I was just at a kids birthday party where the highlight was not being in a hotel ballroom transformed into Disneyland (more on that in another blog), nor the quality of the entertainers or goody bags, but of warm home-made sweet madeleines made by the french dad and his daughter. Where do french women find husbands like that? Since I couldn’t change husbands, you see I am quite attached to mine, I asked him for the recipe and how long it took to make them. He replied breezily ‘I just looked ze recipe up on ze internet and it took me 20 minutes to make. 10 minutes to mix and 10 minutes in the oven’. That’s what I call very good foreplay. So for those women who want to impress at the school bake sale with something slightly more sophisticated than brownies and chocolate chip cookies, try this recipe. Or find yourself a sexy French man who will make them for you.
Madeleines
by Michel Roux Jr.
Ingredients
- 2 free-range eggs
- 100g/3½oz caster sugar
- 100g/3½oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- 100g/3½oz butter, melted and cooled slightly, plus extra for greasing
Preparation method
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Brush the madeleine tray with melted butter then shake in a little flour to coat, tapping out the excess.
- Whisk together the eggs and the sugar in a bowl until frothy. Lightly whisk in the remaining ingredients. Leave to stand for 20 minutes before carefully pouring into the prepared madeleine tray.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture has risen a little in the middle and is fully cooked through. Transfer the madeleines to a wire rack and leave for a few minutes to cool slightly. These are best eaten within an hour of cooking.
NOTTING HILL MUMMY 