Mad About Macarons! A French – Scottish Food Blog in Paris

November 14, 2019

This dessert is almost cheating! Made in 20 minutes using 2 Granny Smiths, ready-made butter puff pastry, honey, almonds, butter and Calvados. A veritable French fall recipe...

Jill Colonna

French Apple Crumble Cake

14 Comments

October 29, 2019

A genius, easy gingerbread apple & oat crumble 'gateau' from French film director & screenwriter, Danièle Thompson. Enjoy chilled for dessert, teatime, or give a French touch to Thanksgiving.

Jill Colonna

Montmartre Chocolate Pastry Walk

14 Comments

October 19, 2019

Join me for a delicious Autumnal stroll in Montmartre's more hidden side. Taste the artistic ambience, macarons, madeleines - and perhaps leave 'Absinthe'-minded!

Jill Colonna

Healthy Banana Oat Muffins (no added sugar)

12 Comments

September 30, 2019

A naturally sweet breakfast boost using dried fruits, brazil nuts for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month.

Jill Colonna

Crispy Sesame Tuiles

8 Comments

August 12, 2019

The easiest, quickest French-style biscuits made with sesame seeds - perfect for teatime or served with black sesame ice cream for dessert

Jill Colonna

Roasted Tomato Mozzarella Bites

14 Comments

July 26, 2019

Just a few minutes of roasting tomatoes concentrates the best tomato flavour to make these simple, delicious summer nibbles.

Jill Colonna

Cracked Macaron Black Forest Creams

14 Comments

July 14, 2019

Cracked macarons? Make these chocolate cherry boozy gluten free desserts. They're so good, you'll want to make them with perfect macaron shells too!

Jill Colonna

Air-Conditioned Paris Tea Salons

10 Comments

June 27, 2019

Find a listing of the coolest Parisian tearooms during the summer heatwave.

Jill Colonna

Saint-Germain Almond Cake

22 Comments

June 14, 2019

Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye outside Paris in 1920, this simple almond and rum patisserie is so easy and addictive too!

Jill Colonna

Béarnaise Sauce - Recipe & Origins

16 Comments

June 3, 2019

Ooh the simple Béarn-ecessities of life! This sublime French sauce is so easy to whisk up - did you know it was invented where Louis XIV was born near Paris?

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle Roof Visits

Jill Colonna

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle Roof Visit (Paris Day Trips)

18 Comments

May 23, 2019

A taste of royal history from the birthplace of Louis XIV, Debussy and some culinary origins too. Only 30 mins from Paris. Plan ahead your rooftop visit May to end September.

Jill Colonna

Rose Rhubarb Orange Cake

22 Comments

May 11, 2019

Celebrate rhubarb and rose season with this light financier-style French cake for teatime, breakfast or brunch - and an easy bake to say Merci to Maman.

Jill Colonna

10 Reasons to Visit Honfleur, Normandy

14 Comments

April 27, 2019

What to see and do in this romantic French town and what makes it such a popular getaway - only 2 hours drive from Paris

Jill Colonna

Chocolate Easter Bunny Birthday Cake

4 Comments

April 18, 2019

Great for Easter, birthdays or baby showers: hidden dark, moist chocolate cake topped with the easiest reduced sugar white chocolate buttercream. So good, you'll want it at any time of year!

Jill Colonna

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Crumble

20 Comments

March 16, 2019

Comfort food dessert at its best - with a healthy dose of bittersweet chocolate that melts into the vanilla fruit, topped with oats.

Jill Colonna

Poire Belle Helene - A Musical Story

14 Comments

March 2, 2019

When music and dessert are pair-fect partners: this classic Parisian dessert was created by a famous French chef, inspired by a French soprano's voice singing Offenbach in Paris

Jill Colonna

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

15 Comments

February 20, 2019

Up close with the most lush, dark, comfort-food classic dessert with apple - seeing blurry? Looking for a spoon? You may have sticky toffee pudding syndrome. Quick and check out the solutions...

Hottest Paris Food Tour #parisfoodtour #paristravel

The Hottest Paris Food Tour

12 Comments

February 18, 2019

A great introduction to traditional French foods for your trip to Paris, enjoyed in relaxed restaurant settings in the lovely Marais.

Jill Colonna

Caramelised Pineapple Rice Pudding (Riz Condé)

17 Comments

February 8, 2019

French riz au lait served "à la Condé", a chic yet simple vanilla rice pudding with pineapple. Kicking off an exciting Alexandre Dumas culinary challenge.

Jill Colonna

Raspberry Vegan Macarons: Aquafaba French Meringue

24 Comments

January 31, 2019

How to make picture perfect macarons without any egg whites or dairy in sight. Vegan macaron tips and tasting test conclusions.

Jill Colonna

Chicken Prune Tagine - Spicy Comfort Food

14 Comments

January 25, 2019

A gently spiced family favourite that's lighter than it looks. Light a candle, dim the lights and be transported to Morocco in Paris!

My List of Best Paris Tea Salons (cosy to chic by arrondissement)

November’s Best of Le Blog

Jill Colonna

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Crumble

20 Comments

March 16, 2019

Comfort food dessert at its best - with a healthy dose of bittersweet chocolate that melts into the vanilla fruit, topped with oats.

Jill Colonna

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

15 Comments

February 20, 2019

Up close with the most lush, dark, comfort-food classic dessert with apple - seeing blurry? Looking for a spoon? You may have sticky toffee pudding syndrome. Quick and check out the solutions...

