World Peace Cookies

These sables were created by French pastry maestro, Pierre Herme and was first recorded under the name Korova Cookies in Paris Sweets by Dorie Greenspan.  In her subsequent book, Baking: From my Home to Yours, Greenspan renamed this World Peace Cookies, as her neighbour became convinced that a daily dose of these cookies was all that is needed to ensure planetary peace and happiness.  When I first read this, I remembered thinking, hmmm...let's see.

The verdict ?  Cookies are usually not my cup of tea, but these cookies are so incredibly and ridiculously good (and addictive too).  The combination of chocolate and fleur de sel (an exotic salt) makes these cookies so appealing.  I just love the salty burst of flavour and can't seem to get enough of them.  At the rate I am going, I may just be at risk of waging war with my skinny jeans.  Not so world peace after all.  On second thought, who needs skinny jeans when you have these cookies (and world peace, of course).  I am in deep trouble, aren't I ?

Dainty Feet & Puffy Tops

Finally, after days of accumulating a wealth of information and loads of tips and tricks from my SIL, friends, fellow bloggers, and my cookbooks, this novice baker has plucked enough courage to attempt this little thing called the macaron.

Before I continue, I should admit that I have not tasted a professionally made macaron before.  The only macarons that I have tasted are the homemade ones made by my SIL.  Not that she's not a pro or that it wasn't professionally made, but you get my drift.  I guess what remains now is for me to plan a trip to Paris in order to sample the world acclaimed macaron and understand how it should taste like.  Paris Spring 2011, anyone ?

Little Hachikos

Have you watched the movie, Hachiko: A Dog's Story (or Hachi: A Dog's Tale) ? Based on a true story from Japan, it is a moving film about loyalty and the rare, invincible bond between a dog and his owner. If you have not watched the movie, I strongly urged you to do so.  My girl and I have watched it, possibly, 7-8 times and still counting, and she has also christened her favourite four legged fur ball, Hachiko.