice or vanilla extract. Take a tablespoon and drop two-inch-diameter blobs of the stuff onto an aluminum sheet. Bake for about an hour at 210 degrees.) These actually don't have too many calories, so they are to be eaten without moderation, preferably in the company of rosé champagne and little caramels.
Finally, a movie or two can be thrown in for good measure one night, either on your own or with some friends. Ty for our old favorites: in the cabaret theme, we have Liza Minelli's Cabaret, Moulin Rouge! with Nicole Kidman and of course Marilyn's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Otherwise, allow yourself a romantic comedy or tragedy - any of those guilty pleasure things that we love so much. After that, you can have a good night's sleep with a silky or fluffy pillow.
Trust me, this attitude is almost as effective as retail therapy. Perhaps not the most classy of vocations, but fun for about a week or so.
Enjoy, everyone!
I hope you've all been having a fabulous January. Mine has been a little stressful, but I've been dealing with it, as we all must.
On a more cheerful note, I have a good topic to talk to you about today, one that comes from a behavior pattern that I noticed about myself.
La fille philosophie
You all know the gestures and habits characteristic to us ladies. The trick is turning them into a style.
A ribbon in the hair (but not a bright shade of pink, I beg of you!) can nicely set off any outfit.
The color pink (as long as it isn't too fluorescent) can perk up your spirits in the morning and during the rest of the day.
Otherwise, there are the old girl power classic music pieces - Aretha Franklin, Janice Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, etcetera. Again, a fabulous spirit booster.
With an iPod full of songs like this goes a couple of satisfyingly indulgent magazines - Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Elle. They're not exactly the haute-chic bible (otherwise said, Vogue) but they're more than capable of feeding a woman's glossy and compulsive desires.
Why not take it all the way and have a cocktail evening with some girlfriends. Caramel liqueur, anything involving whipped cream, and apple or cranberry martinis should make up part of the menu. The presence of champagne is mandatory.
In fact, why not just make these for yourself during an evening at home? They taste even better when you're lying among scented bubbles in your bathtub with a couple of even more scented candles. Spend as much time as you can pampering yourself, and I guarantee that your confidence will be incredibly improved by the time you're done.
While on the theme of toilette, smother yourself in body lotion before going to sleep and using potent, perfume-scented shower gel. This makes your skin feel smooth and pampered. Even buy some of that discreetly sparkling powder that comes in a box with the giant puff. (Let's admit it - we've all always wanted to have one of those.) If you add some particularly exquisite lingerie, you'll go through the day feeling light and sexy. (There is a possibility that it will effect your behavior.)
As for dessert, let your sweet-tooth choose for you. Anything with chocolate, strawberries and whipped cream (aphrodisiacs selfishly kept for yourself).
Softer and chewy meringues are amazing, too. (Just whip two egg-whites until stiff, then add 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar and maybe a couple of drops of lemon juice or vanilla extract. Take a tablespoon and drop two-inch-diameter blobs of the stuff onto an aluminum sheet. Bake for about an hour at 210 degrees.) These actually don't have too many calories, so they are to be eaten without moderation, preferably in the company of rosé champagne and little caramels.
Finally, a movie or two can be thrown in for good measure one night, either on your own or with some friends. Ty for our old favorites: in the cabaret theme, we have Liza Minelli's Cabaret, Moulin Rouge! with Nicole Kidman and of course Marilyn's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Otherwise, allow yourself a romantic comedy or tragedy - any of those guilty pleasure things that we love so much. After that, you can have a good night's sleep with a silky or fluffy pillow.
Trust me, this attitude is almost as effective as retail therapy. Perhaps not the most classy of vocations, but fun for about a week or so.
Enjoy, everyone!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Now that it's 2010
Bonjour, mes amies.
I hope you all had a fabulous New Year's like I did.
And I'm sure that you, like me, between all of the kissing and hugging that went on around midnight, began to think of your resolutions.
