France in an Instagram: Paris Edition

Paris is a magical city. It's one of those places that you visit and feel like you could never see everything, even if you stayed for weeks. Around every corner is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Here are a few I discovered along the way.

-Steak frites the first night. What a way to begin our Parisien journey!

-Creme brûlée in a tiny corner bistro at midnight.  

-Croque en bouche and a plum tart from a patisserie on Rue Mouffetard. Consumed minutes after purchase on a sweet little picnic bench. People watching is a must in Paris.

-The inside of the most beautiful croque en bouche I have ever tasted. So creamy, with a thin layer of amber caramel that gives it the slightest crunch. Dreamy.

-Two words: Crepe Nutella. 

-There's a first time for everything. Escargot with garlic butter.

-Sangria in Paris? Why not!

-Smoked duck Raclette. You put the cheese onto a little tray, which you then put in the machine in the picture. It magically melts the cheese and it comes out ooey and gooey and delicious. It's traditionally served with boiled potatoes, pickles and a meat of some sort. We had ours with smoked duck, which was salty and smokey. A strange yet amazing experience!

-This is what the cheese looks like after being in the raclette machine. It pours out like a sauce!

-The gorgeous counter at Pierre Herme. Look at those colors! Absolutely stunning.

-More Pierre Herme creations. I really wanted what looks like a giant slice of chocolate cake! Or the giant macaron. Or the lemon tart... or...

-Perfectly gorgeous macarons.

Coconut & Lime Bars

"She put the lime in the coconut and she drank 'em both up." -Harry Nillson

I guess I'm having a bit of trouble letting go of summer. I got married in August and spent the early summer months planning. While it will probably be written in the history books as the best summer of my life, I still feel like I missed out on the classic relaxing by the pool summer I'm so used to. So now, back in not-so-sunny ol' England and missing the long summer days, I needed something to take me back to the sunshine, if only in a bite or two or three. Now I just wish I had some kind of cocktail with an umbrella in it!

Back to reality. These bars are the perfect twist on the classic Lemon Bar. They are tart yet sweet and the coconut that is baked into the crust and piled on top of the chartreuse custard gives an earthy flavor that leaves your mouth wanting more and more! Believe me, they should actually be called 'Houdini Bars' as they disappear right before your eyes! Magical citrus goodness.

Coconut & Lime Bars Adapted slightly from Epicurious
Makes one 9x13 pan, about 32 squares


For the crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
12 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
2/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted and cooled
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp salt

For the custard:
8 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup fresh lime juice, from about 10 limes
2 tbsp freshly grated lime zest, from about 4 limes
2/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted and cooled
Lime green food coloring (optional)


Make crust:
Preheat oven to 325°F. and butter and flour an 9x13 inch baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

In a bowl blend together with fingertips flour, butter, coconut, confectioners' sugar, and salt until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture into prepared pan and bake in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.

Make custard:
In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in flour, lime juice, and zest. Add lime green food coloring to achieve desired limey color if desired.

Pour mixture over crust and bake in middle of oven 20 minutes. Top custard with coconut and bake 5 to 10 minutes more, or until just set. Cool confection in pan on a rack and chill 1 hour.