All the best for 2013 ...

A rich and tasty new year for all of you with lot's of positive feelings, love and hapiness. Champagne to all and everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Santé!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Merry X-mas everyone!

Trying to keep some swedish traditions at home like the typical ginger cookies (+ house!), "lussebullar" (saffron buns), "glögg" (hot wine), homemade chocolates, almond paste goodies and nuts and fruits. Not to forget all the decorations and traditions, just like at home. Have a great X-mas and a happy new year all!

Seafood platter

Winter time, even had snow! Been busy and occasionally sick. Have been eating winter stuff like traditional french cheese dishes (Mont d'or, Raclette), gratins, soups ... But best of all a simple and tasty seafood platter = crab, gambas, crevettes grise, oysters ... "tête à téte" with husband in law. Married with a cold white burgundy wine and homemade mayo. Elle est pas belle la vie?

Grilled Squids

These little fellows are really fun to look at and tastes really good! Should be cooked for at least 10 minutes in hot water before being well mixed with the cooked vegetables, peppers, garlics, onions ... Served with my favorite well spiced rice  (any spices you like ...), fried in olive oil before stock cube and water is added. To this we had a wonderful white chardonnay from "Domaine Sorin" in S:t Bris. Pas mal!

Grilled Gambas

If you manage to get these big ones for a happy occasion, just ad a splash of lemon, white wine, coriander pasta and garlic. Grill for a few moments in hot owen and serve with salad, rice, noodles or french fries!? Goes well with a thick chilled chardonnay. Enjoy! 

"Le luxe n'est pas un plaisir, mais le plaisir est un luxe."- Francis Picabia

Japanese style

My favorite, japanese! The only thing you can't get in the french countryside so I have to make it myself. Be sure to get fresh fish and freeze for a little while before preparing. We don't have a fancy rice machine only the right ingredient's, japanese rice, rice vinegar, sea weed, wasabi, a carpet to roll and of course everything that you want to put in. In general I use big shrimp's, salmon, egg, cucumber, carrot, avocado ... Fun to make and even if it doesn't look perfect, the taste is good! 召し上がれ

Fish stew and fruit tart

Had some fish left in the freezer, salmon, cod, shrimps ... Mix with basic ingredients as carrots, potatoes and leek, add a hint of dill, a good veggie stock cube and some tasty spices of your own choice. Bring to a boil, add som white wine and serve with "creme fraiche" on the side. Goes well with a dry white (Muscadet or Chardonnay) and som toasted bread. Tomatoes can also be added in the stew if appreciated.

Our friend Antoine made this nice fruit tart this weekend with the fruits left in the kitchen, plums, blueberries, rasberrys and raisins. The doug is homemade and made with OLIVE oil and flour ... light tasty and vey pretty for the eye! Why not serve with a vanilla ice cream ball on the side. Bon appétit!

A taste of autumn

One way to appreciate what nature gives us at this time of the year. A just prepare a plain omelette with my friend Bernadette's eggs directly from the farm,  I then stir my mushrooms with some fresh parsley and garlic with a string of olive oil in the pan. Sprinkle some grated emmenthaler cheese on top and, it's finished! In good company with some green salad and a loaf of bread. That's all folks.

 Déjeuner sur l'herbe

Ah sunday morning and market day why not get some ham, cheese, tomatoes, bread and organize a nice picnic ... Before leaving I usually prepare some hard boiled eggs, a pasta salad (with pesto and black olives), chicken legs (marinated with honey and fresh coriander ...) and for dessert enjoy a fruit tart from the local bakery or a homemade fruit salad. No coffee today, just some plain water and a simple bottle of light red wine. 

Bon appétit tous!

Summer food, simply the best ...

