I remember making Madeleins for the first time when I was a kid and my parents would drop me off at my grandparents for the weekend while my dad was traveling for work. Madeleins were one of the first things we baked together. My grandmother was one of the classiest women I know and had a thing for elegance.
She always thought serving tea with madeleins was not only nice but necessary whenever some of her lady friends dropped in for the afternoon. While I didn’t necessarily always enjoy the afternoon tea with her and her girlfriends, I always did enjoy these sweet, fluffy cookies and though these days I am not much of a baker, I make two exceptions, my unsalted Tuscan bread and these delicate, petite cookies that help a strong cup of espresso go down easy.