Resolutions normally include things like doing better at work, quitting smoking, or losing weight. The most important thing to remember when setting goals for yourself is not to be unreasonable. If you know that you're incapable of pushing yourself more than you already do, then just don't try.
Also, once you make a resolution, stick to it, instead of doing what we all do time and time again and letting the idea be postponed until it gradually fades to the back of your mind.
As far as work is concerned, the first thing to do is to show that you're eager to progress and/or enthusiastic about what you're doing. Superiors always appreciate this, sometimes even more than the actual results. (Though you should definitely be prepared to commit a larger amount of time to your work if you're lagging behind in any way.)
On the subject of weight, we all know that the holidays leave their mark not only in presents and left-over glitter, but in the extra bits around a woman's waist and thighs. How are you supposed to flaunt the sexy new clothes you got for Christmas with the dinner showing itself more than the cut?
I'll tell you how: discipline. I know we hate to hear this, but January is the time to be ruthless. Say goodbye to the easy diet habits that we entertain in the spring, gradually leading up to bikini season. Holiday weight needs to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible, lest it linger until Valentine's Day and further. It's time for rigorous after-work exercise, minimal eating, and the adoption of diet plans such as David Kirsch's "Ultimate New York Diet". This may seem severe for us, but (obviously depending on the person) the holiday pounds are more than little fluxtuations of our weight level. It's time for war! (Loving your body all the while, of course - if it complains, remind it that you still love it and that you're doing what you're doing for it's own good.)
Otherwise, January is a time to refresh your morale and habits, and generally take a new outlook on life.
Enjoy your January everyone! It holds promise for each and every one of you.
I hope you all had a fabulous New Year's like I did.
And I'm sure that you, like me, between all of the kissing and hugging that went on around midnight, began to think of your resolutions.
Resolutions normally include things like doing better at work, quitting smoking, or losing weight. The most important thing to remember when setting goals for yourself is not to be unreasonable. If you know that you're incapable of pushing yourself more than you already do, then just don't try.
Also, once you make a resolution, stick to it, instead of doing what we all do time and time again and letting the idea be postponed until it gradually fades to the back of your mind.
As far as work is concerned, the first thing to do is to show that you're eager to progress and/or enthusiastic about what you're doing. Superiors always appreciate this, sometimes even more than the actual results. (Though you should definitely be prepared to commit a larger amount of time to your work if you're lagging behind in any way.)
On the subject of weight, we all know that the holidays leave their mark not only in presents and left-over glitter, but in the extra bits around a woman's waist and thighs. How are you supposed to flaunt the sexy new clothes you got for Christmas with the dinner showing itself more than the cut?
I'll tell you how: discipline. I know we hate to hear this, but January is the time to be ruthless. Say goodbye to the easy diet habits that we entertain in the spring, gradually leading up to bikini season. Holiday weight needs to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible, lest it linger until Valentine's Day and further. It's time for rigorous after-work exercise, minimal eating, and the adoption of diet plans such as David Kirsch's "Ultimate New York Diet". This may seem severe for us, but (obviously depending on the person) the holiday pounds are more than little fluxtuations of our weight level. It's time for war! (Loving your body all the while, of course - if it complains, remind it that you still love it and that you're doing what you're doing for it's own good.)
Otherwise, January is a time to refresh your morale and habits, and generally take a new outlook on life.
Enjoy your January everyone! It holds promise for each and every one of you.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Madeleines, as promised
These delicate French pastries are both insanely easy to make (which you do not have to disclose to the public) and unbelievably delicious (which the public will see for themselves).
Essential recipe:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (or 180 degrees C).
*Butter small Madeleine moulds (about 1inch or 3cm long).
*Melt:
-1 cup (or 100g) butter
*Once melted, remove the white clouding that has risen.
*Set aside and let cool.
*Heat à bain marie (meaning in a pot over boiling water):
-2 eggs
-1 cup (or 100g) granulated sugar (either white, brown, or a combination of the two)
*Whisk this vigorously and continually until lukewarm.
*Remove from fire and cool it by whisking it in small, short strokes until it has a light consistency.
