Anything short of the Hot Chocolate L’African served at Angelina’s on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris gives me a chocolate-induced migraine. So trying this week’s
French Fridays with Dorie challenge,
Nutella Tartine, was out of the question. Nutella was created in the 1940’s by Pietro Ferrero to extend the limited supply of chocolate in his wartime baking. It has become something of a beloved chocolate and hazelnut spread and a frequent peanut butter alternative. But it contains chocolate, certainly not the Belgian kind used at Angelina’s, and it was left to my sous chef to provide comments for this article. His review was short and sweet—like the
Nutella Tartine—and can be summed up thusly: “It tastes like a raised chocolate jelly doughnut, only I would rather have one from Winchell’s. It is much to do about nothing.”
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| The ingredients for Nutella Tartine – sort of like making toast |
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| Butter Brioche before broiling |
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| In the broiler (I remembered to keep the door open to prevent fire – learned that one the hard way!) |
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| Voila – Nutella Tartine in less than 6 minutes |
I also wanted dessert that night, so I prepared
Marie Helene’s Apple Cake as a supplementary dish. Two spatulas up for this cake. It has a great flavor profile and texture from the mixture of four different apples – pink lady, gala, golden delicious and granny smith. The cake portion was light, reminiscent of a pineapple upside down cake in texture. Quick and easy to prepare, this is now part of our dessert rota. It has few ingredients, doesn’t cost a fortune to make and can please even the most strident food critic.
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| Time to make Marie Helene’s Apple Cake |
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| Batter has great consistency |
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| Add peeled, chopped apples |
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| Fold apples into cake mixture |
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| Place in spring-form pan |
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| Finished product – Why don’t I have a cake-stand or plate for display? Can you guess what’s on my Valentines list? |
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| With all this fruit and so little cake, it has to be healthy! |
www.frenchfridayswithdorie.com
To buy
Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan and sample her fantastic cuisine visit your local bookstore or Amazon!
If chocolate gave me headaches I’d have to shoot myself…terrible! Since I’m addicted I need my daily chocolate. But what a great FFwD group member you are to make this recipe when you can’t have it…it would be torture for me. But, good for you to bake the apple cake. I really liked that cake and was thinking about making it again this week. Seeing your confirms that I will. Nice post and makes me thankful for another thing in my life…that I can eat chocolate and feel happy, not painful!!!
Oh no! I don’t think my life would be as happy without chocolate, but my mom doesn’t eat it because of migraines and she gets along just fine. I love the apple cake as well…it’s my husband’s favorite recipe from the book and I make it at least once a month.
I can’t imagine chocolate migraines 🙁 Sorry the tartine wasn’t for you but the apple cake looks wonderful. I missed baking that back when FFwD did it and was planning on making it soon since I have an abundance of apples currently. Yours looks lovely.
I hope you get a cake stand for Valentine’s! I’d lend you one 😉 I have at least a half dozen. People always gift them to me. I have a favorite and rarely use the other ones. Although they are pretty to look, they are just tough to store since they are fragile. But should I ever host a cake buffet I’d be prepared.
That’s definitely a reason to avoid chocolate – nothing is worth a migraine, in my book. Funny about the doughnut description – I actually thought the tartine was fairly light, considering its ingredients. Although, I didn’t use brioche, which probably made a difference.
I think you win a FFwD award for making this dish knowing that you would not be able to try it. That’s dedication! But since the apple cake was one of my all time favorite Dorie recipes, which I have made several times now since it’s so darn easy, I don’t think that you missed out too much this week. In fact, I liked the tartine, but the apple cake was much better!
Pretty pretty! It takes a lot of dedication to stick to FFwD even if you cannot have chocolate. Your apple cake looks divine.
We thought this was much ado about nothing too. I have not tried the apple cake yet, but I must do it soon!
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a slice of either dish right now! Great post!
Tricia and I visited Angelina’s when we were in Paris in September. It was wonderful.
