Audrey

Don’t throw out those radish leaves! Made from fresh, peppery radish leaves and potatoes for extra body, this Radish Leaf Soup is ever so popular in France and a Spring staple in my kitchen. It offers healthy, delicious comfort and is a great way to make do with extremely underrated radish leaves.

Popular French butter cookies, Sablés come in all forms and flavors– and these Buckwheat Sablés with Chocolate are some of my favorite ones. Nutty buckwheat flavor, the rich taste of butter and speckles of dark chocolate come together in a perfectly crisp shortbread cookie texture. These easy to make cookies are a must to try, and adopt.

If you enjoy fresh and wholesome salads, this is a great one for your repertoire. This Classic French Lentil Salad is made using earthy, healthy Puy lentils, carrots, shallots and herbs drizzled with a quick zippy Dijon vinaigrette. It is affordable, simple to make and very satisfying. A great side dish for hosting, or as a make-ahead recipe for meals on-the-go.

With Easter just a few days away, here is a little roundup of my favorite Easter-inspired French recipes from the blog: breakfast and brunch ideas, mains for hosting, springy sides and delicious chocolate desserts. Bon appétit, happy Easter, or as we say in France: Joyeuses Pâques !

Classic French Sole Meunière may sound fancy – but it’s far from it. I promise. This staple of the French repertoire features simple sole fillets lightly dredged in flour, pan fried and bathed in a brown butter sauce with lemon and parsley. The zesty lemon cuts through the richness of the butter, allowing the delicate flavors of the sole to shine and create a fish dish that’s zingy, moist yet somehow crisp – an ultimate dinner for the whole family. 

Home, finally! A month ago, I moved back to my hometown, in Brittany, France. Yes, after 12 years in Canada, including 2 pandemic-years of waiting, it was time. Although I am grateful for the people and experiences that crossed my path in Canada, I am so immensely thrilled to be back in France, and to be reunited with the beautiful sea, buttery foods and friendly people that never ceased to feel like home – in Brittany.

Quintessentially French, Coq Au Vin Rouge (literally “rooster in red wine”) is an iconic dish from the rustic cooking repertoire of France. Made from a whole chicken cut into 8 pieces, with bacon, mushrooms and carrots, it is traditionally cooked using Burgundy red wine, resulting in its signature purplish sauce.

A staple food in France, French toast is named “Pain perdu” which translates literally to lost bread, reflecting the use of stale bread so it doesn’t get “lost”.  These slices of breads dunked in an eggy mixture and toasted in a pan are comforting, sweet and tender – and a breeze to make at home. ‘Pain Perdu” also embodies the high status granted to bread in France and the utmost importance of not wasting it.

“Chouquettes” are ubiquitous afternoon snacks in France. These bite sized choux pastry puffs topped with crisp pearl sugar, can be found in virtually every bakery at any time of the day, and are handed to you by the dozen in paper bags. Chouquettes are also a fun treat to make at home. They’re easy, quick and require only staple ingredients… and they’ll disappear fast! 

Whether you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, I like to think of this day as a perfect excuse to treat yourself and/or your loved one(s)! From decadent chocolate-forward French desserts (cake, pots de crème, mousse and truffles) to the classic Crème Brûlée and show-stopping Tarte Tatin, I have rounded up my favorite dessert recipes from the blog to make for Valentine’s Day, to treat yourselves.