profiterole - crème patisserie (part 1)

My sisters got me hooked on profiteroles. They got baking-mad one day and baked lots of profiteroles.

You know, those little cream puffs with custardy cream in them.

caramel croissant pudding

This is another Nigella Lawson's genius recipe. I introduced my older sister to Nigella and she loves her even more than I do. She makes this recipe about once a month. I love this recipe as much as her, but because she makes it at home, I never felt like doing it myself. But finally, I got the chance to make it this month.

I found that making just one of the below recipe is sooooo unsatisfying! I always double the recipe, put the leftover in the fridge and reheat in the microwave when I want to get a hit.

ladurée macarons

Someone once told me that macarons are Les incontournables des Paris (english: Paris must-haves). It's dainty, it's colourful, it's like eating art. And no other place in Paris more famous for its macarons than Ladurée.

Ladurée is more like an institution than a simple macaron shop. As I was opening the door to the Champs-Élysées branch, I was greeted by a long queue at the counter. I was really tempted to just turn right to the restaurant and warm myself from the bitter cold I have just escaped from. Second option was to relax at the bar towards the back of the building. But, I was there to buy the macarons, get out and move on with the day. So, I queued.

sail café brekkie, margaret river bakery bread & berry farm boysenberry pie

Breakfast (brekkie) is the time of day I find hardest to get motivated for. I am not a morning person. My work colleagues can attest to that. So, if I have to go out for brekkie, I usually go to the first place I set my eyes on.

When I was in Margaret River, we went to the Sail Café for a bacon and egg wrap, and croissant with ham and cheese. It was pretty average to say the least. The only redeeming point about this all-day breakfast café was the fact that they gave us a complimentary cup of coffee with our meal. We were in the mood for some latte.

We had the Margaret River Bakery's "Big Bakery Brekkie", which was filling but was also quite average. While you are there, I would suggest you buy a loaf of the organic bread with sun dried tomato & herb ($5.35). I had this bread when I went canoeing with the BushTucker Tour, along with the Aussie bush food they dished out. I loved it and asked where to get them. The bread was great with slices of kangaroo and a spread of chutney.