Tag Archives: paris

French Yogurt Cake

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As many of you know. Ryan and I went to Paris, France last summer. We ate and drank our way through the city, and I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to visit Europe not once, but twice, before having our first child. That being said, I found Paris to be a very child-friendly city. Everywhere we went, we saw well-groomed children in tow behind well-groomed parents. Supremely well-behaved, these french little ones were accustomed to museum visits and four-course dinners by the age of five.

Oh America, we have so much to learn.

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Ryan and I have talked about taking Lucy to Paris sometime this fall (oh Ryan and Monet, you have so much to learn!) And we might be able to pull off a trip come November or December. But if I’m learning anything as I prepare for the birth of our first daughter, it’s that parenthood is an entirely new adventure and will be far different than even the most diligent parents can plan for.

So as of now, we’ll put Paris aside until we have a few months of newborn care under our belt. Instead, we’ll visit our favorite bakery in Colorado Springs for an almond croissant, and I’ll make a batch of this French Yogurt Cake every few weeks. Most Parisians don’t have an oven in their kitchen (no need with ample bakeries and no space with those tiny studio apartments). But if they do, this french yogurt cake is a recipe every boy and girl, man and woman knows how to pull off.

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“Leave the fancy desserts for the professionals, and give us something satisfying and simple to make for an unexpected house guest or a last-minute dinner party.”

This french yogurt cake is most similar to an American pound cake. Thankfully, this recipe is far lighter than it’s American counterpart (surprise, surprise). Instead of four sticks of butter, this calls for whole-fat greek yogurt and vegetable oil. And while must standard pound cake recipes require at least two cups of sugar, this french yogurt cake asks for only one. And finally, ground almonds and almond extract add a lovely layer of texture and flavor. I brought this to my sister on Friday afternoon, and she texted me the next morning: I HAVE GOT TO HAVE THAT RECIPE. YOU COULD MAKE A FORTUNE.

Little did she know this cake is easy enough for a seven-year old to make.

On the baby front: thank you for all your insightful messages and conversations about hospitals versus birth centers versus home births. I learned so much from each of the stories shared. I’ll be writing a longer post about our own thought process on Thursday. So join back then!

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French Yogurt Cake with Strawberry Maple Sauce

*Adapted from a recipe from the New York Times

Cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground almonds (or, if you’d prefer, omit the almonds and use another 1/2 cup all-purpose flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup plain yogurt
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup flavorless oil, such as canola or safflower

Strawberry Sauce:
1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 small lemon

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously butter an 8 1/2-x-4 1/2-inch loaf pan or a small bundt pan Set aside.  Whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.

Place the sugar and zest in a medium bowl and, working with your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar untilmoist and aromatic. Add the yogurt, eggs and vanilla to the bowl and whisk vigorously. Still whisking, stir in the dry ingredients, use a large rubber spatula and fold in  oil. You’ll have a thick, smooth batter. Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes for the round cake or 50 to 55 minutes, or until the cake begins to come away from the sides of the pan; it will be golden brown and a knife inserted into the center of the cake will come out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack, cool for 5 minutes, then run a blunt knife between the cake and the sides of the pan. Unmold and cool to room temperature right-side up.

Storing: Wrapped well, you can keep the cake at room temperature for at least 4 days and, like many pound cakes, it will be better one day later than it was the day it was made. If you do not glaze the cake, you can wrap it airtight and freeze it for up to 2 months; glazed it’s best not to freeze the cake.

To Make Strawberry Sauce: In a medium saucepan, bring strawberries and syrup to a simmer over medium high heat. When warm, mash strawberries with a fork or potato masher. Squeeze cut lemon over mixture and heat till warm.

 Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Must-Do Paris

Returning from Paris in June, I knew one thing: I had to go back to France, and soon. We had an ideal Paris experience, and since we need to wait at least a few months before visiting again, I thought I’d share a few of our favorite places with you.

Where to Sleep:

1. Where the locals do. If possible, avoid hotels and hostels. They’re expensive and generally underwhelming (unless you happen to have buckets of money). We were lucky enough to stay at the apartment of my Parisian hairdresser. She and her husband live in Austin for most of the year but keep a small studio in Central Paris for their quarterly visits home. We had our own kitchen, a small but adequate bathroom, and the privilege of a house key instead of a hotel card. There are tourists everywhere in Paris, so the more you can blend in, the better. If you want to get in contact with my hairdresser, send me an email at monet@cakestandbakes.com. I’ll be happy to send you her contact information.