*Sift gradually into the egg-and-sugar mixture:
-1 cup (or 100g) flour
*Stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth.
*Add the cooled and cleared melted butter.
*Add:
-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
*Stir for two or three minutes.
--The mixture should be thick and heavy by this time: about halfway between the consistency of cake batter and that of cookie dough.
*Take a teaspoon and fill each individual mould about 3/4 of the way full. (You may use either your finger or another teaspoon to help remove the batter from the utensil.)
*Bake 8 minutes. (Do not bake any longer than this - they may seem a little undercooked, but they harden upon being removed from the oven.)
*Let cool a full 15 minutes before removing from the moulds.
Possible additions:
-Add a tablespoon of cognac (or any other similar liqueur - possibly flavored by fruit) to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add two tablespoons of hone to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add a teaspoon of lemon zest and a tablespoon of lemon or orange juice to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Combine (or replace) the vanilla with coconut extract and garnish each cookie with coconut shavings before baking.
-Put chocolate chips in the center of each Madeleine before baking.
-Glaze with caramelized sugar or honey glaze (these are relatively easy to make, you simply boil equal portions of honey and water or sugar and water) once cooled.
-Dribble melted chocolate over the Madeleines as soon as they come out of the oven.
-Create a sort of miniature profiterole by removing a little from the center of the cooked Madeleine while it is still hot and filling it with vanilla custard.
-Replace the vanilla custard of the profiterole procedure with sweetened chesnut purée, or possibly banana purée, if it is to your taste.
--There are countless other editions of Madeleines that can be tried. (Each try is not always successful, but even our mistakes can taste good from time to time upon the occasion of a baking session between friends on a girls' night.) If you find anything particularly spectacular, please let me know!
Serving:
For a dinner, I would advise serving these five to a plate with a side of fresh fruit and a garnish of whipped cream.
For a party, it can be a good idea at parties to make several kinds of Madeleines according to the varying tastes of your guests, and to set them out on separate trays next to each other for tasting.
Enjoy, ladies.
(We all know that the greatest weakness of our sex lies in desserts, so indulge yourselves!)
Essential recipe:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (or 180 degrees C).
*Butter small Madeleine moulds (about 1inch or 3cm long).
*Melt:
-1 cup (or 100g) butter
*Once melted, remove the white clouding that has risen.
*Set aside and let cool.
*Heat à bain marie (meaning in a pot over boiling water):
-2 eggs
-1 cup (or 100g) granulated sugar (either white, brown, or a combination of the two)
*Whisk this vigorously and continually until lukewarm.
*Remove from fire and cool it by whisking it in small, short strokes until it has a light consistency.
*Sift gradually into the egg-and-sugar mixture:
-1 cup (or 100g) flour
*Stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth.
*Add the cooled and cleared melted butter.
*Add:
-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
*Stir for two or three minutes.
--The mixture should be thick and heavy by this time: about halfway between the consistency of cake batter and that of cookie dough.
*Take a teaspoon and fill each individual mould about 3/4 of the way full. (You may use either your finger or another teaspoon to help remove the batter from the utensil.)
*Bake 8 minutes. (Do not bake any longer than this - they may seem a little undercooked, but they harden upon being removed from the oven.)
*Let cool a full 15 minutes before removing from the moulds.
Possible additions:
-Add a tablespoon of cognac (or any other similar liqueur - possibly flavored by fruit) to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add two tablespoons of hone to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add a teaspoon of lemon zest and a tablespoon of lemon or orange juice to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Combine (or replace) the vanilla with coconut extract and garnish each cookie with coconut shavings before baking.
-Put chocolate chips in the center of each Madeleine before baking.
-Glaze with caramelized sugar or honey glaze (these are relatively easy to make, you simply boil equal portions of honey and water or sugar and water) once cooled.
-Dribble melted chocolate over the Madeleines as soon as they come out of the oven.
-Create a sort of miniature profiterole by removing a little from the center of the cooked Madeleine while it is still hot and filling it with vanilla custard.
