Since it's raining and foggy in my community right now, I decided to make the best of the bad weather. I lit the fireplace, put on a classic movie, and roasted a chicken using an old family recipe. The key to making this roasted lemon rosemary chicken burst with flavor to brown the bird before rapidly roasting it. Caramelizing the chicken adds a whole new dimension of texture to the meat and adds complexity to the herbs used to season it. The result is a rotisserie-style roast, complete with a crispy, golden exterior and succulent, flavorful meat inside. As shown in the picture, I served it with baby haricots verts lightly sautéed in butter. To round out the meal, I made colorful winter squash puree and orange rice . With a fire roaring in the corner, and fog surrounding the treetops outside, my family enjoyed a perfect French meal. Bon appetit!

More traditional French recipes!

• Coq au Vin Recipe
  
• Duck a L'Orange Recipe
  
• Quiche Lorraine Recipe
  
• Steak au Poivre Recipe
  
• Tartiflette Recipe

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Roasted Lemon Rosemary Chicken Photo: Rebecca Franklin

Soup au pistou is a remarkably versatile soup from Provence. Use whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand. This recipe utilizes ingredients easily found in most kitchens. The single requirement in an otherwise adaptable list of vegetables, herbs and pasta is that the finished soup must be garnished with pistou, or pesto. Bon appetit!

Soup au Pistou Photo: ©Stefania Pomponi Butler

Perfect for a low-key meal or cocktail party, this roasted mushroom and Brie tartlets recipe is easy to prepare and refined. Simply fill puff pastry-lined tartlet molds with roasted mushrooms, onion confit and slivers of Brie to make a fantastic, savory appetizer. Use the tartlets as light dinner entrée, as well! Bon appetit!

Roasted Mushroom and Brie Tarts Photo: Flickr user Kasia

Herbes de Provence is a classic herb blend using fresh or dried herbs. Very popular in the Mediterranean South of France, it is used to season everything from soups to grilled chicken. This traditional version uses lavender. Although purists will argue against the exclusion of the herb, one absolutely can omit it from this recipe and still have a delicious and authentic Provencal herb blend. Bon appetit!

Fresh Herbes de Provence Photo: Amanda Wray