French Food

Fresh berry season is here and there is nothing better than plump strawberries dipped in crème fraiche and then gently rolled in brown sugar. Make this delicious, tangy homemade crème fraiche recipe in your own kitchen with just two ingredients: heavy cream and buttermilk. Try your creme fraiche with berries, mixed into savory poulet a la creme, or mixed with chopped herbs for an out-of-this-world seasoning garnish. Bon appetit!

Creme Fraiche Photo: Peter Allen

Watermelons are vine-ripe and sweet this time of year. Served fresh and sliced, they're the height of summertime flavor. For a different twist, try this grilled watermelon recipe. The smokiness from the grill added to the intense sweetness of the melon makes it an excellent pick to serve at barbeques. Make sure to check out the creative serving suggestions in the recipe! Bon appetit!

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Grilled Watermelon Photo: ©Meng He

Lavender is one of the hardest ingredients to cook with; the line between under-flavoring or overpowering a dish is thin, indeed. With these easy tips, you'll be cooking sweet and savory lavender recipes like a pro in no time. Bon appetit!

Photo: Flickr user Dark Dwarf - Creative Commons

Blueberries have been popping up at my local fruit market for a few weeks. They seem to be getting plumper and sweeter by the day, which has led me to break out all my summer blueberry recipes. One of my family's favorite creations is this blueberry soup recipe, invented after a long day at the local pick-your-own berry patch. Done in the European style of fruit soups, it's not too sweet, and it gets its richness from an infusion of creme fraiche. Bon appetit!

Blueberry Soup Photo: Flickr user sporkist

If you're planning on hosting a breezy get together with friends and family this weekend, consider taking a cue from this duck and cherry menu. The flavor profiles play so well off each other, and it's sure to be different (read: more delicious) than the typical hamburgers and hotdogs mix.

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Sour Cherry Sorbet Photo: ©Ruth Ellison

A sliver of foie gras may taste amazing on a bed of greens with a bit of fig jam, but is it really all it's cracked up to be? Learn about the drawbacks of eating foie gras. On the other hand, many of my culinary colleagues see nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence. Can foie gras be good, from time to time? Bon appetit!

Country Pâté Photo: ©Flickr user puamelia

Use these delectable Mother's Day recipes as inspiration for your upcoming celebration. Bon appetit!

Chateaubriand Photo: ©Kok Robin

If you're craving a sweet, flaky confection that's as easy and fast to bake up as it is delicious, then look no further than this pets de nonne recipe. Full of cinnamon-swirled brown sugar, these little treats are best hot and fresh out of the oven. Bon appetit!

This spring Sunday dinner menu is full of fresh, seasonal ingredients. With salad, tartlets, a choice of three main courses, and a mouth-watering selection of fruit-based sweets, this menu is tailor-made for casual, Sunday afternoon entertaining. Bon appetit!

For my personal kitchen and garden adventures, follow me on Twitter.

Lamb Stew Photo: Adria Richards

It's still a bit early for lush, spring greens in most places, but leeks and homegrown herbs are beginning to poke out of the earth. Try this leek and dill quiche recipe for a vividly flavored way to bring in the light tastes of the season. Whet your appetite for more spring flavors with this delectable collection of spring quiche recipes. Bon appetit!

For my personal kitchen and early-season garden adventures, follow me on Twitter.

Photo: Katrin Morenz - Creative Commons