Oh the years I have searched.
I have tried recipe after recipe, tip after tip. I heard rumors about an ancient cookbook by Paula Peck called The Art of Fine Baking. A quick trip to a used online bookstore and I had both Peck's book and one by famed French Patissier LeNôtre. Cost me six bucks, including S&H, for both--wooot!
The Quest: Real, actual, authentic croissants from my home oven.
I have been reading every delicious word and sage piece of advice from two faded stars of twentieth century baking. The housework slipped, I stopped reading fiction, even our beloved DCI Jane Tennison had to wait. Soon, I couldn't even blog anymore. Just the idea that I could have found the right recipe gripped me in the heat of obsession. Had I finally found the homemade croissant recipe of my dreams?
The answer is...
YES YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES!
Dear Paula Peck, You are a genius.
You, and your four pages of detailed directions which I followed as if under papal edict.
Flaky, crispy, tender; as if Paris itself had rolled into a flour-butter-yeasty piece of heaven and mailed itself to my door.
By JOVE I think I've done it!
Can you have one? Only if I don't eat them all first.
My apologies for the low quality cell phone photos, my digital cam needs batteries. Who can remember batteries when baking is on the brain?
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14 comments:
I am so impressed. Bread of all forms escapes me...... I don't know why..........
Those look perfect. They are just waiting for a big tub of Nutella or lemon curd.... mmmm
I will admit that I could have made these yesterday but I watched the Holy War instead and Holy COW! Jumping, screaming, scaring the child! What a game!
Croissants AND a perfect MWC record? Could this weekend be any better? I submit that it could not.
*burp*
I'm eating hot dogs and you're eating croissants. . . somethings not right here.
Cro-- Crois--
Sigh.
I demand the recipe. DEMAND it I say. OK, ummmm perhaps I should actually be begging you. So pretty pleaes with azucar on top? Email or snail mail would be fantastic.
Yours forever, BowlerGirl
How about if Paris itself rolls into a flour-butter-yeasty piece of heaven and mails itself to MY door?
Yes, how could you taunt us all with the tale of flaky goodness without posting the recipe??
I really, really need those crossaints.
With swiss cheese, I think. Melted.
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
I really, really need those croissants with CHOCOLATE! I wants the recipe! I wants it now! You hear me, Zuc?!
You want me to type out four pages of directions and describe the illustrations? This may have to involve a scanner. I'll think about it...
Yes! It's not like I'm asking you to make me a cake that is a perfect and scaled replica of the Golden Gate Bridge or anything! GAH!
LYLAS!
I submit to you that it could not get any better than that.
(Well, it could've I guess if I'd been invited over to sample your fabulouso croissants.)
Truth is, anyone can bake a pie, but wedding cakes and croissants--Azucar, I salute you--queen of culinary masterpieces.
I am with kiki. Either scan it or mail them to each of us. YOu don't think we won't stage a coup? We will SO stage a coup. A Croissant coup.
your post title (if spoken with a lisp) reminds me of Antonia on madtv.
Great looking croissants-
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