This is what we eat during our holidays and I wish it would be like this  all year around. Just a simple visit in the morning to the local vegetable grocer and get tomatoes, peppers, avocado, white onions, fresh parsley ... Beacuse when you have quality products on your plate, nothing else is needed. Only add some local sea salt and olive oil and fresh peppar. If you feel like having meat or fish, tuna  or prosciutto on the side is nice. Water and chilled rosé and everyone are happy! Another appreciated platter when we go south are the local oysters wich have a different taste than the ones from the north that we usually have. I prefer these with lemon, whole-wheat bread and sea salt butter. To be appreciated with a glass off Muscadet, since we are in the south otherwise à Chablis!

French Baptisms

This is a big feast in France with the traditional cake and loads of champagne. Just look what a beautiful creation my friends brother in law has created! Amazing. A true delight with its crispy surface and its creamy soft inside enjoyed with a glass of chilled champagne. Elle est pas belle la vie?

Peach & Melon starters

After our yearly summer holiday in the south of france I have two fresh recipes to share, peach and mozarella salad and creamy melon with youghurt and fresh mint. Simple tasty and fresh in the summer heat. 

Peach and mozarella salad

Mature peaches from the local market

Buffalo mozarella cheese

Fresh basil

Honey

Balsam vinegar

Salt & pepper

Mix smoothly together chill and serve with bread and rosé wine  in an icebucket

Creamy melon salad with youghurt and fresh mint

Mature melons from the local market

Cucumbers (all fruits/veggies peeled and chopped)

Bulgarian youghurt

Fresh mint

Salt & pepper

Mix, once again smoothly together and serve with bread and rosé wine ...

Bon appétit!

Celebration dinner

To celebrate the national feast in France the 14 of july, no "dude dinner" on the meny ... Light and fresh food=fish! Fresh shrimps marinated with lime and coriander, green peppers, avocados, grapefruit and chopped chili peppers. Another great pleasure at this time of the year are the new potatoes with a slice of sea-salted butter and herbs mmmmmm! for the starter ice-cold swedish "snaps" and for the following dish great local burgundy wines  (white chardonnay's), for dessert a fresh fruit salad with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy the flavors and colours, summer is here!!

Today's bagel

Always a good meal/deal if you manage to find them i France ... Today's special? A hint of mayo, pickled gerkhin, egg, salad and smoked turkey. That's all folk's.

Stuffed peppers
Tasty and easy to make, mix the colours if you like! for a start I make a chunky meatsauce with 3/4 of beef 1/4 of porc, garlic, onion, fresh basil and lot's of spices (soya, salt & pepper, chili, honey ...) then, stuff the precooked peppers add some rice and put cheese on the top before going into the oven. Works fine with a salad, even better the day after.

BBQ'd DUCK
In my explorations of red meats (wich started not long ago), I have no come to try the duck! At first sceptic I must say that grilled duck is most delicious. Enjoyed with a green salad and fresh potatoes and a glass of chilled rosé ... Firstgrilled in one piece to get a nice surface and for those meat amatuers like me another go when sliced (try to keep it a little bit of pink in there!) Absolutely delicious!

Chinese noodle soup

Easy to make when the ingredients are right ones, can be variated at least a million times. Choose one of your favorites veggies for example leek, carrots, soybeans ... Add chinese noodles and big shrimps. Prepare the noodles before, let them swell in hot water then make the soup with cube stock and lot's of asian spices, whatever you like. Mix all and boil together. Healthy, tasty and hot. Why not drink a cold beer or mineral water to this?

Romanian Salmon Salad

A friends recipe, well appreciataed as a starter in summertime. Wash salad and make a sauce of lemon juice, olive oil and dill. Toss and turn gently serve with fresh bread an chiled chardonnay, smaklig måltid!

Lazy times coming up, taking a short break before BBQ season ... See you soon!

Homemade japanese makis

One of our favorites. Sometimes with salmon, big shrimps or simply vegetarian. When we get some fresh tuna even better! Make sushis/makis, only accesories are wasabi, pickled ginger and soya sauce. The rice and the seaweed easily found in the chinese store. Did you know that a cold Sancerre is perfect with this dish? Or a Chablis, Maçon ... The japanese know how to live long and healthy! 召し上がれ!!

