Popular throughout many countries, membrillo (aka, quince paste or quince cheese) is incredibly versatile and one of the most delicious confections you've ever tasted!The quince fruit has been prized since ancient times and up until around the early 19th century was … Continue reading →
Cauliflower Gratin with Ham
A fabulous lower-carb alternative to potatoes, this creamy gratin is SO delicious! It's easy to make and we can almost guarantee your guests will love it!If you're looking for a phenomenal side dish that is low in carbs, this is it!I bought two heads of … Continue reading →
Blackberry Clafoutis
This classic French dessert is not only incredibly delicious, it's one of the easiest desserts to make. And that's always a winning combination!It's blackberry season here in Washington State and as usual the harvest is abundant. The grow practically everywhere and … Continue reading →
French Pork Rillettes (Rillettes de Porc)
I'm always amused by dishes now considered gourmet and upscale that were in years past ridiculed as peasant food. Foods like lobster, oysters, foie gras, and famous dishes like coq au vin and boeuf bourgignon used to be the food of the poor - now they're only served in the … Continue reading →
How To Make a Cheese Soufflé
The soufflé has been around for 300 years, originating in France in the early 1700's. The word soufflé is the past participle of the verb souffler which means "to breathe" or "to puff." It was first developed by French master chef Vincent La Chapelle who was the personal … Continue reading →
Easy Mexican Chocolate Pots de Crème
I first introduced you to my Easy Chocolate Pots de Crème in early 2015 and it has remained our favorite chocolate dessert since. It's the sweet treat my husband requests the most and is always a hit with our guests. We've gotten many emails from our readers echoing the … Continue reading →
Classic English Custard (Crème Anglaise)
Custard serves two basic culinary purposes: Either as a thick pastry cream (crème pâtissière) or a thin dessert sauce for pouring (crème anglaise, French for "English cream" because of its popularity in English desserts). The difference between the two is its thickness and … Continue reading →
Black Olive & Fig Tapenade with Roquefort
A special thank you to Lindsay® for sponsoring this post. Today's dish features one of the most influential foods in the world's history - olives - and takes us to the Provence region of southern France. Olives were first introduced to Marseilles by the Phoenicians 2500 … Continue reading →
French Lentil Soup
Soups like this one are very nostalgic to me. One bite with its familiar and comforting flavors transports me back to Europe. I'm biased but I stand by the conviction that some of the best soups and stews come from Germany and France. And not surprisingly many of their … Continue reading →
French Beef Stew with Old-fashioned Vegetables
The French really know how to make great stews. Here is one of them and it uses a method similar to that of German Sauerbraten and corned beef to achieve both an exquisitely tangy flavor and a lusciously tender beef.Many of you have already been introduced to my French … Continue reading →
How To Make a Bouquet Garni
If you like French food and you want to cook like the French, you have to become acquainted with the Bouquet Garni. An indispensable part of French cuisine, the bouquet garni is quick and simple to put together and will do wonders for your food.Plus, I've got some great … Continue reading →
French Entertaining Part II: Nouvelle Cuisine (+ Alexian/Le Creuset Giveaway!)
I've teamed up with Alexian to bring you this post.Welcome back to Part II of French Entertaining!In our last post French guest cook Sandrine Vannson enlightened us on French entertaining "country style" with Duck Rillette and Pheasant & Rosemary … Continue reading →
French Entertaining “Country Style” + Alexian/Le Creuset Giveaway!
I've teamed up with Alexian to bring you this delicious post!I recently had the opportunity to try some amazing products from ALEXIAN. Let me tell you a little about them. Alexian is America's premier producer of the finest pâtés and mousses all made with the … Continue reading →
French Connection Sandwich (Two Ways)
Partnering with Castello for a Summer of BlueCheese has a way of reconnecting me to my original home of Europe. Every time I sample some European cheese my mind is taken back to the lands and regions I spent my childhood through young … Continue reading →
Ultimate Boeuf Bourgignon
Thank you to Easy Off for sponsoring this post.Also known as beef bourguignon and beef burgundy, this is the traditional French dish that Julia Child made world famous. While this isn't Julia's recipe, I've borrowed some of her techniques in my own interpretation of this … Continue reading →
Easy Chocolate Pots de Crème (incl. dairy-free option)
If anyone were to ask me, "What is the ultimate chocolate dessert?", my answer would be Chocolate Pot de Crème. For chocolate richness, this dessert is unrivaled. A classic French favorite since the 17th century, a love affair with chocolate is incomplete without a … Continue reading →
BEST Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
It's not hard to make an excellent beef stew, but it's easy to make a mediocre one. There are a few basics tricks to achieving that depth of flavor that all beef stews strive for and I'm going to share those with you in today's tutorial! … Continue reading →
Blonde French Onion Soup
Sponsored Post - The Art of Cheese with Castello Aged HavartiThis all-original Blonde French Onion Soup is a deliciously creamy twist on the classic version. You'll love it! … Continue reading →
Perfectly Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes
