Dear Financier Fanciers,
My good fortune continues- I received three sweet birthday treats last week from one of my oldest and dearest friends. She had been out to the beautiful coast of Maine, on an island even, just like Time of Wonder, and she brought back two nice cakes in a pretty handmade bowl. The cakes came from The Standard Baking Company. One was a multi-armed star shaped pastry, which I astounded my friend by recognizing as a Financier. And was it good!
The whole episode got me to thinking about pastries I have known, and pastries I have yet to meet.
I have planned for years to make Financiers, and also Friands, which are a kind of Australian close relative.
I have made many Madeleines, but I have not yet made Canelés. I have made Tarte Tatin, but not Île Flottante. Pithiviers and Paris-Brest, but not Le Succès. Reine de Saba, but not Charlotte Malakoff. I have made Mont Blanc, but not Blancmange, and I have made Pain d'Epice, L'Opéra, and Langues de Chat, but not Savarin.
Oh! I know, so many lovelies that I have yet to make; no time to chat! Try this recipe, if you like, from Eric Kayser, whose Financiers are a favorite of David Lebovitz's. They were very good, but not quite as good as the one from Standard Baking.
PS
Yes, we love Robert McCloskey here at the Dodo, and if you are anywhere near Hamilton, high in the middle and round at both ends, stop by this museum.