-Replace the vanilla custard of the profiterole procedure with sweetened chesnut purée, or possibly banana purée, if it is to your taste.
--There are countless other editions of Madeleines that can be tried. (Each try is not always successful, but even our mistakes can taste good from time to time upon the occasion of a baking session between friends on a girls' night.) If you find anything particularly spectacular, please let me know!
Serving:
For a dinner, I would advise serving these five to a plate with a side of fresh fruit and a garnish of whipped cream.
For a party, it can be a good idea at parties to make several kinds of Madeleines according to the varying tastes of your guests, and to set them out on separate trays next to each other for tasting.
Enjoy, ladies.
(We all know that the greatest weakness of our sex lies in desserts, so indulge yourselves!)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Champagne and other such things
Hello again, darlings!
As promised, I've prepared some New Year's tips for you. There are so many things that can get you off on a great start for 2010, but doing it in style is the best one.
The ideal thing to do is to have a get-together at your own residence - that way you can arrange everything the way you like it.
Sustenance
Champagne is, of course, a given, but (contrary to popular belief) it alone cannot sustain you all through an evening.
Our ambrosia... White wine should be in supply in your fridge, and red in your pantry. (Place the white in an ice-bucket with a cloth around the neck when you put it on the table, and put the red in a wide pitcher to air it out.) And I suggest having various other types of alcohol set out on a relatively large table.
A word of advice: never doubt the well proved theory of human weakness: fast-flowing liqueur keeps the people happy.
By the way: do not use plastic cups - it's tacky and that will never change. Nice, simple glasses can be bought for cheap sums at any supermarket, and there's no need to publicize the fact that they aren't from the most fabulous designer in the department store. (However, if you can afford this, it's a very good investment.)
Hint: create a nice starting configuration with them, such as organizing them in a triangle. Better still, create several triangles with the different types of glasses. (After all, you don't expect your guests to use the same glass for Bordeaux and Perrier!)
A manger...
For a large number of people, it can be difficult (and expensive) to pull together a good sit-down dinner. Now, my policy is if you can't do it well, don't do it at all. What you can to is the classic chic technique: have a stand-up, socializing prioritized party with lots of hors d'oeuvres on platters floating around the place.
What to have: start off by banning party-mix and any other things bought in the super-size section of the supermarket. It's horribly gauche, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the etiquette of taste. However, some oven-reheatable nibbles can be acceptable, depending on their manufacturing. Bakery-bought are usually the best for pastries, unless you have remarkable skill as a cook. Otherwise, have lots of little toasts with various toppings like tarama, caviar, pate, etc. These will be fun to taste and exude a certain delicacy. (Spring for foie-gras if you have a good source near at hand, and garnish it with fig slices.) Some fresh vegetables in bowls or artfully arranged on a plate can be nice, too, with some sort of spicy dip. (However, avoid the classic chips-and-salsa idea.)
As for us ladies' favorite part of the evening... Dessert is always the most fun. Re-work the vegetable idea with fruit by creating little toothpick-sized treats with several layers of different fruit and possibly some sort of glaze. Otherwise, try having little cakes, either bakery-bought or self-made. (The best possible recommendation I can give you is to make several variations of Madeleines - the recipe is in the next article.)
Also: put a nice tablecloth or piece of simple fabric on the table to create a nice setting for the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (Unless, of course, you have such a beautifully designed table that it deserves to be displayed to all of the guests.) Have such tables at different points in the house, that was people can circulate.
The big moment
As the countdown (coming from whatever source, be it the television, the radio, or your own watches) nears its end, and everyone is yelling out numbers in the mounting atmosphere, one often has an urge to jump up and down from excitement. By all means, don't prevent yourselves from doing so! The sight of their hostess letting her hair down (often after evenings filled with admonishments concerning the insufficient use of coasters on the coffee table) is one of the the most delightful things your guests can witness.
