Laduree Paris Pastries

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography and personal photos

Last year in Paris my husband and I ate at Laduree http://www.laduree.com/ as many times as possible. Laduree is a French bakery with exquisite pastries and chocolates. I think I spent the majority of my cash eating rose creampuffs (rose religieuses) and Lily of the Valley macarons on a daily basis. Truly it's a bit of heaven on earth. I brought home as many goodies from Laduree as I could cram into my suitcase. Mostly chocolates and teas. Flavors like Marie Antoinette, Almond, Earl Grey, Laduree's own blend, Violette, Herbal Infusion, and some Cocoa. I pray that someday Laduree will open in the USA. Fortunately they have published a cookbookthat gives an easy version of some of their most popular sweets. I've made the rose creampuffs a couple of times and they do taste similar but not as good as the real thing. The recipe calls for rose water, rose syrup, and rose essence that can usually be found at Indian grocery stores.

Pink Candies and Divine Truffles

Photos: Callies Portrait Photography

Valentines Day has me thinking of chocolate and candy. Here is my collection of cute candy boxes, most of which I ate the entire contents already:

Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles from Charbonnel et Walker. Made in the UK but you can order off the Neiman Marcus website. They are pink colored truffles dusted with powdered sugar filled with a milk chocolate butter and Marc de Champagne center. Yum.

Dilettante Chocolate Champagne Truffles are also made with Marc De Champagne but add Strawberry Essence.

The Laudree Dragees are a French version of pink candy coated Jordan almonds. Usually handed out as wedding favors. The little jar of pink rose hard candy is from Paris as well. I purchased them from a florist who only sold roses, and mostly only pink ones which are my favorite.

Teuscher's Original and Dark Champagne Truffles are not pictured here but are one of my favorite. They are a dark chocolate ganache filled with Dom Perignon Champagne-laced buttercream. Delicious.