Where to Wander:

1. Museums. The Musee d’Orsay was easily our favorite. I’d recommend you buy a museum pass, or plan to buy admission into the Museum at least twice. There are too many time-worthy exhibits to take in during one visit.

2. Paris: Made By Hand. This beautiful, pocket (or purse) sized book takes you through some of the most hidden and charming streets of Paris into the workshops and stores of artists and makers. From pottery to umbrellas, from jewelry to dresses, stylist, Pia Jane Bijirk has found true treasures. We went to a few “touristy places” but spent the majority of our trip finding these carefully curated designers. AMAZING. GET THE BOOK NOW.

3. Deyrolle. Let’s just say that Deyrolle was closed on Tuesday because Wes Anderson was doing a photo-shoot there. Enough said, right? But truly, this is one of the most amazing stores I’ve ever visited. Hundreds of stuffed animals, delicately preserved butterflies, and men and women wearing sharp vests. Who would have thought a taxidermist could inspire such awe?

Where to Eat:

1. Du Pains et Des Idees. Throw all plans out the window if they don’t begin and end with this bakery near the Canal St. Martin. I first heard about Du Pains et Des Idees from Bon Appetit.  And although we had to wait a few days to visit (this artisinal bakery is closed on the weekends), it was love at first bite. Christophe Vasseur knows how to make bread. He says on his site, “It all began many years ago, when, as a child, I began to see the craft of baking as both a way to create and to communicate. For me, it was (and is) a way to give shape and life to my emotions, using only raw materials and my hands.” Using time-honored traditions, he gives his community the quality and passion that has sadly disappeared from many bakeries in Paris. Eat everything you can here. My personal favorite: la chausson a la pomme fraiche. We bought four to take on the flight home.

2. Le Pantruche. We also had to wait for a weekday to dine at this gourmet bistro in Montmartre. And once again, we weren’t disappointed. Our four course meal was perfect. Focusing on local and fresh ingredients, La Pantruche creates dishes full of flavor and charm, without the stuffiness of many fine French dining experiences. While not cheap, this bistro is affordable when you consider the quality of its dishes. Chalkboard menus, charming wait-staff, and an intimate dining room made this our favorite dinner experience.

From Food Wine and Style

3. Hugo and Victor. Chocolate and tarts and glass domes. We bought a box of chocolates and a bright citrus tart that we enjoyed while people watching in the Luxembourg gardens.

4. Pink Flamingo. If you want a fun break from typical french food, take a seat in the Pink Flamingo’s fabulous VW van. While the food wasn’t my favorite, the atmosphere was a nice change. And wandering through Marais after enjoying a few slices of pizza is a great end to a long day.

5. Bread and Roses. When you walk into Bread and Roses, you’re greeted by friendly and beautiful faces behind a glass deli counter. Rounds of cheese, hunks of ham, and a variety of cold salads await your eyes. Ryan and I sat at a wood table, with a single pink rose blushing between us, and enjoyed a lunch I’ll remember as one of the very best. The Luxembourg gardens are just around the corner, so sit for an hour or so after a stroll in the park.

6. L’As du Fallafel. I first read about this middle-eastern joint in the NY Times. When Mark Bittman said, “the falafel is so good that this is the one culinary destination in town I never skip,” I knew we had to visit, at least once. In a city full of stuffy and expensive dining, L’As du Fallafel is the perfect antitode. Fresh pitas stuffed with fried balls of chickpea, creamy hummus, and pickled cabbage are simply OUT OF THIS WORLD. We went back three times. And I left wishing we’d visited a fourth.

7. Breizh Cafe. This restaurant makes it into most Paris tour books, but don’t be dismayed ( you pretentious folks), this place is still worth the visit. Traditional buckwheat crepes with carafes of cider are a must. Also a must? Reservations. Because like I said, this cafe gets around.

8. Claus. Okay. I almost cried when I took my first bite of scrambled eggs. The Parisians typically don’t make a big to-do about breakfast, so if you’re hankering for something more substantial than a croissant, visit Claus and eat the eggs. And the museli too. I never thought oats could taste this good. The waitstaff is friendly, sharp, and more than happy to make breakfast the most delicious meal of the day.

If you have anymore questions or ideas, send me an email or a tweet or a facebook message. And if you want to sponsor my next trip to Paris, we’re all in. Smile.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apples