The moment... Be free with your hugs, kisses and champagne. Show affection to everyone and show them that you're glad that they came. (Unless, of course, you're deliberately snubbing someone, in which case it would be a perfect occasion to show it, but you don't usually want to start off your New Year that way, so refrain from using this tactic as far as possible.) Otherwise, it's the ideal time to share a kiss with a specific person, if you'll pardon the cliché.
The glasses... Have the appropriate glasses ready on a table to the side about a quarter of an hour before midnight. That way, when the one-minute-to-go countdown starts, you can indicate to your guests that they should take their glasses. Have the champagne at a spot conveniently situated near yourself, so that as soon as the flurry of kissing is over, you can pop the cork and start pouring. (Don't hesitate to dramatize this gesture. Do it with the flair that it deserves.)
The content of the glasses... The champagne, though it doesn't have to be the best of quality, should be sufficiently good so as to impress your guests, and should above all be saved for the specific moment in the evening where it is appropriate. A variety might also be nice - have both classical and rosé, if you and/or your guests tend to enjoy both, otherwise stick to conformity and buy several bottles of the same champagne. Otherwise, it's sometimes fun to have a tasting game - buy various bottles from different countries and vineyards and pass them around at different intervals after midnight. But always, always, keep it all on ice. Lukewarm champagne is one of the most awful things that can happen to you.
Music
To put it simply, this really depends on you and what kind of atmosphere you want.
Jazz is usually the best way to go - you can start off with something upbeat like 'Take Five' or 'In the Mood' while people are arriving (this sets the mood) and then continue with something softer (like Billie Holiday) throughout the evening. (Variations and fluctuations in the type of music are always nice.)
Otherwise, for a refined formal event, classical rarely misses, but avoid anything too heavy - stick to things like Mozart and Schubert.
For dancing, salsa is a sure crowd-pleaser. Something up-beat and giving off a vintage-record aura can also help - for this effect, try Aretha Franklin or even Michael Jackson (the latter would make an appropriate homage to the events of 2009).
What to wear
This is, despite the usual complications of the wardrobe department, actually the simplest part of the evening.
For a formal event: black high heels with either a black or red cocktail dress - if long-sleeved then with a little black sweater or white wrap. As far as makeup and jewelry are concerned, as dramatic as can be. Dark eyes, red lips, and dangling earrings. Play up the '20s look that has been so popular this season to its fullest extent. Don't hide yourself behind a natural look - take advantage of the new year to look your best!
For a more casual evening: black or dark blue jeans jeans or simple little skirt, black flats and a red or white simple top. You might still want to play on the makeup drama (in lesser measures than for a formal occasion, of course) in honor of the New Year.
(I would consider it a personal favor if you would avoid large, gaudy and demonstrative sweaters screaming 2010. Party hats bearing the same message can be quite cute and amusing among friends, but as an acknowledged joke rather than a main dress statement.)
The morning after
Without a doubt the most unpleasant part of the proceedings, but you can easily soften it.
Cleaning up your house... As far as this is concerned, do as much as you can before falling into bed in a happy blur of champagne bubbles and vodka. You will wake up the next morning with a headache, a hangover, and a desire to stay in bed, so the more you finish before getting there, the better. (In fact, finishing everything would be ideal, even though your festivities are likely to extend into the early hours of the morning.) To make this easier for yourself, try straightening up little by little (especially in the kitchen) throughout the evening. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
Cleaning up yourself... I strongly suggest taking off your makeup before collapsing into bed. Otherwise, you'll be sure to wake up with raccoon/panda eyes and lipstick spears all over your pillow. The next day, you may want to spend a long, luxurious day on your own. Have a long soak in the bath, put on a face-mask and leave your conditioner in all day, watch a movie... For this, make sure that you have enough food (basics like fresh bread, soup and the like) and especially an inexhaustable supply of coffee, milk, sugar and asprin.
In case of a differing situation...
If you're invited to celebrate somewhere else: bring yourself, along with your fabulous dessert, champagne and appearance, over to said occasion if it's at a friend's house. If it's an event taking place in a public place with the help of a caterer, just bring yourself, your little black dress, and your jewels.
