2016-02-24

Morning memories


Hello to all you lovely people, and good morning (it's morning somewhere in the world).
A new day has started and as many others, mornings are my worst time of the day. For some reason I can never seem to wake up feeling well rested. I am always a little (usually a lot) tired in the mornings. My bed is more comfortable in the early hours of the day, and it's like there is a glue that is sticking me to my bed. I have severe problems actually getting out of bed, even if I'm looking forward to the day ahead. I do suffer from an autoimmune hormonal disease that does make me more tired and sleepy, so while it might be my disease, I also find that my bed might have some sort of a special power over me. Am I the only one? Or is this something others feel too?



One way to make mornings a little nicer is by having something a little bit special for breakfast. I'm not a breakfast person, I'm usually not hungry in the mornings and simply start my day with a fruit, but having something freshly baked in the morning makes breakfast all the more enjoyable.

I recently attempted (and I daresay succeeded) in making Madeleines, which is a french sponge cake often eaten for breakfast. The Madeleines are made in special Madeleine pans giving one side of the Madeleines their unique scalloped shell shape. The other side is paler and smooth with a hump.



The Madeleine has slightly crispy edges but a soft sponge-like centre and usually tastes mildly of lemon and vanilla. They melt like butter in your mouth and disappear within an instant in my household. They were made famous by Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past (In Search of Lost Time).
"The sight of the little madeleine had recalled nothing to my mind before I tasted it."




Madeleines

Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking


INGREDIENTS
  • 115 grams butter, melted
  • 130 grams flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 grams sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest


DIRECTIONS

Melt the butter, but keep it warm.

Beat eggs and sugar until thick and pale. Add the vanilla and lemon zest. Sift and fold in the flour in 3 additions. Add the warm melted butter and stir until just mixed together, do not over mix it. Cover and refrigerate the batter for at least 1-2 hours, preferably over night. 

Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease moulds with melted butter and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Add about a tablespoon of the batter into each of the shell-shaped moulds. Bake for about 8 to 11 minutes, until edges are golden brown. They are best served the day you make them.





I hope you have a lovely morning with something sweet to bring out your best memories.

Much love,

24 comments:

  1. Oh no, I spoke too soon! My plate looks different from yours, it's round and flat. It looks almost like a cake-stand without the stand...if that makes sense. I'm saving this recipe, btw, for rainy days ;)

    Alive as Always

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    1. Oh! That sounds like a really nice plate though. I sort of want one like this one but round. Makes sense :)
      Oh yay! That makes me so happy, even though I wish sunshiny days for you! <3 <3
      Much love

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  2. They look so dainty - I can see how they can easily vanish! I'd eat easily 3 or 4 in one sitting...or maybe 5...or 6.... AHHH!! ;)

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    1. Aww thank you! They are very dainty and lovely. And they disappear so quickly. Me and my sister ate 5 each in like 10 minutes. hahaha
      Much love

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  3. That looks delicious and cute pictures, have a good day

    http://historiassparacontarr.blogspot.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/

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    1. Oh thank you so much! It's one of my favourites!
      You have a fantastic day too!
      Much love

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  4. Ahhh these look so yummy!
    Btw congrats on reaching 2000+ on Instagram! :D<3

    VEGETARIAN COURTESYFACEBOOK

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    1. Thank you darling! I love Madeleines!
      Oh thanks!! ;D
      Much love

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  5. Oh my GOODNESS these look absolutely delectable.. YUM! I need to make asap! <33

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    1. Oh Thank you so very much Lyndsey!! Please let me know if you make them!
      Much love

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  6. These look divine! My room mates are in for a treat (deformed.. since there is no way mine will turn out perfectly formed like yours)... and I myself will enjoy them vicariously through others.

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    1. Thank you so much Sumeyye!!
      Oh lucky room mates ;) And don't say that, I'm sure they'll be perfect looking!
      Right, gluten free coming up soon! Need to search for something nice!
      Much love

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  7. I have not been diagnosed but sometimes it's hard to tell if I just have a few conditions that slows me down or if there's something else, like an auto immune disorder, weighing me down (I'm just sick of doctors and not up for testing currently). I relate to your morning woes regardless!! Those cookies look amazing!!!!! XO
    Lauren-Blair
    www.prefertobedemure.com

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    1. Oh I'm so sorry. I hope you feel better. Doctors can really suck sometimes. I think it's also the weather a bit. In summer I usually feel a bit more energised. So we just have to wait a little bit...
      Thank you so much, they're very tasty.
      Much love

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  8. I most definitely relate to the first paragraph. Mornings are awful. I was tested for M.E. and various things as a teen and although I was never officially given a label, I definitely suffer from energy problems. I gave up going to the doctors about it and just try to find my own balance and know my energy limits. Anyway, your madelines look gorgeous. They're definitely worth waking up for :)

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    1. Aren't they! Oh I'm so sorry. Yeah doctors can be really hard to convince sometimes. Sometimes you almost have to become your own doctor. Hope you feel good all the time!! <3
      Thank you so much, that's very sweet of you <3
      Much love

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  9. I love Madeleines but have never attempted to bake some myself before, will have to give your recipe a go! Just have to find myself the shell shapes pans. I'm not a morning person either though I used to be when I was younger, my sleeping schedule is absolutely whack nowadays but I'm trying harder to go earlier to bed and be earlier to rise! Wholeheartedly agree, the prospect of Madeleines for breakfast will surely help <3

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    1. They are very nice. I have only had Madeleines once when I didn't make them myself. My sister brought one from Marseille. Yay! Do give it a go! I think you can probably find them at John Lewis.
      Mornings are so haaard. But that's good, that you're trying to get a schedule going. Haha, right! Madeleines make me get up in the morning! <3
      Much love

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  10. I can definitely relate to not wanting to get out of bed in the morning! For me, though, it's because I don't like my job. When the weekends roll around, I'm completely the opposite--I can't wait to get out of bed to start doing all kinds of fun things.

    Those madeleines look so yummy! I've never had one, so now I really want to try making them! I'm back to eating sweets and have even started doing a lot more cooking/baking, so I'm going to put a madeleine pan on my list of things I need!

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    1. Oh darling, I am sorry that you're at a job you don't like. My fingers are Xed for you that good change will come your way.
      Must be nice having energy in the morning :P especially for the weekends, I usually sleep away half the day on weekends.

      Oh thank you so much. They are very easy to make, and taste wonderful. Yaaay for being back to sweets!! Looking forward to seeing some Devinne-made madeleines ;D
      Much love

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  11. Yum, these look wonderful!! I never want to get up in the morning lately...though, I am pregnant, so I guess I have a good excuse, haha!! But, I love sleep any time really ;))) xx

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    1. Thank you so much Kizzy! Yes, you do have a very good excuse! ;D
      Much love

      Delete
  12. Oooh these look so yummy! This would motivate me to get out of bed, haha. I really love to sleep...so, I'm quite convinced my bed has a special power over me too. ;) The prospect of drinking coffee helps me to get out of it in the morning, haha.

    Hope you have a lovely weekend, Mona!

    -Lindsey
    http://have-clothes-will-travel.com/

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    1. Thank you Lindsey! Haha, yeah it does motivate me too.
      Oh I don't drink coffee, but that would also be a good motivation.

      Thank you, you too!
      Much love

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