When your thirteen year old daughter greets you with a tray of beautifully made, honeyed madeleines when you come home from a weekend away and you realise that you have never, ever made madeleines in your life but have only read about them in Proust* and in a million mentions of Proust, you know that you have lost a great deal of time that could have been profitably and happily spent with madeleines and tisanes.
Today I made up for lost time and made a tray of madeleines using the recipe that Phoebe found on the internet. It contains egg whites, ground almonds, honey and lemon zest and I'm not sure it's terribly orthodox, but my goodness it makes wonderful madeleines that took me back, oh as far as the first time I ate the madeleines that Phoebe made. I can't believe I've got to this age before making them; surely they are something you should start making when you are young so that you never have to go in search of lost time?
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I have just looked for the recipe and discovered it's by Heston Blumenthal. I should have known Phoebe would go for quality. I urge you to make time to make some.
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Oh, I admit it. I've only ever read the bit about the madeleines in the work of Proust. I can't pretend I've read all the rest.
I've never even had a madeline - how sad is that?
Your 13 year old is truly her mother's daughter - well done!
My 11 year old is still in the boxed brownie mix baking stage. (also her mother's daughter!)
I'll have to show her these!
Posted by: valerie | June 11, 2009 at 19:35
You are so great, Jane Brocket! I love the photos of the cookies! Starbucks had some and I'm sure they were no way as yummy as yours! I'm inspired. I'm going to bake some sugar cookies and frost them, too. You're the best!
Posted by: Pom Pom | June 11, 2009 at 19:41
Set her on homemade macarons next, plz.
Posted by: Kat | June 11, 2009 at 19:43
I've never heard of madeleines but they look yummy!
Posted by: Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now | June 11, 2009 at 20:13
I've never made madeleines either. What a perfect excuse to shop for a new baking pan! Yours look beautiful.
Posted by: blackbird | June 11, 2009 at 20:15
That's the recipe I use as well - little drops of heaven! She's a clever girl!
Posted by: K | June 11, 2009 at 21:12
My Russian friend always serves Madeleines. Perhaps she too read the important bits of french literature! t.x
Posted by: kitschen pink | June 11, 2009 at 21:19
They look delicious, they are now on my must cook/try list!
Posted by: Julie | June 11, 2009 at 21:33
So that's what a madeleine looks like! I can almost smell them....
Posted by: Susan D | June 11, 2009 at 23:05
Yum - you are inspirational Phoebe - and thanks for the recipe link, a madeleine pan is now on my shopping list.
Posted by: catherine | June 12, 2009 at 00:19
I love that your daughter greeted you with these. Mine is also a baker...something I will so miss when she heads off to college in the fall.
Posted by: Darci | June 12, 2009 at 01:12
Great minds Jane, your Phoebe and me.
I am making madeleines today for the first time , we have too many eggs to cope with and a madeleine tray that has never been used.
Wish me luck.
Posted by: Jenny | June 12, 2009 at 01:52
That's about as far as I got with Proust as well - but I feel authorized enough to reference it in the same way - hahaa! They look beautiful. My husband is a huge fan of Heston Blumenthal, I will certainly give these madeleines a try...thanks!
Posted by: Andrea | June 12, 2009 at 02:39
This takes me back to living in Spain where my younger son and his father would eat "madelenas" for breakfast every day.
Posted by: LaurieG | June 12, 2009 at 03:12
Oh yum! Those look so seriously yummy...
Posted by: skeinsherway | June 12, 2009 at 03:40
Well...do store bought Madeleine's count? And I have done a ti sane of my own invention, dried lavender and dried raspberry leaves, its surprisingly good!
Posted by: Rebecca | June 12, 2009 at 06:51
But what a great mother you must be to have a daughter who greets you in that way.....
Posted by: Susan | June 12, 2009 at 10:06
I've made them before with a long lost recipe but will have to try this one. I would follow Heston to the ends of the earth!
Posted by: Carol | June 12, 2009 at 12:23
Oooh, those look and sound yummy.
My grandmother used to bake madeleines, sometimes in the traditonal shape, but sometimes in a shape that reminded me of a rowing boat (I'm fairly sure she used to refer to those as "barques").
I read the entire opus (in French!) in my (very pseudy) late teens but prefer the memories of gran'mere's baking to Proust...
Posted by: rosie | June 12, 2009 at 12:28
If you like food, you will LOVE Proust. You are missing something wonderful.
Posted by: knittingoutloud | June 12, 2009 at 12:55
I maintain Proust did it on purpose so that every time I eat a madeleine, I remember him. :)
Posted by: Phoe | June 12, 2009 at 13:18
Clotilde of the Chocolate and Zucchini blog turned me on to savory Madelines. There is a recipe in her cookbook for Walnut, Rosemary and Blue Cheese Madelines. I've made many versions (choose one of each - herb, nut, cheese) and they are huge hits as appetizers. Unique and easy to eat with one hand.
One thing to realize about making your own Madelines is that they aren't really "cookies" but tiny pound cakes. So anything that works as a dense cake can be adaped for a Madeline pan.
Posted by: East of Weston | June 12, 2009 at 15:43
I must admit I have never heard of 'Madelines' but will definitely give them a try....Thanks
And wow what a thoughtful daughter to bake them for you!
Posted by: Dawn | June 13, 2009 at 02:57
I share a birthday with an older woman who gave me a madeline pan for my 25th birthday (gack, almost 25 years ago!). This prompted a flurry of madeline making amongst my literary friends, which I forgot all about. Perhaps it is time to introduce the girl to this simple pleasure? We'll see if the rain holds up this week and the heat of the oven is needed.
Posted by: rosesmama | June 13, 2009 at 12:35
Thanks for the link to the great recipe!
Posted by: bd | June 15, 2009 at 02:53