If you're enjoying a more peaceful evening with your family: keep the same principle as you would with your friends, but simply add some more child-friendly food (if children are to be present) and perhaps arrange to all sit around a table at some point in the evening for a toast.
Voilà, mes amies! Happy New Year to you all!
PS-Remember that it is not in the least unheard of to give presents for New Year's, especially if your Christmas gifts to a certain person were less than satisfactory.
As promised, I've prepared some New Year's tips for you. There are so many things that can get you off on a great start for 2010, but doing it in style is the best one.
The ideal thing to do is to have a get-together at your own residence - that way you can arrange everything the way you like it.
Sustenance
Champagne is, of course, a given, but (contrary to popular belief) it alone cannot sustain you all through an evening.
Our ambrosia... White wine should be in supply in your fridge, and red in your pantry. (Place the white in an ice-bucket with a cloth around the neck when you put it on the table, and put the red in a wide pitcher to air it out.) And I suggest having various other types of alcohol set out on a relatively large table.
A word of advice: never doubt the well proved theory of human weakness: fast-flowing liqueur keeps the people happy.
By the way: do not use plastic cups - it's tacky and that will never change. Nice, simple glasses can be bought for cheap sums at any supermarket, and there's no need to publicize the fact that they aren't from the most fabulous designer in the department store. (However, if you can afford this, it's a very good investment.)
Hint: create a nice starting configuration with them, such as organizing them in a triangle. Better still, create several triangles with the different types of glasses. (After all, you don't expect your guests to use the same glass for Bordeaux and Perrier!)
A manger...
For a large number of people, it can be difficult (and expensive) to pull together a good sit-down dinner. Now, my policy is if you can't do it well, don't do it at all. What you can to is the classic chic technique: have a stand-up, socializing prioritized party with lots of hors d'oeuvres on platters floating around the place.
What to have: start off by banning party-mix and any other things bought in the super-size section of the supermarket. It's horribly gauche, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the etiquette of taste. However, some oven-reheatable nibbles can be acceptable, depending on their manufacturing. Bakery-bought are usually the best for pastries, unless you have remarkable skill as a cook. Otherwise, have lots of little toasts with various toppings like tarama, caviar, pate, etc. These will be fun to taste and exude a certain delicacy. (Spring for foie-gras if you have a good source near at hand, and garnish it with fig slices.) Some fresh vegetables in bowls or artfully arranged on a plate can be nice, too, with some sort of spicy dip. (However, avoid the classic chips-and-salsa idea.)
As for us ladies' favorite part of the evening... Dessert is always the most fun. Re-work the vegetable idea with fruit by creating little toothpick-sized treats with several layers of different fruit and possibly some sort of glaze. Otherwise, try having little cakes, either bakery-bought or self-made. (The best possible recommendation I can give you is to make several variations of Madeleines - the recipe is in the next article.)
Also: put a nice tablecloth or piece of simple fabric on the table to create a nice setting for the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (Unless, of course, you have such a beautifully designed table that it deserves to be displayed to all of the guests.) Have such tables at different points in the house, that was people can circulate.
The big moment
As the countdown (coming from whatever source, be it the television, the radio, or your own watches) nears its end, and everyone is yelling out numbers in the mounting atmosphere, one often has an urge to jump up and down from excitement. By all means, don't prevent yourselves from doing so! The sight of their hostess letting her hair down (often after evenings filled with admonishments concerning the insufficient use of coasters on the coffee table) is one of the the most delightful things your guests can witness.
The moment... Be free with your hugs, kisses and champagne. Show affection to everyone and show them that you're glad that they came. (Unless, of course, you're deliberately snubbing someone, in which case it would be a perfect occasion to show it, but you don't usually want to start off your New Year that way, so refrain from using this tactic as far as possible.) Otherwise, it's the ideal time to share a kiss with a specific person, if you'll pardon the cliché.
