A Sweet Treat

You would probably think with a name like Hotel De Ville these doors would lead you inside to a hotel lobby. But in France hotel can also be a city hall. This ornate building was found in the city of Avignon. It was within this walled papal city I had my first taste of the heavenly melt in your mouth macarons. Trust me one is not enough!

Macaron is a sweet  meringue-based confectionery made with egg whites. icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder/flour and food coloring. It is commonly filled with ganache, buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies. This cookie I am holding was almond. I did check out macaron recipes online. They looked like a cooking challenge to recreate the ones we had at a patissere (pastry shop). But it is on my to try recipe list for 2013. 

These cookies on this tray I brought back from a patissere in France for a friend who loves her daily tea with a sweet treat. 

The array of delectable French desserts like cakes, charlottes  cookies, tarts, flans etc. can also include a fromage (cheese) tray with bread or fruit and wine.

I am including some websites you might consider for further exploring French desserts:
 http://www.easy-french-food.com/french-dessert-recipes.html#.UMVTUoPefwY
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/global-cuisine/french-recipes/french-dessert-recipes

This week's blog postings on French cuisine will conclude with wine.  A suggested list of red and white French wines will be included. 

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"No man is a failure who is enjoying life." 
William Feather 

1889-1981

American publisher and author