Perhaps the most popular of the Christmas traditions in Provence is les treize desserts, or the thirteen desserts, to be enjoyed following Midnight Mass. The star of the thirteen desserts is pompe à l’huile, sometimes called fougasse, a sweet, light, openwork bread made with olive oil and flavored with orange blossom water and citrus zest. […]
Category: Recipes
Palmiers Recipe
Palmiers Recipe Palmers are a delightful pastry and wonderful in their simplicity. In less than an hour and with just a few ingredients, you can create a delicious dessert or tea time snack. Preparation could not be easier, and after making these just one time, you’ll be able to make Palmiers without a recipe and […]
Goat Cheese Nirvana
Goat Cheese Nirvana I am a bona fide goat cheese lover. If you’re not, I implore you to sample some real, honest to goodness, French goat cheese and just try to resist it’s magical spell. French goat cheese, or chèvre, comes in a variety of shapes and styles, diverse flavor profiles and textures. Often named […]
Coq Au Vin Recipe
Coq Au Vin Recipe Coq au vin, or chicken in wine, is a lovely, comforting dish for fall. Once the initial prep work is completed, this dish is mostly hands off, left to gently simmer on the stove top. As with most braises and stews, this recipe is a guideline, easily adapted to your […]
Panisse Recipe – A Delicious Provencal Snack
Panisse Recipe – A Delicious Provencal Snack Panisse, or chick pea fries, are great for snacking or as a side dish alongside meat or seafood. Crisp on the outside, creamy and fluffy on the inside, Panisse can be served plain, with just salt and pepper, or with condiments for dipping, such as aioli. […]
10 Great Things To Do With Fresh Figs
I’m a bit of a fig purist. A fresh fig, just off the tree, still warm from the sun, is my idea of heaven. These are hard to come by, though, and the truth is I like figs in any form: as jam, in a tart, dried, broiled, even as ice cream. […]
Pistou Recipe
Pistou is an infinitely adaptable condiment from Provence. A classic pistou consists of four simple ingredients: basil, garlic, olive oil and salt, but is quite accommodating to various herbs or the addition of nuts and/or cheese (which would make it more akin to Italy’s pesto). […]
French-Style Tomato Tart Recipe
A French-style tomato tart is wonderfully simple and delicious. This tart is a canvas that can be tailored to your taste – add herbs to the crust, use different flavors of mustard or experiment with various cheeses. […]
Beef Carpaccio Salad Recipe
On a hot summer day in the south of France, my lunch entrée of choice is Beef Carpaccio Salad. While beef doesn’t immediately make you think ‘refreshing,’this salad is almost always exactly that. Raw beef is sliced paper thin and usually topped with arugula, parmesan and a light, tangy dressing (pesto is my favorite). […]
Artichoke Tapenade Recipe
This condiment/spread/dip comes together quickly and easily – and tastes delicious. Tapenade can be altered to your taste – more olives, less olives, leave out the artichoke and add in some sun-dried tomatoes, add herbs or spices. […]