matcha almond white chocolate muffins

+ Matcha. I love matcha. I love matcha tea and matcha latte. I love matcha cream puffs from Sakura Cakes. I love matcha mochi from Shuei-Do Manju shop. I love the matcha langues de chats and the matcha gaufrettes my husband buys during business trips in Japan. Oh, ... and I'm totally addicted to matcha ice cream.

+ Almonds. I love almonds. [Especially toasted]. I love almond milk. [Especially homemade].

+ White chocolate. I love white chocolate. [Especially combined with matcha]. [Especially combined with matcha and almonds]. 

+ Muffins. I love muffins. Every kind. Savory. Sweet. [But especially sweet!]. 

cocoa/hazelnut/banana muffins

It's pouring. I need chocolate. 

hazelnut + carrot cupcakes

 

The last time I talked about Beatrice Peltre (author of the bog La Tartine Gourmande), it was on January 23th. Back then, I mentioned the fact that it was almost my birthday, hoping somebody would understand and offer me her new cookbook. Obviously my hint was not clear enough, because I did not receive it! So I'm giving it another try. After all, today it's Valentine's day, isn't it?

crustoli

Let's celebrate Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday by making - and especially by eating! - some "crustoli" (typical carnival-ish Italian sweets). Alike all carnival-ish treats around the world, the crustoli are..... fried! But they are not too sweet. They are not too greasy. They are not too filling. They are crispy. They are tasty. They are gooooood!!!!!!!

meyer lemon - 5. bars

For Edwige.

lemon poppy seeds muffins

It's here in California that I discovered the combination of lemon + poppy seeds in baked goods. And I loved it. Right away. And still do. A lot. Hmmmmm. So good. Yummy. Irresistible. Heaven. 

happy valentine's day

Nothing really new here. Just the pleasure to post for Valentine's day. These hearts are cut in this bread. Except it's the winter version: with dried cranberries and Californian walnuts instead of fresh blueberries. Happy Valentine's day!

les macarons de marion

This time you will not get the recipe. If these macaroons are truly homemade, they aren't homemade by me! I would have not been able to obtain this perfection! They look perfect. They taste perfect. They are perfect. Congratulations Marion!

Cougnou (Belgian Christmas Pastry)

Imagine my deception at my first Californian Xmas when I realized I wouldn't get my typical Belgian "cougnou"*. Unthinkable! So I started looking for a recipe to bake my own. I found one on Marmiton (in French) and another one here (still in French). My final recipe is a mix of those two. Every year in December I bake these pastries for my family... but also for our friends. Everybody loves them, especially the kids.  I enjoy sharing my pastries and my traditions with them.

* It tastes a little like a French "brioche", but less buttery. 

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

I received the book "Good to the Grain" by Kim Boyce in June. I really wanted that book. However I've never tried any of its recipes yet. I think I was intimidated. I wanted to pick the perfect recipe right away. Then the other day I've read a blog article about the whole wheat chocolate chip cookies from that book. I felt like I had to bake these cookies. So I did!

Buttermilk Mini Scones

For those of you who have taken the habit to make the american pancakes (here), and don't know what else to bake with leftover buttermilk, here is a good recipe. It's also fast and easy. What more do you want?

Le Brioscine di Cristina

Cristina and Giuseppe came over this Sunday for lunch. It's a pleasure to invite them:  they always bring tons of delicious homemade food to share with us! That day in addition to 2 succulent "focaccie alla genovese" (one with cherry tomatoes and another with onions) and some "frittelle di fiori di zucchini" coming straight out of the Farmer's Market, they brought these "brioscine" filled with apricot jam. They were still warm and so good... It was such a big success that I've baked them today as an afterschool snack. Half of the pan disappeared in less than 5 minutes. I had to freeze the rest to make sure that there will be some leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast.

Maple-glazed Nectarine and Almond Bread

Another recipe from the last Donna Hay Magazine (feb-march 2010). A base of the consistency of a sweet pizza/focaccia + a layer of  a melting almond crumble + a top of caramelized peaches. Ideal for picnics.

Homemade Yogurt (without a yogurt maker)

It has been a while since I have wanted to make my own yogurt. At first I looked at the various kinds of yogurt makers. I wasn't sure... It was not a good sign. Then I've learned that you can make it without a yogurt maker. Again I wasn't sure... Finally a friend of mine made it. Without a yogurt maker, I mean. She made me taste it: it was damn good. And here I am  making my own yogurt too. I can't believe it!

Kolaches

Here I am again, after a long and wonderful summer.... And with the end of the summer vacation comes back to school. And with the back to school come the homemade baked goods to enjoy right after the bell rings.  To start with: these "kolaches" filled with a homemade raspberry jam.

Whole Wheat Muffins

While I was preparing these muffins, I was doubtful. The batter was so dark (whole wheat flour+molasses) that I was wondering if they would turn out good ...The answer to my anguish came from my daughter Adele: she ate 2 muffins right from the oven and asked for a 3rd. 

Kara's Cupcakes

I didn't particularly like cupcakes, until I tasted Kara's. The only ones that I like so far. Maybe because they are so pretty. Who knows?

Cinnamon Rolls

When I arrived in the US, I could smell cinnamon everywhere. Back then, I was not particularly a big fan... Same thing - even worse - for Alberto and the girls. Four years later, I've found myself baking cinnamon rolls! For me, cinnamon rolls are often too greasy and sweet. So I've reduced the quantities of butter and sugar.  Eighteen cinnamon rolls disappeared in less than 24 hours: apparently I am not the only one in the family who has changed opinion about cinnamon....

Blueberry-Orange Bread

I've baked this blueberry-orange bread for the first time. It will become a classic. For sure. Like the banana bread. I really enjoy these "quick breads" as they call them here. Somewhere between a bread and a cake. What I really like about this one in particular is that it's sweet but not too sweet, moist but not too moist, and easy but so easy to do.....

Brownies

A friend of mine has just lent me the cookbook from Tartine,  another well known San Francisco Bakery&Cafe. She advised me that the brownies are the best ever. She is american so we can trust her 100%...