The acclimation back into the daily grind is never easy after a low-key week at the beach. As you already know, the Talbot Family Vacation in RI was a smashing success; there were plenty of books read, skin burned and salt water unintetionally ingested. But what is a vacation without a few treats?! So as we loaded up the car with towels, chairs and enough clothing to dress the entire town I made sure there were some sweet (and potent) treats packed as well.
LEMON SABLES: France's version of a sugar cookie, these are delicate and light, perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. Dorie Greenspan (just bought her gigantic Baking cookbook, uhoh!) has an ingenious method of working the zest into the raw sugar with your fingertips to pull out just enough essence of lemon without being over powering.
{Dorie Greenspan's Lemon Sables via: The NY Times}
BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE COFFEE CAKE: I know, the title's a mouthful... and so is this decadent cake! Essentially a coffee cake base toped with cheesecake filling covered in a blueberry compote and finally sprinkled with almond crumb, this treat is both decadent and delicious. The real confusion though is with it being so rich (yet surprisingly not as dense as one would assume), is this a dessert or a breakfast item?
Well just eat it twice, problem solved!
{Recipe via: Sugar N' Flour}
GIN & TONICS: A Summer Staple. This year we made them with fragrant Hendrick's Gin, a splash of tonic and a slice of cucumber. The perfect pre-lobster dinner cocktail.
