(Images: Lisa Kettell of Moonfaires, Majik Design and Asunder Ephemera)Also, thank you so much to Soul Journal for allowing me to participate in my first-ever blog party!
Dearest Friends,
Wishing you a very most happy day! May you have a day surrounded by beautiful valentines, wrapped in yards of organza and silk ribbons, wreathed in roses and indulging in delicious chocolates, pastries and of course, your favorite cup of tea! Don't forget that if you are alone today, please treat yourself. YOU are your Best Valentine Friend!
Dearest Friends,
Wishing you a very most happy day! May you have a day surrounded by beautiful valentines, wrapped in yards of organza and silk ribbons, wreathed in roses and indulging in delicious chocolates, pastries and of course, your favorite cup of tea! Don't forget that if you are alone today, please treat yourself. YOU are your Best Valentine Friend!
This is my playlist for the morning:
La Vie en Rose- Louis Armstrong, I'm In the Mood for Love - Bryan Ferry (I love all the violins in this!), Si Tu N'Es Pas La and Guilty - from the Amelie soundtrack, Les Barricades Mysterious and K. 213 - from the Marie Antoinette soundtrack (oooh, harpsichords!), and for the rest of the day, all four disks of Lullabies to Violaine by the Cocteau Twins!
So, in honor of this special day, here is my fantasy French pastry indulgence for our Heureux Saint-Valentin!:
This is composed of a small and a large cream puff, the small is filled with pastry cream scented with rose water and the large is filled with the same rose cream and a small layer of raspberry puree. The whole thing is covered in royal icing, also scented with rose and joined with buttercream.
This is one of Pierre Hermé's beautiful cakes, made in a heart shape for this special day. Every part of this cake is made with vanilla from three sources: Mexico, Madagascar and Tahiti.
La Vie en Rose- Louis Armstrong, I'm In the Mood for Love - Bryan Ferry (I love all the violins in this!), Si Tu N'Es Pas La and Guilty - from the Amelie soundtrack, Les Barricades Mysterious and K. 213 - from the Marie Antoinette soundtrack (oooh, harpsichords!), and for the rest of the day, all four disks of Lullabies to Violaine by the Cocteau Twins!
So, in honor of this special day, here is my fantasy French pastry indulgence for our Heureux Saint-Valentin!:
The Rose Religieuse from Ladurée:
This is composed of a small and a large cream puff, the small is filled with pastry cream scented with rose water and the large is filled with the same rose cream and a small layer of raspberry puree. The whole thing is covered in royal icing, also scented with rose and joined with buttercream. The next is on my wish list for our next trip to Paris. This is the Coeur Infiniment Vanille (Infinite Vanilla Heart):
This is one of Pierre Hermé's beautiful cakes, made in a heart shape for this special day. Every part of this cake is made with vanilla from three sources: Mexico, Madagascar and Tahiti.And finally, heart-shaped pâtes de fruits from Hediard:
Mr. V and I fell in love with pâtes de fruits from Pierre Hermé (his variety called "Celeste" made of layers of passionfruit, strawberry and rhubarb), but these were so beautiful we would have to try them too! Pâtes de fruits are made by cooking down large amounts of fresh fruit until it is a thick jelly consistancy (much more concentrated than jam or jelly) and then cutting into squares (or in this case hearts). They are the most perfect essence of the fruit captured for enjoyment long after the fruit has left the trees, bushes and brambles.
Mr. V and I fell in love with pâtes de fruits from Pierre Hermé (his variety called "Celeste" made of layers of passionfruit, strawberry and rhubarb), but these were so beautiful we would have to try them too! Pâtes de fruits are made by cooking down large amounts of fresh fruit until it is a thick jelly consistancy (much more concentrated than jam or jelly) and then cutting into squares (or in this case hearts). They are the most perfect essence of the fruit captured for enjoyment long after the fruit has left the trees, bushes and brambles.Wishing you a beautiful day!
Betty
Posts
Happy Valentine's Day to you! Your image is so pretty and those delicate French lovelies look positively delicious!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you, Lizzi! I'm glad you like the collage (I love making them!) and the pastries! Thank you for visiting! Betty
ReplyDeleteDear Betty, I just want to sit here with a cup of tea and one of your lovely goodies that you posted. They look so yummy I think I will have to go find myself a treat today. Warm wishes for a sweet day!XOXO, Caryn
ReplyDeleteOh, My...too beautiful to eat, BUT, I could sure try!!! Just mingling for Soul Journal's Valentine Party, and I am so glad to meet you and your elegant blog!!! I love it! Please visit my Valentine poem post!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marilyn
gorgeous pastries!
ReplyDeletehappy valentines day
Happy Valentine's Day. Your images are all so lovely. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteO how lovely, especially the heart pate des fruits! I just love the way the light shines through them and as other bloggers have said: Too Pretty To Eat! Your blog makes me want to find my passport, grab my credit card and jump on the next plane to Paris! Thank you for sharing.LN
ReplyDeleteBeautiful collage! And those treats just look way too yummy! Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteDear New Blog Party Friends, thank you so much for all of your nice comments!! This has been a very fun introduction to blog parties and I have been glad to have seen all of your beautiful blogs too! Betty
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day, Betty. The collage is beautiful. I enjoyed the listing of your love filled tracks. The sweets...ah. One day I'm going to Paris. The pastries you showed us are gorgeous. The heart made of Vanillas from all around the world, I must taste this someday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines day! Your desserts are to die for. I'm getting hungry just looking at them. ;)
ReplyDelete*SOUL HUGS*
Sarah
Love the top photo. Happy Valentine's day! :D
ReplyDeleteXOXO,
Heather :)
How wonderful! ( now of course, i am hungry!) HAve a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteI am visiting from the blog party and your party treats are simply deliciously divine! I can well imagine that they are as tasty as they look. Have a sweet day!
ReplyDeleteI love the Cocteau Twins. I'll have to download some of their music today. I haven't listened to them in years. I think we have the same taste in treats too! I'm delighted that you joined the party - you make a very fine hostess!
ReplyDelete{soul hugs}
k
Happy Valentines Day!
ReplyDeleteYour collage is wonderful! The yummy pastries are divine... fit for Marie Antoinette! ;o)
Best Wishes
PS: I'm now a follower of your blog... we have similar tastes! ;o)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's day. Even though I have just eaten my Valentine evening meal, I think I could manage just a teensy little bit of one of these beautiful goodies..or maybe even a little of all three :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing these wonderful desserts to the party.
OMG! You definitely flung a craving on me! TG my DH gave me a cake and ice cream for my "sweet" be mine gift!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day - just going to sit here and enjoy a cup of tea and a sweet treat!
ReplyDeleteWhat a yummy post!
ReplyDeletemmmmmmm lovely music, lovely food.......so glad I stopped by xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am hungry now and want to go back to Paris.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, thank you to everyone who has visited! - Betty
ReplyDeletehi betty ~ what a delicious post! i crave laduree's macaroons, wish i could just run over and get some right now1 now that would be the best valentines day gift ever!
ReplyDeletexo heidi