Strange title I know. Let me explain: I have 6 nephews and nieces as well as 8 grand nephews and nieces. Well, I had 8 that is, because a ninth was born this past week in Japan. Her mom and dad named her Violette; and yes, you guessed it, her big sister’s name is Madeleine. Both Violette and Madeleine are considered old fashioned names in France. Hearing them reminds one of what we call “douce France”; of Spring and Charles Trenet and Edith Piaf and Café de Flore. Madeleine, Violette and their parents live in Tokyo Japan. This is their mom Alice in the picture. She was 5 then and loved to pick daisies and violets for her own mom. I did the same in my day…
Anyway, I dedicate this post to Madeleine and Violette…
For 12 big madeleines, you’ll need:
- 2 super fresh eggs
- 5oz sugar (150g)
- 5oz flour (150g)
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking yeast
- 4.5oz melted butter (125g)
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 1 lemon zest (entire skin of one lemon)
- 2 pinches of salt
Steps:
- Whisk sugar with eggs until you get a smooth, cream colored batter
- Slowly add flour, salt, yeast, vanilla and lemon zest
- Slowly add the melted butter
- Spread some melted butter on your madeleine moulds and sprinkle flour on top
- Place the mold in the fridge or freezer for a little while (until butter has hardened)
- Fill each cavity of your moulds with batter
- Let it all rest for a good 1/2 hour in a cool place
- Place everything in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown
- Take your madeleines out and let them cool down a bit before taking them out of the mould
- Get rid of the kids
- Make yourself a nice cup of tea
- Enjoy with fresh violets from the garden
Oh and some strawberry jam can’t hurt!
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
You make food of all kind look and sound incredible. I love the names Madeleine and Violette. They sound like rather romantic names to me!
Oohh, yes, please! And congrats. on a new grand-niece and lovely new blog theme! I heartily approve! 🙂
Oh thank you so much dear Janina! I’m so glad you like the new look for the blog. I was worried it was too simple, but I wanted people to focus directly on the content… Have a lovely weekend!
I adore Madeleine’s, and I certainly can’t wait to try out this recipe! Thank you!
Wonderful! Let me know how it goes 🙂
I have added this post as a featured blogger on my sidebar. Please drop by when you get a chance.
Love your posts.
sheila
http://mykentuckyliv.com
MyKentuckyLiving
Thanks Sheila! I have indeed been to your blog and I must say I love your home and your sense of style! Kentuky has been on my bucket list for quite some time!!! Thanks again for dropping by!
This looks like ‘my’ French heaven! Wow. Lovely and I’ve been looking for a reliable recipe.
Go for it! You’ll love it 😉
Congratulations to you. These madeleines look delicious. I had a wonderful great aunt named Madeleine, whom I have always wanted to make a daugther after. Also on my short-list is to make madeleine cookies… 🙂
Madeleine cookies, what a great idea Shanna!
Complete Love!
lovely!
Your photographs are amazing! and mouthwatering.
Thank you!!!
Oh, so sweet!
Most definitely a recipe I´m going to try out soon! They look amazing and delicious.
I’ve always loved the name Madeleine! I’ve always found it such a beautiful name! I wish it was allowed in my country though 😦
What do you mean it’s not allowed?!
In Iceland we have a committee that decides which names from foreign countries are agreeable and which are not. Madeleine is a word that wouldn’t fit “properly” into our grammar, according to them.
But I’m pretty sure it will change in the next few years since there are so many names that have been agreed upon that would use the same type of grammar as Madeleine.
It’s a quite complicated battle between this committee and some parents.
Oh, wow! I had no idea… I thought you were from Iran for a minute… Well, I’m sure you have plenty of beautiful names in Iceland as well 🙂
Lovely post. Madeleines and coffee …delicious. I’m just so surprised at how quickly each batch of madeleines disappears. I blame the grand children:)
You are creating memories for a lifetime though! I promise! I recall my childhood every time I smell that very specific madeleine aroma… It’s also great to sell houses I’m told. Bake madeleines just before people come to see the house and they make an offer instantly 😉 🙂 Ahhh the power of the madeleine 🙂
I like the instruction to get rid of the kids. 🙂
It’s the most important step in the recipe really 😉
I wish I had these madeleines for breakfast right now! Love the little purple dots your violets add to the photos, really adorable!
And they taste great too! They taste exactly as they smell… Thanks for the comment Sabine!
