I must admit that I don't cook much anymore. You probably wouldn't want my recipes anyway. I do make great collard greens, though. But that, once again, is another blog. So instead, I thought I would share with you one of the things that the French do so well and we can't copy no matter how we try...pastries. This is my favorite French pastry...a religieuse, which also means "nun." I never have figured that one out. It is a puff pastry with the most delicious custard filling inside. There's even custard inside the little topknot. I like the ones that are coffee flavored. You have to eat them a certain way by my rules. You must take the little topknot off and eat it in one bite and then you can start on the rest in ordinary fashion. You will think you have died and gone to heaven! Maybe that's why they call it "religieuse."Anyway, years ago when my nephews were small, I kept them for a week while my sister and her husband went to France. I only made one request of my sister...buy a religieuse and before eating the topknot in one bite say..."This is for Deborah." That's what my family calls me. That gave me great pleasure...thinking of my sister eating that little topknot for me. When they got home and came to pick up the boys, she had a white box in her hand and said..."This is for Deborah." Inside were four...count them...four religieuses! I cried. I am crying now. My wonderful sister had bought them that morning and held them on her lap all the way from Paris. I put them in the refrigerator and made myself wait one hour between bites. It's one of the best presents I've ever had!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for all these years of being my wonderful sister! I love you....Deborah
Evening, Debbie!! Oh, what a sweet touching story!! It must be nice to have such a sweet caring sister. Those thingys do look delicious!
ReplyDeletebe a sweetie,
Shelia :)
Oh my gosh! My mouth is watering. Brussels is half French/half Flemmish. We lived in a Flemmish neighborhood, but in our commune there was a French patisserie. My husband, my son and I would ride our bikes into town square on Saturday mornings, get coffees and hot chocolates - and eat these little morsels of heaven until we almost puked. LOL When we moved back, I saw some frozen cream puffs at Sam's Club, and was so desperate, I brought them home. Heehee - not little morsels of heaven. I sooo love your stories, but it makes me miss Europe even more. sigh!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, That is one sweet thing your sister did for you. It sure looks delicious. MMM...I am lucky as well. Both my sisters are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you visited tonight. I can't begin to tell you how much I'm enjoying "Dewey". I know you will love it! Let me know if you read it too.~Melissa
Hi Debbie it looks sooooo tasty!
ReplyDeleteOh the pastries!! I really miss the pastries!! It's hard to get one that's less than wonderful! And what a sweet sweet sister you have! Ok now what am I gonna do? I want a "religieuse" experience! *winks* Vanna
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Vanna. Let's go to Paris and get one! Debbie
ReplyDeleteHi, this is my first visit to your wonderful blog and I have enjoyed it...I went to RMS and checked out your gorgeous home. I can see right now that I'll be back often to visit your blog and if you don't mind I'm going to add you to my blog list. ;-) Bo
ReplyDeleteHow totally decadent and delicious that looks. I do believe I could eat at least two in one sitting. It might put me into a sugar or fat coma, but it would be "so worth it".
ReplyDeleteOhhh, yes! They are delicious! Yum! Thanks for the visit Glenda!...Debbie
ReplyDeleteI loved this story! How sweet of your sister, and how wonderful of you to keep hr children while they went to Paris. I'm sure she thought it was worth all of the effort to get these wonderful pastries home to you after you kept her children for her. It's wonderful to have a sister that you want to do things for, and she wants to do things for you! laurie
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, this looks so delicious. I've never had the pleasure of eating one. But, I do believe I would start at the top as you do. What a sweet thing for your sister to do. And now you have the memory as well. And Happy Birthday to your sister Page.. hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie YUMMY!!! first thing in the morning..and how special of your sister to do this for you...Oh now I am hungry..great story girl..thanks for coming by my PINK Saturday and the first lady of France is Beautiful..hugs and smiiles Gloria
ReplyDeleteGM French Fry...hope all is well on your side of the mountain today..hugs and smiles Gloria
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, I enjoyed every bite vicariously. I have never had a pastry straight from France before, what a special thoughtful gift. I do make cream puffs from time to time. I was amazed at how easy the cream puffs are to make. I am sure they are no where near what you would get at a French Pastry shop but still pretty yummy. I love the picts on your side bar, I saw Monet's house so that answers one of my ???'s. Now I would love a story about French Lavender, by the way I finished ironing those linen napkins, they smell divine.Hugs, Kathysue
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie, for your visit and kind heartfelt words today!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
What a wonderful story, and what a sweetie of a sister. That pastry looks incredible, none of the nuns I knew growing up were that pretty lol. My husband is from Philadelphia, and I brought back cannollis from his favorite Italian bakery for my gals at work, they had never had them. I sat them on my lap the entire plane ride home, but that was a much shorter trip! Enjoyed the story.
ReplyDeleteAren't sisters wonderful? And I'm sure it brought her such joy to surprise you!
ReplyDelete