One of the cardinal rules of good potato au gratin is it cannot be dry. The cheesy cream sauce needs to ooze out. Not "run" out all over the plate in a big wet mess, but just slowly oooooze out. Here is the classic Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin at its best. … Continue reading →
Baked Endives with Ham & Bechamel
If you've never had endives before, let this be your first experience. And if you have had them before, be prepared to fall head over heels. … Continue reading →
Béchamel Sauce with Parmesan
An easy, perfectly creamy béchamel sauce with Parmesan cheese for a wonderfully delicate flavor. Probably the most versatile of all sauces, you'll be making this again and again! … Continue reading →
Orange Butter Croissant French Toast (+ Taste of Washington Cookbook Review)
Deliciously delicate, buttery croissants are infused with multiple sources of orange flavor and prepared French toast style. The results will make any orange and French toast fan swoon! … Continue reading →
Creamy Carrot Soup with Star Anise and Dill
Perfect as a first course soup or light main dish served with crusty bread, this upscale Creamy Carrot Soup with Star Anise and Dill is not only extraordinarily delicious, it's fast and simple to make. … Continue reading →
Pan-fried Fingerling Potatoes with Leek
Simple and quick to make, this side dish is elegant and delicious. … Continue reading →
Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon
How to prepare Cornish game hens that are super moist and flavorful with perfectly browned and crispy skins. … Continue reading →
Pan-Seared Chicken With Creamy Orange Sauce
Ready in 30 minutes, this dish is quick and easy to prepare, looks elegant and tastes delicious! … Continue reading →
Beef and Vegetable Stew
A rich and hearty beef stew. The beef, onions, and carrots are all browned, contributing to a deliciously rich flavor. Served over cauliflower instead of potatoes, this stew cuts down on carbs while providing more healthy veggie goodness. … Continue reading →
Hearty Beef and Barley Stew
Sponsored by Mom Central Consulting for the Certified Angus Beef® brand.Fork tender beef, nutty barley, a vibrant array of vegetables, and a deliciously rich broth come together in this satisfying stew.I love a good beef and barley stew, don't you? Such great … Continue reading →
Chocolate Peppermint Meringues
An elegant and delicious treat to enjoy during the Christmas season. Alternatively, use natural green food coloring and dip the chocolate in crushed green candy canes. These beautiful and yummy meringues are guaranteed to impress your family and friends! … Continue reading →
French Almond Cake with Lavender Lemon Glaze {Appreciation Post}
Another Daring Gourmet original to enjoy before the Summer is through. This cake is special. The smell of it baking, its magnificent flavor, its delicate texture and graceful appearance...this cake is absolutely delightful. … Continue reading →
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon custards, puddings and pies have been made and enjoyed since the Middle Ages. Meringue came on board some time during the 1600's and then, in the 1800's, Swiss baker Alexander Frehse came up with the brilliant idea of combining the two - lemon and meringue - to make … Continue reading →
Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies
I purchased some marvelous hazelnut oil from an international grocery store in Seattle a week ago. I finally opened it and inhaled...deeply. The aroma, oh my, the aroma! I bought it with the intention of using it as a finishing oil, primarily for salads and vegetables. … Continue reading →
Bacon and Leek Quiche
Practically everything tastes better with bacon, don't you think?And to be fair, bacon really gets a bad rap - as do a lot of things that the food industry decides to target for a time, and so we avoid them for a decade or two resorting to "safer" alternatives just to … Continue reading →
French Almond Cake with Green Tea Honey Glaze
Oh. My. Golly. Goodness.Don't let the simple appearance of this cake fool you - there's nothing simple about the flavor. Almonds, vanilla, green tea and honey combine to make this a truly remarkable cake. Light and airy, layers of flavor, and the perfect touch of … Continue reading →
Chicken Wellington with Morels, Caramelized Onions & Gorgonzola
Puff pasty is divine. What puff pastry dish doesn't taste good? Whether sweet or savory, puff pastry is manna from heaven. Light, crispy, airy, delicate.It's exact origin is unknown. Some have attributed it to Claude Gelée, a French painter in the 17th century, … Continue reading →
Mint Chocolate Meringues
An elegant and delicious treat to enjoy for your choice of holiday themes: Christmas or St. Patrick's Day! … Continue reading →
Pan-Seared Chicken With Pink Grapefruit Cream Sauce
This is a Make a Request! fulfillment for Candy. Noting that I had already made a breakfast and dessert item using pink grapefruit (Pink Grapefruit Buttermilk Muffins and Pink Grapefruit Cream Pie), she requested an entree using pink grapefruit. As I already mentioned in a … Continue reading →
Coq Au Vin
Another feast for the palate, prepare to have your taste buds enthralled by this famous French dish, a braise of chicken cooked with wine, bacon, mushrooms and onions.Various legends exist as to the origin of Coq Au Vin, some of which trace it back to Julius Caesar's … Continue reading →
Steak With Creamy Chanterelle Sauce
Chanterelle mushrooms. One of the most delectable of all mushrooms. It is described as having a fruity smell, similar to that of apricots, and a mildly peppery taste. Chanterelles have graced dinner plates as far back as the 1500's, but it wasn't until the 1700's that … Continue reading →
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