Monday, November 7, 2011

TWD Double Up - Depths of Fall Butternut Squash Pie and Mini Madeleines



It's double trouble on Tuesdays with Dorie this week.  Our two recipes are Depths of Fall Butternut Squash Pie (pictured at the top if this post) and Mini Madeleines.

I have been away all weekend, so ran out of time to make the pie, chosen by Valerie of Une Gamine Dans Cuisine.  However, I have made it once before, and you can read all about it here. It is absolutely gorgeous, just the kind of pie I like, and I highly recommend that you try it.

The Mini Madeleines became maxi madeleines for me, as I don't have a mini madeleine pan:


This recipe was chosen by Di of Di's Kitchen Notebook. I think that these are the best madeleines that I have ever made.  The shapes are rather shell-like, despite baking slightly outside the moulds, and they have terrific humps:




The madeleines were also light and fluffy, and just devine while still warm out of the oven.  Perhaps these madeleines have persuaded me to give them another go ...

Valerie and Di respectively will publish the recipe, or you can obtain it for yourself from Dorie's wonderful book, Baking- From My Home to Yours.  Thanks to our hosts this week.  To see how everyone else went with these recipes, visit  the LYL section of the TWD website. 

Thursday, November 3, 2011

FFwD - Twenty Minute Honey Glazed Duck Breasts




This week's French Fridays with Dorie dish is Twenty Minute Honey Glazed Duck Breast.  Sounds delicious, right?  Well, it is - even if you ask the poultry shop for a breast and get sold a Maryland.

This dish comprises a duck breast, with the skin scored, then each side cooked until just browned, then making a sauce of honey, balsamic and lime, in which the duck is finally coated after resting in a slow oven for five minutes.  Easy peasy!

I served my duck with pak choy stir-fried in honey and soy, and ate it for a weekend lunch.

To see what the other FFwD cooks thought, visit the LYL section of the FFwD website.