Palmiers

Palm trees, with their confident sway and big evergreen leaves, symbolize the easy, sun-blessed Californian lifestyle.  But they also remind me of a cookie - Palmier, meaning "palm tree" in French, named for its shape resembling a palm leaf.  Palmiers are made by rolling a sheet of puff pastry in sugar, and folding it twice in opposite directions (it's easier to show this than explain it! For step-by-step instructions, please visit my other website:  www.yukokitazawa.com).  

While it is not documented who first came up with the idea, research shows the cookies were 

invented in the beginning of the twentieth century.  It is believed the French adopted the Middle Eastern method of layering thin sheets of pastry with sugar and spices (i.e., in baklava).  Others say, however, that Palmiers originated in Vienna, where they are traditionally served with coffee or tea.  

Whatever the origin, these cookies are highly addictive, with the  comforting flavors of butter and caramelized sugar. And they're very easy to make with store-bought puff pastry dough, which I recommend because no sane person really has the time or patience to make puff pastry from scratch.