The inspiration for this recipe arose a few years ago, when my mother-in-law gave me a huge bag of freshly picked pecans. I was absolutely delighted of course, but wondered what I would end up making with all these pecans.
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She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called petites madeleines, which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim’s shell. . . .
I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid, and the crumbs with it, touched my palate than a shudder ran through my whole body, and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary changes that were taking place . . . at once the vicissitudes of life had become indifferent to me, its disasters innocuous, its brevity illusory.
— Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past. (English translation, C. K. Scott-Moncrieff. London: Chatto and Windus, 1922)
This passage from Proust, perhaps the most famous words in all of French literature, has made these delicate little cakes immortal.
But I will confess that it’s not dunked in tea that I prefer nibbling madeleines. I’m more likely to be sipping a glass of Cognac or a chocolate martini when I enjoy them.
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The first time I tasted Sienese almond cookies was in Tuscany, in fact not too far from Siena. My husband Marc and I were vacationing at Borgo Pretale, an enchanting hotel tucked away in luscious green hills, surrounded by lavender, vineyards and sunflower fields — the quintessential Tuscan destination!
We were relaxing on the terrace after a memorable meal when the staff brought us a glass of sinfully-delicious Vin Santo and Sienese almond cookies to nibble on. I still remember the first bite — an intense almond flavor exploded in my mouth. I swooned!
Needless to say, I brought several bags of those delicious treats home, but when they ran out I set about creating my own recipe. These dainty and flavorful cookies have since become a household favorite, especially around the holidays when we are more prone to indulge in a glass of dessert wine — and a cookie — while relaxing in front of a warm fire.
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When Mary Lynn Mitcham, Chief Editor of Rockland Magazine asked me to do a feature on tapas, I was thrilled. After all, I simply adore tapas!
But what are tapas, exactly? Traditionally, they are little bites that accompany a glass of sherry or wine and served in bars all over Spain.
For Spaniards, going out for tapas is not so much about the food as it is a life style – a perfect way to mingle and socialize after work or while on a lunch break. Many tapas bars serve only the specialty of the house, so it’s not unusual for people to practice tapeo, or tapas bar-hopping. What I love most about the idea, though, is the spontaneity of it all — something that’s certainly very adaptable to home entertaining, and a whole lot of fun to boot!
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