Good Food for thought

Does your mouth ever work faster than your brain? The words cause “a stir”. Too late to take them back the inevitable pain and confusion is regrettable. It takes courage to own the wrong and recognize the only appropriate response: “I’m sorry”. Addressing someone who is in mourning is always difficult. The right words are often hard to come by. The truth is there is nothing you can say to make the bereaved person feel better. When in doubt about what to say a simple, heartfelt, “I’m sorry for your pain” is all that’s needed along with the touch of a hand or a hug….make that a big bear hug, please!

WHAT NOT TO SAY.

He’s in a better place (nope–alive and well next to me is a much better place)
Heaven needed an angel (nope–I need him/her here)
Be brave (nope–I need to experience this pain if I am ever going to be normal again)
God has a plan (nope–we had plans, too)

Here is more food for thought. Madeleines. Don’t call them cookies. In certain company you will regret calling them that as they really are a little bite of heavenly buttery cake. They can be sweet or savory. Lemons are very inexpensive this time of year and a sure sign of spring. A staple in my kitchen, lemon is one of my favorite flavors. Fresh and tart it adds balance to any dish and wakes up your taste buds. Next time you want to comfort someone set out a plate of these lemon thyme madeleines. You won’t have to say a word.

Lemon Thyme Madeleines

Author: Lisa Keys
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes
Total Time: 14 minute
Yield: 2 dozen small or 1 dozen larger madeleines 1x

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

½ cup cake flour*

¼ teaspoon salt (use fine sea salt or table salt not kosher salt)

1/8-teaspoon cream of tartar

¼ cup sugar

½ tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

Grated zest of ½ lemon

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

¼ cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

¼ teaspoon lemon extract

Powdered sugar

Instructions

Heat oven 375F. Spray the molds of a 12 to 20-piece madeleine pan with no-stick baking spray.
In small bowl, whisk flour, salt and cream of tartar; set aside.
In food processor, pulse sugar, thyme and zest until uniform.
In a medium bowl, beat butter and sour cream until light and creamy.
Add sugar mixture; blend well. Add eggs, lemon juice and extract; blend well.
Add flour mixture; mix just until blended.
Spoon batter into molds until even with rims.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes for small madeleines (10 to 12 minutes for larger ones) or until edges are just golden brown and cakes feel firm when touched with the tip of your finger.
Immediately invert madeleines on to a cooling rack.
Cool madeleines completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Notes

* To make cake flour: measure out ½ cup of all-purpose flour then remove 1 tablespoon of flour from that half cup and return it to the flour sack. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to your measured flour, whisk and presto you now have cake flour

Category: cookies
Method: baking

Keywords: lemon thyme, madeleines, tea cake, dessert, mini dessert