SAY “OUI” TO PERFECT CROISSANTS

Hot Croissants
Back in France, so it’s time for something French… with a twist. Actually, I made these croissants a couple months ago, while still visiting the USA.  The twist is that I made them with whole wheat flour and they turned out just as flaky and buttery as the best croissant I’ve ever tasted. Yes!
I’ve [...]

THE STORY OF BREAD

Chestnut bread sings like a crackling fire fresh out of the oven
Think of the ancient Greeks, middle eastern peoples, the Jews, and the Egyptians as pioneers in the art of baking.  Later during the Dark Ages a thick slice of bread accompanied daily meals. Later still, Charlemagne proclaims, “Let the number of bakers be always [...]

ELDERBERRY EXPEDITION: PEAR-ELDERBERRY TARTELETTES & JAM

Washing our elderberries
Bastien gets around on bike, so he sees all kinds of things one doesn’t usually notice when riding in a car. A few months ago, he arrived talking about “sureau,” or elderberries, dangling like mini black grape vines from trees by the side of the road. On a quiet Saturday afternoon while the [...]

CROISSANTS & CHOCOLAT

For the last two years, I have greeted most mornings with fresh bread and pastries from an array of bakeries. Bastien and I had nicknames and favorite selections for each: “le pont” (the bridge, due to location next to a bridge), “chez les voisins” (the neighbors, our closest choice), “au boulevard de Fourmies,” (for the [...]