Kitchen Notes - Blog Posts
a cup of sunshine
Here is a recipe for liquid positivity to help you all through these days.
You’ll need: chamomile fresh ginger (just a little!) fresh lemon honey
optional: homemade cinnamon buns (will heal your heart with immediate effect)
Brew your tea with a bit of ginger and add a squeeze of lemon. Add the honey with a spoon and use it to stir clockwise while thinking of a happy memory. (I might have had a chant for this, but I forgot it already, and it was probably in multiple languages - pardon me, I’m a bit of mess after not leaving the house for two weeks. You can make your own chant if you’want.)
Put on a song that makes you feel good. I chose Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.
Sit by a window and open it if possible. Breathe.
Drink up. You’re alright.
☀️Beltane honey-lemon vanilla madeleines ☀️
These are perfect for tea (I recommend making sun tea) or a small treat, and great as small gifts for others.
You'll need:
3 eggs
½ cup plus 3 tablespoons caster sugar (superfine sugar)
1 cup plain flour (all-purpose flour)
pinch of fine salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp of vanilla extract (empowering and good fortune)
1 tsp of lemon extract (cleansing and purification)
1 tablespoon of natural honey (to bring sweet people into your lives, and prosperity)
150 g (1 ⅓ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
butter and flour (or non-stick baking spray) to grease the madeleine mold
A madeleine mold/pan
How to make:
In a large bowl, or the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk together the eggs and sugar until the mixture is thick and pale yellow. This step should take 1-2 minutes using an electric stand-mixer, or a bit longer if you are whisking by hand. Remember your intentions when stirring counter clockwise and clockwise!
Add the flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until everything is thoroughly combined.
Next add the lemon zest, extracts, and melted butter.
Continue whisking until you have a thick and smooth batter.
Leave the batter to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350
Generously grease the madeleine mould with butter, even if it is non-stick. Another option is to use a non-stick baking spray.
Fill each madeleine mould until about 3/4 full, either with a spoon or with a piping bag filled with the batter.
Bake until the madeleine cakes have risen and are lightly golden on top. For large madeleine moulds similar to that pictured, this should take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven.
Remove the madeleine pan from the oven, and wait a few minutes before carefully removing the cakes from the moulds.
Leave the cakes to cool on a wire rack (the ridge-side facing down), and serve them warm or cold.