Pistachio Financiers

"Thanks to Proust, when it comes to tea cakes, madeleines get all the love. But I prefer the heftier, more serious financier. The two-bite pastry is as rich as the name suggests: Its defining ingredients are almond flour and sweet butter, lightened with whipped egg whites. It's typically a simple rectangle to the madeleine's seashell, but despite its unassuming look, the financier is a small vessel of joy. One of the best I've tasted is this fine-crumbed version from Paris baker Eric Kayser, which he makes in several flavors, including the especially excellent, nut-rich pistachio; it melts in the mouth, a quiet luxury as indelible as any madeleine. —Gabriella Gershenson..."