Winter Comfort

  • Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tarte Soleil

    by Audrey

    This Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tarte Soleil – known as a “Sun Tart”, in English – is a gorgeous tear-and-share French appetizer. It features two layers of buttery puff pastry with a filling of cream cheese and smoked salmon, cut and twisted into tearable strands.  This is a very simple recipe for a really impressive appetizer for the Holiday season!

  • French Style Cottage Pie (Hachis Parmentier)

    by Audrey

    Known as Hachis Parmentier, the French Style Cottage Pie embodies French comfort food at its best. It features a layer of ground beef that’s seasoned with nutmeg and fresh herbs, topped with creamy mashed potatoes that are loaded with butter, and baked until golden and bubbly. The dish is hearty, comforting, and perfect for colder fall and winter weather.

  • Normandy Apple Tart (Tarte Normande)

    by Audrey

    Normandy Apple Tart is a classic French dessert that features a buttery, flaky pastry crust filled with sliced apples and a creamy Calvados-spiked filling. This tart is best served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, or a dollop of whipped cream on top. It’s a perfect dessert for fall or winter gatherings and will satisfy any sweet tooth!

  • Poule Au Pot (Chicken in a pot)

    by Audrey

    Literally named “Chicken in a Pot”, Poule Au Pot is a traditional Sunday dinner in France. This rustic yet healthy dish consists of a whole chicken cooked with vegetables in a flavorful broth (no store-bought stock needed!). For such a simple recipe, the result is an incredibly flavorful dish, with fall-off-the-bone chicken guaranteed every time!

  • French Style Macaroni Gratin

    by Audrey

    Here’s to true comfort food with a French Style Macaroni Gratin! This rustic dish features macaroni pasta smothered in a rich cheesy white sauce, blanketed with salty bacon bits, breadcrumbs, an extra helping of cheese, and then baked until bubbly underneath and crispy on top. This easy dish is on the table in about 45 minutes to please the whole family.

  • Beer-Braised Spiced Pork Shanks

    by Audrey

    This deliciously rustic recipe from Brittany combines staple ingredients from the region: pork, shallots and amber beer. Plump, bone-in pork shanks are slowly braised in amber beer with spices, until fall-off-the-bone tender and incredibly fragrant. This is a robust, hearty dish to comfort the soul during Winter – yet I find it elegant enough to serve for a romantic dinner too. 

  • Roasted Carrot Soup

    by Audrey

    If you’re like me, a heartwarming soup made with seasonal vegetables never disappoints over Winter. And from my weekly rotation, this Roasted Carrot Soup has to be one of my favorites. Simple to make and affordable, this soup is creamy, satisfying and boasts delicious sweet flavors from roasted carrots. It’s also a great make-ahead and freezer friendly recipe. The perfect soup to cozy up to on colder days!

  • French Christmas Cookie Roundup

    by Audrey

    The Holidays are just around the corner! For all your holiday baking inspiration, I have gathered the most delicious cookie recipes from the blog that are very popular around the Holidays in France- and easy to make at home. I included classics like the Butter Sablés from Alsace (Butterbredele) and lesser-known recipes like the Cocoa and Almond Thumbprint Cookies from Alsace (Linzele).

  • Brie en Croûte with Cranberries, Nuts and Thyme

    by Audrey

    Brie en Croûte is a festive French appetizer that is simply perfect for entertaining. Made with store-bought puff pastry, it encases a warm and melty whole wheel of brie, that’s then topped with honey, cranberries, nuts and thyme. Serve it on a platter with fruits and crackers, and be sure to impress your guests!  

  • Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

    by Audrey

    A classic Breton recipe, this Cauliflower Soup uses a whole head of cauliflower, chopped and roasted, to create a thick texture that’s very satisfying and with an incredible depth of flavor. It requires staple ingredients and no cream, but tastes perfectly rich and creamy thanks to the blended cauliflower. Serve it as a side or a meal on its own, to keep you warm on crisp evenings. 

Pardon your French

Let’s bring French flavors to your kitchen! I share uncomplicated and classic recipes, lesser-known regional dishes and a few modern takes. Making French cooking easy, approachable and cliché-free is my priority.