Tricia had the hot chocolate and it was so thick, it was unbelievable. A lovely
place and we both enjoyed it. Sorry you don’t do chocolate, but your tartine looks
fantastic.
You’re a star for making something you don’t eat, but you were at least repaid with the apple cake. That was a catch-up for me, too, and my favorite FFWD dessert so far.
Weekend viands.blogspot.com
I lo-o-ove that apple cake. I made one a few weeks ago, and every time I think about it, I want another. I like to convince myself that it’s the same as eating an apple. hehe. It’s not. Oh well. Impressed you bothered with this week’s recipe since you can’t eat chocolate!!
Oh no! No chocolate? Guess you’ve adjusted but sounds awful to me! I also loved the cake. I too am working my way through TwD posts. There are so many!
I am so sorry about the migraines, they are awful! Your tartines look great though! I wasn’t 100% sold on it either, it was OK. Now that apple cake looks amazing, I will definitely have to look up that recipe!
Two gold starts for making something you couldn’t eat. I loved that apple cake – I think that might have been my first FFwD recipe 🙂
If you were closer, I’d let you borrow a cake stand. I have a bit of a collection…I just like them for some reason.
Christy, You really cannot say “Angelina’s” and Nutella is the same sentence. Not Fair. Sorry that this was not really a Winner in your household. Loved the applecake.
I love the title, and love Maire Helene’s cake, too.
Peggy
http://adoptsomom.wordpress.com/
No Nutella! Oh my. (You should try biscoff spread. So good and no chocolate)
Interesting feedback from your sous chef but I guess it’s hard to measure up to a fresh-out-of-fryer doughnut. 😉 It’s too bad chocolate does not agree with you. Thanks for the reminder about the apple cake! It was my first recipe with FFwD and one of my favourites. I think it’s time to revisit.
Your tartine looks wonderful with the sliced almonds…and I had to laugh at your hubby’s comments. They tell it how they see it, don’t they? And I’d love to make that apple cake again…mmmmmmm.
LOL – jelly doughnuts are good too, but I enjoyed this one (which surprised me!). Your cake looks devine …
My family LOVES the apple cake. In fact, I have apples in my fridge right now waiting to be turned into this cake. We’ve make it several times. We like a little vanilla ice cream with ours but it certainly doesn’t need it. 🙂
Everything looks scrumptious here! Your tartine looks wonderful and I have to try the apple cake soon!
I enjoyed a strawberry tart at Angelinas, so memorable what a fun place to visit with friends, both for the goodies and the people watching;-)
Helene Marie’s apple cake was the first recipe that Nana and I made when we joined FFWD, so this cake will always be special to me. And so will that Angelina hot chocolate. Nana was kind when she commented on it and mentioned that I enjoyed it during our last visit. She withheld the detail about my ordering a pastry as well. I almost get a stomach ache just thinking about the rich, filling combo. Oh my. But when in Rome, or Paris……
Lucky for me, I’d say that chocolate helps me get rid of a headache! But good for you for making it anyhow and another cake as well! Wow – you’ve got my mouth watering. And I’ll have to remember Angelina’s when I visit Paris again! Yum!
Definitely extra credit for you, Christy, for making something you don’t eat. Thanks for the reminder about the apple cake. I remember enjoying that one.
I’ve yet to make that apple cake, and it’s more my style than the Nutella Tartine, but I have to say I enjoyed my adaptation with crepes 😉
Thanks for the Blood Orange Sparkler recipe! I’m going to make the simple syrup and try your cocktail on a small gathering this evening. I’m making the French Friday mussels and chorizo. My first time to cook mussels! Wish me luck!
I’m so glad you liked the apple cake, I loved it too! Such a perfect, simple recipe. I’ll definitely be making that one again (just not the tartine…).
I have never suffered from migraines but my poor sister has so you have my sympathies. I happen to love nutella and still don’t see myself making this again.
I found it to be a bit too sweet.
Love your apple cake…this one was a favorite of ours! Yours looks wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it.