Proust, Madeleines...and Me

Well, it's gotten so I am pretty much really looking forward to my Tuesdays with Dorie Baking sessions. This week the chosen recipe was classic Madeleines...Mmmm. Butter, a hint of lemon, nothing fussy. Right up my ally. Of course, the variations Dorie names look pretty enticing, too: Earl Grey, Lavender, Rosemary/orange, spiced and FLUFF FILLED CHOCOLATE MADELEINES...Sorry, did I yell that? Dorie likens it to a Hostess cupcake, and while that may be a stretch (no disprespect to Hostess, just more kudos to Dorie for being modest), I think that may be an interim experiment. Who knew? All of a sudden, I am a baker.

Once again, the recipe is simple, ingredients happen to be things I actually have in my cupboard. No special trips needed, not even for the pan, if you can believe it. Florida Table did a pumpkin Madeleine last fall and I bought (and didn't expense, in case anyone from the magazine is reading!) a silicone Madeleine pan...(mine is not quite this one, but you get the idea)...my only piece of silicone..I'd say it came in handy in this case because of the ease with which the mads fell out of the pan...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

First, the simple ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, lemon zest, eggs, vanilla and melted butter.



Whisk, mix, then this difficult instruction: let it sit for at least three hours. Mine sat overnight, so bright and early Sunday morning, I was baking. Isn't my family special?












You can see I was a bit zealous filling one or two of the molds, but mostly it was all good.












This photo shows that mound that Dorie says is what all those hours resting in the fridge do for the batter....


My pan is for eight. The recipe is for 12. What is up with that??? But it was the easiest thing in the world to give them a gentle push and to pop them out of the pan.





Mmmm. Mounds of Madeleines. Four went to my friend's son, Michael, who likes Madeleines above all else. I hope you liked these better than that famous coffee house's mads, you know the place, it starts with an S and ends with bucks...Say these were better, Michael, or no more baked goods come your way!!!

Mmm. Proust, Madeleines and me...now where is that copy of Proust I had lying around here? Oh, forget it. Just me and my Madeleines...