fall

This Mediterranean-inspired Grape Olive Oil Cake is a moist, tender cake that strikes a perfect balance of sweet and fruity flavors. It features an orange-zest crumb infused with fresh grapes, which get baked into the cake, lending it a fruity burst and soft texture. It’s ideal for celebrating the harvest season and perfect for all your fall gatherings!

Porc aux pruneaux is a classic French dish that can take various forms, from a hearty pork roast to tender pork chops – but my personal favorite is braised pork loin with prunes. Slow-cooked in white wine, the pork absorbs a rich depth of flavor, beautifully enhanced by sweet onions and melt-in-your-mouth prunes. The result is a comforting dish bathed in a succulent, sweet-and-salty sauce that’s slightly syrupy. It’s a perfect choice for a cozy Sunday dinner, yet elegant enough to grace your holiday table as well.

A French home baker’s favorite, the Invisible Apple Cake is a deceptively easy, yet exceptional recipe for apple season. It features nearly invisible apple slices layered in a custardy batter and baked until sweet, melty and golden. The result is an incredibly moist dessert with a big fruity flavor and a visually striking look. A fabulous way to showcase freshly picked apples!

We’re quickly approaching American Thanksgiving, which I know is a celebration many of you are looking forward to every year. It is such a wonderful time to cook, gather with family, friends and loved ones, share a meal and make memories to last a lifetime. And although we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in France, I have become accustomed with this tradition after living many years in North America and having a Canadian husband.

The French Almond Pear Gratin, also known as “Gratin de Poires aux Amandes,” combines the sweetness of pears with the rich nuttiness of almonds, creating a delightful and comforting treat – one that’s naturally gluten free. It features softly baked pears nestled in a bed of almond cream, creating a perfect match of texture and flavor. Embrace this rustic dessert, on the table in less than an hour, for the cozy season.

Happy Fall everyone! I’d like to welcome you to my new monthly newsletter format! The idea of sharing a more personal newsletter every month on this blog has been twirling in my head for some time now, and I am happy to finally put it into action. Each month, I intend to share a personal round up of the past weeks to give you a glimpse into my French life.

When the cozy fall season arrives, there’s simply no better time to indulge in the abundance of apples that become available. Whether you like them tart or sweet, crisp or juicy, apples are a wonderfully versatile ingredient that find their way into myriads of sweet and savory dishes.

This simple, no-waste apple jelly recipe uses whole apples – cores and peels included – to make a sweet, juicy tasting and colorfully translucent preserve. Enjoy it as a spread for breakfast, to glaze your roasts or serve it on a cheese platter. It also makes a great Holiday favor when visiting friends and family!

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. 

Known in France as Gâteau Grenoblois, this French Walnut Coffee Cake is a specialty from Grenoble, in South Eastern France, where walnuts are plentiful. It features a fluffy crumb made with ground walnuts and is flavored with brewed coffee, all under a simple icing. This cake is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, but delivers the same richness as any rustic French cake.