The glasses... Have the appropriate glasses ready on a table to the side about a quarter of an hour before midnight. That way, when the one-minute-to-go countdown starts, you can indicate to your guests that they should take their glasses. Have the champagne at a spot conveniently situated near yourself, so that as soon as the flurry of kissing is over, you can pop the cork and start pouring. (Don't hesitate to dramatize this gesture. Do it with the flair that it deserves.)
The content of the glasses... The champagne, though it doesn't have to be the best of quality, should be sufficiently good so as to impress your guests, and should above all be saved for the specific moment in the evening where it is appropriate. A variety might also be nice - have both classical and rosé, if you and/or your guests tend to enjoy both, otherwise stick to conformity and buy several bottles of the same champagne. Otherwise, it's sometimes fun to have a tasting game - buy various bottles from different countries and vineyards and pass them around at different intervals after midnight. But always, always, keep it all on ice. Lukewarm champagne is one of the most awful things that can happen to you.
Music
To put it simply, this really depends on you and what kind of atmosphere you want.
Jazz is usually the best way to go - you can start off with something upbeat like 'Take Five' or 'In the Mood' while people are arriving (this sets the mood) and then continue with something softer (like Billie Holiday) throughout the evening. (Variations and fluctuations in the type of music are always nice.)
Otherwise, for a refined formal event, classical rarely misses, but avoid anything too heavy - stick to things like Mozart and Schubert.
For dancing, salsa is a sure crowd-pleaser. Something up-beat and giving off a vintage-record aura can also help - for this effect, try Aretha Franklin or even Michael Jackson (the latter would make an appropriate homage to the events of 2009).
What to wear
This is, despite the usual complications of the wardrobe department, actually the simplest part of the evening.
For a formal event: black high heels with either a black or red cocktail dress - if long-sleeved then with a little black sweater or white wrap. As far as makeup and jewelry are concerned, as dramatic as can be. Dark eyes, red lips, and dangling earrings. Play up the '20s look that has been so popular this season to its fullest extent. Don't hide yourself behind a natural look - take advantage of the new year to look your best!
For a more casual evening: black or dark blue jeans jeans or simple little skirt, black flats and a red or white simple top. You might still want to play on the makeup drama (in lesser measures than for a formal occasion, of course) in honor of the New Year.
(I would consider it a personal favor if you would avoid large, gaudy and demonstrative sweaters screaming 2010. Party hats bearing the same message can be quite cute and amusing among friends, but as an acknowledged joke rather than a main dress statement.)
The morning after
Without a doubt the most unpleasant part of the proceedings, but you can easily soften it.
Cleaning up your house... As far as this is concerned, do as much as you can before falling into bed in a happy blur of champagne bubbles and vodka. You will wake up the next morning with a headache, a hangover, and a desire to stay in bed, so the more you finish before getting there, the better. (In fact, finishing everything would be ideal, even though your festivities are likely to extend into the early hours of the morning.) To make this easier for yourself, try straightening up little by little (especially in the kitchen) throughout the evening. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
Cleaning up yourself... I strongly suggest taking off your makeup before collapsing into bed. Otherwise, you'll be sure to wake up with raccoon/panda eyes and lipstick spears all over your pillow. The next day, you may want to spend a long, luxurious day on your own. Have a long soak in the bath, put on a face-mask and leave your conditioner in all day, watch a movie... For this, make sure that you have enough food (basics like fresh bread, soup and the like) and especially an inexhaustable supply of coffee, milk, sugar and asprin.
In case of a differing situation...
If you're invited to celebrate somewhere else: bring yourself, along with your fabulous dessert, champagne and appearance, over to said occasion if it's at a friend's house. If it's an event taking place in a public place with the help of a caterer, just bring yourself, your little black dress, and your jewels.
If you're enjoying a more peaceful evening with your family: keep the same principle as you would with your friends, but simply add some more child-friendly food (if children are to be present) and perhaps arrange to all sit around a table at some point in the evening for a toast.
Voilà, mes amies! Happy New Year to you all!
PS-Remember that it is not in the least unheard of to give presents for New Year's, especially if your Christmas gifts to a certain person were less than satisfactory.
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