Audrey

After more than a year of planning, writing, photographing and recipe testing, my debut cookbook, “Rustic French Cooking Made Easy” (by Page Street Publishing) finally launches today. If you’ve already pre-ordered your copy: Thank You! And if not, you can head over to your favorite bookstore today, or shop online to purchase your own copy.  I’m so pleased to be able to share this book with you. Some of the feedback received over the past few weeks has been amazing – some of which you can read here:  Publishers Weekly review …

Wine-braised chicken has to be one of the most beloved comfort foods in France – with probably as many variations as grandmothers in the country. The concept of browning meat in a bit of oil, and then cooking it in liquid (ie. wine) always makes for incredible flavors, and meat that is fork-tender. And if you ask me, I find braised meat slightly more sophisticated than stews, yet just as comforting. In this favorite braised recipe of mine, onions and loads of garlic are caramelized in butter, and plump chicken …

Homemade jams, marmalades and jellies are deeply anchored in French cooking traditions, and I never miss an occasion to jar up some seasonal fruits. This ensures that no seasonal produce goes to waste and that they can be enjoyed all year round. At this time of year, the abundance of ripe Concord grapes here in Ontario makes it a natural fruit of choice for jam. Made with just a few ingredients, this Concord Grape and Thyme Jam is perfectly tart and sweet with lovely floral notes. It will likely remind …

Fall is just around the corner! And after fresh, juicy vegetables all Summer long, it’s that delicious time of the year to relish in all kinds of root vegetables… and today’s recipe is all about beets! In this Fall-perfect dish, beets are braised in white wine until sweet and tender, mingled with chopped kale, goat cheese and crusty bread.  It is a simple, unfussy side-dish or light dinner, and it’s a wonderfully different way to enjoy beets.   A dish inspired by the “Betteraves à la Poitevine” The inspiration for …

A tender, buttery, rum-flavored crumb nestled with big chunks of apples makes the Classic French Apple Cake a delicious staple. Right before baking, the cake gets dusted with sugar to create a signature crackly top that makes it even more unique, all while letting the apples shine beautifully. It is a simple and timeless cake recipe, just sweet enough and with a delightful more-apple-than-crumb-ratio. A must for your French baking repertoire.

Autumn is on its way, and with it, the joyful grape harvest season – or “La Saison des Vendanges” as we call it in French. Running all throughout the end of August until November in France, grape harvest season is a celebratory time of the year that sees a frenzy of activity in French vineyards. Ripe grapes are harvested, and wine makers can finally measure the quality and quantity of their crops. Parallely, this season also sees fresh grapes making their way into French kitchens and in our seasonal recipes. …

When life gives you Apricots, make an Apricot Flaugnarde! This dessert hailing from the Limousin region, in south-central France, is a delicious variant of the Cherry Clafoutis – but made with Apricots. Resembling a large pancake, this dessert is made with seasonal stonefruits placed in a buttered dish, covered with a flan-like batter and baked until puffy. A “Clafoutis” is in fact the name given to this dessert when made with cherries, while “Flaugnarde” (also spelled Flognarde) is the name given when made with apricots, plums, peaches or apples and …

We’re in the thick of stone fruit season and this Fresh Peach Yogurt Cake is an irresistible Summer dessert recipe to celebrate these juicy, fresh fruits. As with most French yogurt cakes, it is quick and easy to make and has a dense crumb flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and topped with slices of fresh peaches. If you are looking for an easy, fuss-free peach dessert that’s guaranteed to please your guests, this recipe is for you!

Nothing screams mid-Summer louder than a vibrant Raspberry Tart, don’t you agree? And this couldn’t be any truer in France where you’ll find Classic Raspberry Tarts with Crème Patissiere (vanilla cream) grazing most French bakery stalls all throughout the Summer. Inspired by the latter, today’s dessert includes a layer of pistachio Frangipane instead of the classic Crème Patissiere. The creamy pistachio and almond filling (pistachio frangipane) brings richness and nuttiness that makes it a perfect canvas for fresh, seasonal raspberries. I often say it, but this dessert is far more …

Summer inevitably calls for Tapenade in France. This Provencal dark purple spread is a staple condiment made from black olives and capers that you’ll find at any market around the country. It is scrumptiously salty, and widely enjoyed as an appetizer often spread on crackers or crostini. It is so delicious, very moreish, and can also be used in many other applications: it makes a wonderful condiment to bring amazing flavors to any entrée (rub it on fish, poultry or roasts). I also love to use it in sandwiches. It …