Page 22 - 3FrenchHens

22 three french hens, two macarons, and lovers in a bakery

“Zenna,” Margot said from the other side of the kitchen, “I told Tali to leave. Will you
help me with the orders for tomorrow?” Amazing, Zenna thought, she’s going to act like
nothing happened. Deciding going along with Margot’s denial was kinder, not to mention
safer, than bringing up anything to do with Aubin at the moment, Zenna smiled and took a
stack of orders out of her friend’s hands. “Two Raspberry Charlottes for Oralie’s daughter,”
she said, taking out the raspberries and pear brandy to get started.
It’s going to be a long night, Zenna thought, so she opened the brandy and took a swig. The
brandy traveled down her throat, burning as it slipped and fell into her churning stomach.
Margot also felt burnt, but rather than sit and lick her wounds she decided redemption in
the form of success and lots of sex would be much sweeter.

Charlotte a la Framboise

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room
temperature
• 4 large eggs, separated
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 7 tablespoons cake flour
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• For the filling
• 9 cups fresh raspberries (or thawed if
frozen)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 package unflavored gelatin in ¼ cup
cold water
• ¼ cup pear brandy (eau-de-vie de
poire) or pear liqueur
• 2 cups heavy cream
• For the sauce
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, processed until superfine
• 1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 ½ tablespoons pear brandy (eau-de-vie de poire) or pear liqueur