The Hottest Paris Food Tour

12 Comments

February 18, 2019

A great introduction to traditional French foods for your trip to Paris, enjoyed in relaxed restaurant settings in the lovely Marais.

Jill Colonna

Chicken Prune Tagine - Spicy Comfort Food

14 Comments

January 25, 2019

A gently spiced family favourite that's lighter than it looks. Light a candle, dim the lights and be transported to Morocco in Paris!

Jill Colonna

Cranachan Parfait - An Iced Scottish Dessert

10 Comments

January 20, 2019

My French twist to the traditional Scottish dessert of cream, honey, Whisky, oats and raspberries for Burn's Night, St Andrew's Night, St Valentine's - or any occasion.

Jill Colonna

Smoked Tea Beurre Blanc Salmon

6 Comments

January 12, 2019

A French-Scottish alliance for St Andrew's or Burn's Night - with my smoked twist to the classic beurre blanc sauce using a simple Lapsang Souchong teabag. It's so easy, don't tell anybody...

Jill Colonna @Mad About Macarons

Melting Meringue Snowballs

11 Comments

December 16, 2018

French meringues generously filled with hazelnut praline, lemon jelly, vanilla cream and candied chestnut for a light, festive dessert that's just waiting for you to 'throw' a party!

Jill Colonna

Bourdaloue Pear Tart - a Parisian Classic

10 Comments

December 8, 2018

Found in many patisseries at this time of year, this tart has been glazing around Paris since the 1900s when it was invented in Rue Bourdaloue.

Jill Colonna

Butternut Walnut Gratin - Playing Winter Squash

8 Comments

December 4, 2018

Our comforting way of playing squash in Autumn and Winter! Delicious veggies with toasted walnuts for the crunch that cling to a layer of melted cheese.

Jill Colonna

Chocolate Ginger Fondant Cake

7 Comments

November 20, 2018

A spicy ginger twist to the French classic fudgy fondant that's not only quick and easy but tastes even better next day. Easy to prepare a gluten-free version too.

Jill Colonna

Gratin Dauphinois - French Creamy Potato Bake

8 Comments

November 15, 2018

Enjoy a cosy Autumn with this easy French classic, adding a truffle of luxury for special occasions - or a new discovery I've made this month that takes this to another new level.

Jill Colonna

Pumpkin Pecan Chestnut Flour Tart

4 Comments

November 12, 2018

Inspired by the colourful Autumnal scenes in Paris, taste Autumn on a plate with this lush vegetarian French tart for the holiday season.

Jill Colonna

Breakfast Oat Cookies with Hazelnut & Cranberry

13 Comments

October 6, 2018

A deliciously healthy start to the day with reduced sugar, plus a perfect quick teatime 'goûter' to tide you over until dinner without the guilt

Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle

8 Comments

May 17, 2018

A strictly adult, berry boozy Royal celebration dessert. A trifle British but uses Parisian macarons, making it gluten free.

French Crème Caramel

11 Comments

May 4, 2018

The favourite classic on many Parisian restaurant menus - yet so easy to make at home. This one is so melt-in-the-mouth light!

Jill Colonna

Matrimonial Cake - Oaty Shortbread Date Squares

21 Comments

February 17, 2018

On a date? Try this oaty Matrimonial Cake, like my Scottish Granny used to make and make the other half melt!

Purple Carrot Cake

8 Comments

January 19, 2018

Purple Carrot Cake: an even healthier version of the classic, just as moist, huge on flavour but reduced in sugar, less oil and full of health benefits to help fight the winter blues

Christmas Oat Granola - A Healthy Festive Breakfast

6 Comments

December 9, 2017

Go nuts! Make your mornings 'oat-ra' special with festive warming spices, orange & maple - and no added sugar!

Jill Colonna

Putting on The Ritz - Paris Teatime

11 Comments

December 6, 2017

For the ultimate luxury Parisian afternoon, head to the Proust room for a French Afternoon Tea and experience the author's famous Madeleines by his favourite fireplace.

Stuffed Mini Pumpkins

5 Comments

November 4, 2017

The best, healthy & edible decorations for your Autumn table - deliciously easy, ready in 30 minutes and perfect for advance party prep.

Potato Gratin Savoyard

10 Comments

March 30, 2017

A simple family recipe for potato gratin, a lighter version of a Gratin Dauphinois with no cream and just as delicious. Try it and see!

Gingerbread Apple Caramel Trifles

4 Comments

December 23, 2016

A must try! The perfect Autumnal dessert or an alternative to Thanksgiving - delicious with salted caramel macarons from 'Teatime in Paris'.

Fiadone Corsican Cheesecake

12 Comments

November 3, 2016

The laziest cheesecake on the planet! A Brocciu or Ricotta Cake Corsican family dessert typically served between November and June.

Drambuie Ice Cream (No-Churn)

21 Comments

February 19, 2016

This Scottish whisky liqueur, honey and herb ice cream will liven up any dinner party when it’s served with dessert! Strictly for adults only…

Cullen Skink Scottish Smoked Haddock Soup

Cullen Skink Smoked Haddock Soup

15 Comments

January 18, 2016

Whether for your Scottish St Andrew's Night (Nov 30th) or Burn's Night menu (25 Jan) - or for a cosy gathering to chase away the winter chill! Why the name, "Cullen Skink"?