A few weeks ago, a wonderful patron gave me a present. It was a basket. Inside there was a mysterious box.
I opened the box and I came face to face with these lovely macaroons. It was one of the most rewarding presents I have ever received.
That box was a treasure chest full of edible jewels. I ate one. It was caramel with sea salt and it was unbelievably delicious.
I saved the rest to share with my daughter. After work, I picked up my daughter and showed her the box.
" Macaroooooooons." she screamed.
So, while driving home, we ooohed and aahed and we ate one macaroon after the other.
We ate the entire box in just a few minutes with the exception of one macaroon with red topping.
We thought it was red velvet and my daughter wanted to save it for last.
Then my daughter bit into it. " Oh, mom, it is hot."
The last macaroon was covered with chili powder. We laughed and giggled about it all the way home.
By the way, those macaroons were from a local shop called Bon Mange in Stockton at 2819 W. March Lane, Suite A8. Tel 209-910-0505.
Since the Holiday season is right around the corner, how about checking out some French cookbooks to spice up your holiday table.
You can find these books at your local Library at no cost:
Simple French cookery : step by step to everyone's favourite French recipes
The little Paris kitchen : 120 simple but classic French recipes
My French kitchen : a book of 120 treasured recipes
Signing off until next Monday- Panteha
Three years ago, my daughter and I ventured to Paris for a week. On one cold November morning, we walked for more than an hour from our hotel to Notre Dame.
By the time we walked around that old church and climbed numerous spiral stairs to meet the gargoyles, we were famished.
So, we bought two Croque Monsieur from a nearby coffee shop.
That sandwich was really delicious. I wanted to replicate that sandwich ever since.
But somehow, I never found the time to make a legitimate Croque Monsieur.
The other day, I was leafing through this new book by David Lebovitz called: "My Paris kitchen: recipes and stories " and all of a sudden, I came across the Croque Monsieur recipe.
My friends, the time to make this French Yumminess had arrived.
To be honest, Croque Monsieur is just a fancy Grilled Ham and Cheese for the lack of better word. However, it is a very delicious Grilled ham and cheese and it has a Bechamel sauce on it as well.
The recipe from the book sounds pretty easy and it doesn't require that many ingredients. Just Dry-cured ham, Gruyere cheese, butter, flour, sliced bread and milk.
The first step is to make a Bechamel sauce to brush on the sliced breads before assembling the sandwich and broiling it.
Yesterday morning, I went to buy the three main ingredients. I went to Panera to pick up a fresh French loaf for $8. Then, I went to Safeway to buy the Gruyere cheese and the cured ham. I was shocked by the price of the Gruyere cheese. Two small pieces of Gruyere cheese was $18. The Cured ham was almost $9.
Heaven, this is going to be a pricey dinner.
It took me 5 minutes to make the Bechamel sauce. The remaining ingredients were easy to assemble.
I was a bit disappointed that neither my husband nor my daughter were overly impressed by my Croque Monsieur. I confess, I didn't follow the broiling steps religiously. I was a bit impatient I guess.
Anyway, I am not giving up yet. I am going to work on my techniques until I get it as delicious as the one that I ate in Paris.
Just wish me luck!
So how many of you out there love the Croque Monsieur as much as I do?
Signing off until next Monday- Panteha
