The Wonders Of The World

Last week my partner in crime and I were perusing a book store and I came across a book outlining the 100 Wonders Of The World and as I leafed through it from cover to cover I realized that I had seen almost all of them and it gave me an idea to bring here to discuss... but I won't be doing that this week... instead I'll give you a brief glimpse of my top ten...Choosing these was a rather heart rending exercise because I had to edit out places like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park as well as San Francisco all of which have been a big part of my life as well as places like Stonehenge and Mont St Michel... so I must explain that a big part of my choices were the anticipation of visiting and my actual experiences and my travel companions and the memories that ensued... so without further ado I present my top ten... in alphabetical order because it would be nearly impossible for me to rank them.

The Acropolis

The Amalfi Coast

Ayers Rock

Eiffel Tower

The Great Wall of China

  

Jerusalem Old City

Nile Cruise

Pompeii

The Pyramids

Santorini

Maybe someday soon I'll write in greater detail about these places and my experiences there... but right now I'm still wishing I was in Deauville under a rented  umbrella or parapluie as they say in France... sipping tea and eating Madeleines. Someone asked me why I like Deauville and dislike St Tropez... I guess it's because I find St Tropez somewhat garish and the people I encountered there a bit crass and rude and I find Deauville more refined and the people I've met and know there are well mannered and more elegant and charming... but maybe those are just my experiences and yours will be be different.

Deauville

 I have a wonderful recipe for Madeleines... and I love the story behind them... they are said to have been invented in the town of Commercy for Stanislas, the Duke of Lorraine by a servant girl named... you guessed it!... Madeleine.

These are not nearly as tricky or difficult as you may have been led to believe (especially from the prices that some places charge for a dozen of them) But you do need a Madeleine pan. If you are making more than a dozen you need more than one or you need to let it cool and then wash and dry it and re-butter and dust it with flour again. (I only have one but I rarely make more than a dozen)

Madeleines ( 1 Dozen)

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

3/4 cups all purpose white flour + 1/2 cup cake flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

3 large egg yolks

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 TBL finely grated lemon zest

1/8 tsp salt

1 TBL + 1 1/2 tsp Grand Marnier (my actual recipe calls for kirsch or cherry brandy but I prefer the Grand Marnier flavor with the lemon zest)

Preheat  your oven to 400 degrees and generously butter the shell shapes of your pan and carefully dust with flour...

Madeleine Pan

Buttered & Floured

You need to melt your butter and set it aside to cool... if I know I'm making them in the morning I set the butter in a bowl overnight to melt at room temperature. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat the egg and yolks on medium speed for a minute or two and sift in the powdered sugar and add the lemon juice and zest and continue to beat and gradually raise the speed of the mixer to high(ish) depending on how powerful your mixer is. Beat for about five minutes until the batter is very light colored lightly beat in the brandy or Grand Marnier and then fold in the sifted flour mixture until combined (if you have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer use the paddle attachment on stir speed) and then fold in the butter until combined... don't over mix. I put the batter in a pastry bag but if you don't have one carefully fill the shells with a spatula and or spoon and smooth the top with a knife or spoon.

Place on the center rack of the oven and bake for 9-11 minutes (my oven takes 10) until they are slightly tinged with brown spots and a bit darker at the edges. Remove from oven and let stand for a minute  and then use the tip of a paring knife at the bottom (not the fluted edge) to gently release it from the pan/

Turn the Madeleines on to a wire rack and let cool for a few minutes and then turn them over so the ridged side is up. Let cool and dust with powdered sugar before serving. Keep in an airtight container for about 24 hours or freeze for longer storage.

So whether you are at The Alhambra or Ala Moana enjoy and start making your bucket list of the places you would like to visit or revisit. 

I'm sorry that in writing  this week I needed to take a short cut because my heart and thoughts have been with the victims and their families in Orlando Florida... I've been unable to think about little else for the last day;  from these thoughts I have concluded that not much  really matters at the end of your life, not your race, or religion, or sexual preferences or political beliefs... but  how you lived your life and what you brought to the game is how you will be remembered... So whatever your beliefs or the flag you fly you must live your life proud and strong and unafraid and do the right things along the way.