Hazelnut Linzer Cookies

Time flies too fast - next week is the last week of senior year, followed by finals, provincials, commencement and prom. Even with all this stuff compiled I'm still procrastinating in the posts (oops)...but I'll try my best to update as much as possible before summer. There are just so many things to make with so little time!

Traditionally, linzer cookies are made with ground almonds to give its nutty aroma and pale colour. However I found some toasted hazelnuts left around in the house, so I "recycled" them for good use. We all know how aromatic these nuts can get (Hazelnut latte from Starbucks anyone?). These nuts proved their "talent" as soon as you take the first bite - like Nutella but the more nutty kind. 

Matcha (Green Tea) Soufflé

It is this dish that made me realize the importance of a good matcha powder.

Before this recipe, I've made my matcha-infused baked goods with random brands I found on internet - not authentic for sure, but I bought it because it was cheap. 

As obvious as it sounds , but please don't be cheap when it comes to stuff like this! 

The powder I've used for this one is a $5.99 (50g) pack I bought from a Japanese supermarket in San Francisco during Christmas. The powder is from a family tea garden in the Kagoshima area, and the flavour can be tasted with just a little bit in amounts. (Back when I used the cheap matcha powders I use to think that lots of powder is needed for flavouring!)

Now enough blabbing....

DIY Mother's Day High Tea

The full high tea with mom's newly found Victorian dish set

Loving the royal tea pot!

 Mother's Day these days is becoming more and more like a competition to see who can spoil his/her mothers the best...(at least in my area that is). 

Even prior to the day, my social network has been filled with Mother's Day news feeds:flowers, cakes, more flowers and cakes.........

Come on. One has ought to have more creative ideas than flowers and cakes.

Since this is the last year I'll be spending Mother's Day with my mom before heading to college (hello internet shopping gifts...), I thought - why not make this time the best one yet.

My mom has been really into tea sets lately. This Victorian style tea set pictured in this post (only some parts, the whole set has about 73 pieces) was found on Craiglist (really mom) for $1000. I first had doubts on this idea of buying vintage dishes on the internet but when she brought the whole set home I was amazed by the intricate details on these dishes - they were lovely indeed! These dishes were pass-downs from the seller's great grandmother and since most dishes those days are either sold in pieces or missing, the whole set was hard to find.

Now, let's take a closer look at the menu....

Soirette Macarons & Tea: Fall/Winter High Tea Menu

 As a macaron enthusiast myself, I admit that I do have high standards for macarons. After two years of continuous trial and error with these fussy (sometimes) and delicate cookies, it's hard not to get picky at the details.

Soirette, however, made it to the top of my list for the Best Macarons in Vancouver.

Ever since it opened, I've visited a few times for their macarons, but haven't had a chance to try their high tea service. Their high tea service is only offered on weekends with about 4-5 time slots per day, so I feel especially fortunate to have made a successful reservation just before the end of their Fall/Winter High Tea Menu.

Okay, enough with the blabbing now...

I went with one of my besties (whose name also happens to be Cathy, and congratulations dear for getting into Cornell University, I'm super grateful to have the chance to spend the next four years + with you as well!) on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The tiny place can only seat 4-5 tables of 2-4 people at once, so each time slot only has 4-5 spaces. Though the space was tiny, I didn't feel squished at all. The chairs were big and comfy and the tables are manageable as well. 

Ladurée Madeleines with a Matcha Twist

I have a tradition of treating myself to a gift each Christmas, as a small hint to self to "love yourself" ,

So ever since I've been into Ladurée's macarons (and everything else in general), last Christmas I've decided to get Ladurée's own cookbook- Sucré or The Sweet Recipes. 

Created by the pastry chef of Ladurée  himself, the book contains some of the many secrets behind Ladurée's success. For example, their delectable French macarons ;)