It’s the most wonderful time of the year! What better way to kick off the holiday season than with these sweet treats! Mendiants are a traditional French confection made with melted chocolate and any topping of your choice. I have a sweet tooth so this is a perfect dessert that’s easy to make especially when you’re a working professional, busy parent or simply on the go. I’ve also always wanted to travel to France one day so this is the closest I’ll get in experiencing the culture! If you are assigned with the desserts at your upcoming holiday party or doing last minute holiday shopping, this one is for you. Preparation Time: 5 min Cook Time: 5 min Rest Time: 20 min Ingredients for 45 servings…
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Camembert & Apple Tart
With the weather changing, cooler air and shorter days coming, I’m craving pure comfort food. And you probably know me well by now, it has to include oozing cheese! So here is my go-to recipe for Camembert & Apple Tart. It’s just perfect when I want to indulge in gooey cheese in style with some veggies (or fruits in this case)! By the way, you can also make the same recipe with individual tart tins for a party or special events. Preparation Time: 25 min Cook Time: 25 min Ingredients for 6 2 firm apples, cut into thin wedges 6 oz Camembert, sliced 1 ready-made puff pastry 2 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 tablespoon walnut mustard -you can use plain dijon mustard, but I like the fragrant nutty flavor of the walnut 1 tablespoon honey Preparation…
French Cheese, The Big Stink
Did you know that France has more than 1,000 different types of cheeses? We all have our favorites, and one man’s “stinky” is another’s “j’adore”. So what are the 5 stinkiest French cheeses you can encounter in any good fromagerie -cheese shop? 1. Roquefort Origin: Aveyron Taste: Tangy & Salty This blue-veined stinky cheese is produced out of raw sheep’s milk and matured in caves around the small village of Roquefort, Southern France. White and salty, its creamy yet slightly grainy texture is deeply satisfying! Also known in France as the King of cheeses, any good cheese platter needs to contain Roquefort. 2. Maroilles Origin: Nord Pas de Calais Taste: Mild & Nutty Actually, its nickname is Vieux Puant aka old stinky, so you get a clear idea…
Homemade Beef Ragu with a French Twist
France is bound by Italy to the southeast, and needless to say that in France we love pasta! Pasta is super versatile and most of the time ready in a few minutes. Today, I’m sharing with you my easy dinner pasta recipe that I’m often making on weekdays: Beef Ragu Pasta. I’m sure you know that time of the day too; when you don’t have time and you just don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. So here’s my under 20-minute Beef Ragu recipe with a French twist, of course! Preparation Time: 5 min Cook Time: 15 min Ingredients for 8 1 lbs pasta 1 lbs ground beef 1/2 large onion, chopped 2 medium tomato, chopped 1 jar of Eggplant & Red-Pepper Bruschetta 1/4 tsp freshly ground…
How To Eat Oysters Like A French
There’s no wrong way to eat oysters – as long as you enjoy it – but here are a few tips from a French girl who had her first oyster at 3 years old -aka me! Oysters can be intimidating. I heard you, and I’m happy to share with you my knowledge of the Ocean Pearls, so you can now crush that oyster game. It’s ok to eat them all year long The saying goes that you should only eat oysters in months that contain the letter “r” (from September to April), but that’s not true anymore. Actually, this saying dates back -at least in France- to 1700’s, when Louis XV, oyster lover, forbid the transportation of oysters during the warm months. At that time, we didn’t have…
Honey-Roasted Plums
Last weekend I found myself with overripe plums in my kitchen. I didn’t want to go super fancy and make a Clafoutis or a Crumble (here’s my recipe for the savory Crumble -perfect to pack for work & lunchbox duties!). But then it hits me! My mother used to make us roasted plums almost every Sunday nights. It’s quick and easy, but looks pretty fancy too. To keep it healthy, my hack is to replace the sugar with some honey. Like this, you’ve got all the benefits from natural honey and not the negative effects of the refined sugar. Anyway, let me introduce the honey-roasted plums recipe. After being roasted, the plums are packed with intense-sweet and juicy flavor. The Crème fraîche brings a nice refreshing taste of…
Blueberry Fizzy Cocktail
This cocktail is definitely an unconventional mix for a cocktail, but I wanted to try something really different. And when my local grocery store was offering huge deals for this blue gems, I couldn’t resist buying a ton! So here I am with my 2 lbs of Blueberry in the fridge, wondering how I can eat all of them before they turn bad. Also looking at a very hot weekend… And I’m like why don’t I turn them in the perfect way to cool down on a hot day aka drinking cocktails! I love the wonderfully fruity and sweet taste from the plump juicy blueberries associated with the kick of limes. So here’s a quick cocktail recipe of the Blueberry Fizzy Cocktail for the perfect warm day, enjoy! Ingredients for…
Homemade Baguette Recipe
The last time I introduced a post about the Baguette it was for the Apéritif (French Happy Hour with wine and more food!). But the Baguette is so versatile. From the breakfast to the dinner it makes everything taste better! In the morning, I love to spread some butter and natural jam on my tartine (like a lot of French people). For lunch or dinner, the French bread is perfect with a salad or any meat dishes “en sauce” such as boeuf bourguignon. And for a quick, yet yummy snack, top your Baguette with some butter and dark chocolate. Now you understand what French people traveling abroad are missing the most… Their bread! Anyway, making a homemade Baguette is not as hard and time-consuming as you can expect….
Traditional French Ratatouille
Ratatouille is not only this gifted rat from Pixar, it’s also a delicious dish that originates from Provence, South of France! It came to exist over centuries of vegetables foreign to the region making their way to France, and French chefs doing the rest of the work. The various vegetables are arranged in a beautiful bouquet and cooked and drizzled with a luxurious sauce, making it a culinary work of art. It’s easy, healthy and the perfect side dish for your summer BBQ. Whether it’s an old family recipe, or you’re just trying it for the first time, you’re bound to love making Ratatouille. Just gather fresh ingredients and you’re ready to go! Preparation Time: 1h Cook Time: 1h Ingredients for 6 3 zucchinis thinly…
Zucchini Crumble recipe
You all know the delicious sweet crumbles with fruits or jam and cinnamon but, have you ever tried the savory version? This Zucchini Crumble recipe is healthy, easy-to-prepare and so delicious. My little trick is to mix crushed Cheese Crackers with regular wheat flour to have a crunchier and tastier Crumble! Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 30 min Ingredients for 4 servings 1 bag of Cheese Crackers 2 large zucchinis 5 oz butter 5 oz wheat flour 1 clove of garlic Olive oil Salt pepper Preparation Preheat your oven to 350°F. Peel the zucchinis, then cut them into cubes. Chop the garlic, put it in a pan with olive oil over high heat. Once hot, put the zucchinis inside and brown them. Crush the Cheese Crackers into small…