Yum!! I’ll pass this on to our younger daughter, too.
janet
Strolled your way via Tiny White Cottage.. so glad I did. Lovely posts all round and look forward to digging in deeper.
I went to culinary school in Paris- Ferrandi about ten years ago- My love of cooking found it’s home outside of the restaurant world. I felt too old for the physical and mental strain in someone else’s kitchen. Then two years of my own place brought the stress of management.
Now in a little retail shop of my own (mostly non-perishables)- I’ve found a good balance.
Cheers! wendy
I’m so glad you found My French Heaven Wendy. Welcome! I have a similar story. Culinary school yes. Working in a restaurant, HELL no. Like you, I could not have taken the emotional daily beating. That is why I worked in Human Resources instead for so many years. Now I do my own thing, following my passions. I am not rich, but at least I’m my own master… Glad to have you Wendy! Please come back often 🙂
Oh boy! Wonderful photography and such delicious looking madeleines. 😀 (Congratulations, also, on the new kidlet!) I always avoided madeleines because I thought they would be crunchy/crumbly (…I don’t know why…) but I finally had one last month and couldn’t believe I’d been depriving myself so long. I have to get up the courage to try making some!
You should try. I hate baking and yet I find this quite fast and painless… It’s like making cupcakes really…
Congrats Stephane and thanks! Your pictures are amazing, as always. (And it tastes even better I am sure). I will show the pictures to Violette and Madeleine. 😉
Fuji-san, Tokyo and the girls are waiting for your camera and artistic vision, dont forget.
Je viens de regarder sur expedia et les billets sont moitié moins cher que je ne pensais… Donc je crois bien que je vais attendre que Violette vous laisse dormir un peu et ensuite venir vous faire un coucou. Par contre mon rêve était de voir le mont Fuji avec les arbres en fleur… Je suis donc allé sur internet pour voir à quelles dates les arbres fleurissent. Il y à des sites dédiés aux dates de floraisons des cerisiers au Japon. Preuve que cela attire beaucoup de touristes. Bon bref, donc maintenant je ne sais plus quand venir… Avril 2015?
Old fashioned, but beautiful names
🙂
Love your blog and ALL your recipes as well as the beautiful photography!! Everything is just gorgeous.
Oh thank you so much Marie! I am so glad you’re enjoying my little blog. I hope you come back often 🙂
Congratulations! Families are wonderful!! I love the story and recipe that you included. May I ask why her parents are located in Japan? Very intriguing.
Their dad had a big promotion with Lauréal, the French cosmetics company. He is responsible for all hair products promotion in Asia… I wish I had his paycheck 😉
That is incredible! Those little girls are super lucky to be gaining that sort of experience so young.
Love it!! Especially #10 in you list of steps!! There are some days a cup of tea and a fresh madeleine are the perfect luxury! As usual your photography is stunning and love the symbolism of the post!
Thanks Jennifer! I knew you’d appreciate N°10 😉 🙂
Aw, see what I mean? This is gorgeous. Beautifully written, dedicated and photographed!
Thanks! 😉 🙂
Lovely recipe and lucky you, another niece to cherish. A good reason to visit Japan I’d say!
Absolutely!! It’s really a country I’m dying to visit someday. I’d so love to take pictures of Mount Fuji…
I just had a “proustian moment”, looking at those!Beautiful!
Proustian moment indeed. One of my favorite pieces of his… 🙂
Congrats on another niece! Lovely story
Thank you!!
Lovely reason to prepare this excellent post. I must buy a mould.
They also make the tiny moulds to make madeleines small enough to place in the saucer next to the spoon…
Love! love, love stopping by for a visit!!!!
😉 🙂
je like !!!
Merci Christian!
Gorgeous, lush photography. I love it! And the food looks amazing!
Thanks Serena!
Beautiful…the pics, the madeleines and your story.
Thanks Amanda. They were delicious too 😉
I made these a couple of weeks ago for the first time. So delicious . Will give your recipe a go next time 🙂
I think the secret is the lemon zest 🙂
I have been addicted to Madeleine’s since I worked at Starbucks as a teenager (they sold them in little packages.) I’ve stayed away from them for years because my sweet tooth loves them TOO much. But this recipe is calling my name! I’m definitely going to have to make a weekend batch 🙂
Let me know how they come out Caitlin 😉