French cheese (3 favorites)

Ok everyone knows that the french cheeses are the best in the world ... I here present to you my three favorites! A fresh goatcheese, the same but "cendré" and a Langres! The best, in my opinion. Enjoy with a fresh baguette and a descent red wine  why not a pinot noir from our region, burgundy.

Easy to make brioches

You want to make someone happy? My husband did. Easy to make the evening before just prepare the dough and let it rest during the night in the fridge (covered with a film), and put it in the oven next morning. 

12 gr of fresh yeast

1 dl of water

2 eggs

a hint of salt & sugar

6 dl of flour

125 gr of butter

1 egg to brush the bun's!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Italian thursday dinner

The good spring season is starting, got some good veggies and fresh spices and made an italian meal the other night. Easy and appreciated for all family members simply pasta with tomato or pesto sauce, homemade pizza (3 cheeses/fresh basil and garlic), ruccola salad, parmesan cheese and italian ham for dad maybe some  fresh shrimps for mum. Red or rosé to go with that or mineral water and lot's of bread. Buon Appetito!

Chunky Carrot cake

This is so good, the only time my daughter eats veggies, without even knowing it ... same story many versions I use flour,  eggs, sugar (+ vanilla sugar and crystal sugar), baking powder & bikarbonat, a neutral sunflower oil. It's worth making the effort of preparing the glazing beacause it makes such a nice contrast between the fruity cake and the sugary glazing ... The glazing is made of crystal sugar, cream cheese and a hint of butter. Bon appetit!

Chinese noodle soup

I just love going food shopping in the Chinese supermarket. When I get a chance in Paris I try to go, not only great for sauces, spices, fresh and frozen food but also amazing fruits and vegetables! This time we were preparing a noodle soup and noodles are big business, big choice! The recipes are many I suppose the way to go is depending on your personal taste. I prefer the noodles in combination with leek, carrots and big shrimps. Just add a cube stock, water, a good deal of spices (curry paste, soya ...) and some fresh coriander. A light and delisicous meal to enjoy. Starter=nem's!

L'heure du l’apéro!

Always a nice moment among friends before eating a meal together, L'heure du l’apéro! In the winter not the same as in the summer, of course!. But managed to find som grilled peppers in a jar to go with the feta cheese, nut's, olives whatever you feel like... Had a salmon "tartare" afterwards wich is a great dish to be appreciated with fried potatoes and a green salad. A crispy cold Chardonnay goes well with this dish. Will talk more about wine (and food combinations) in the near future. All good.

Menu for saturday dinner with friends

"Easy-to-make" menu for a pleasant saturday dinner with friends. START with a creamy mushroom toast with Mum's handpicked chanterelles from "Sörmland" in sweden. Prepare a nice thick bechamel sauce with a little bit of garlic, onion, parsley and a dash of white wine. Add the fried mushrooms. For the MAIN COURSE grilled salmon on a bed of creamy spinach sauce and fresh pasta. Grill the salmon in oven, then place it on the fresh pasta with some spinach sauce, (simply prepared in the pan with thick cream and herb spices). Decorate with lemon. DESSERT : For the lemon tart : mix 2 dl of water with juice and peel of two lemons, add 2 tablespoons of maizena. Boil up and stir. Separate 4 eggs, beat the whites and add the egg yolks to the sauce after cooling off. When whites are hard and "white" add 1,5 dl of sugar, mix carefully. Place lemon sauce in  the pastry, smudge carefully the egg whites on top of it and bake in oven for appr. 15-20 minutes. The whole meal goes well with a  fresh and fruity chardonnay from our region, Burgundy! Enjoy!!

New year's buffet

What a joy to be invited for a delicious New year's buffet with all the good ingredients! To start champagne  of course, and my dear fiend Lenia (who is an excellent cook) had prepared grilled mini-toasts with ham & cheese, and homemade samosas with either hot goat cheese and honey or shrimps with mango. Sauce to go and fresh strawberries and rasberries. Yum! Have a hard time remembering all that we ate but, to start with lovely fresh oysters (direct from a who is an oyster farmer friend), smoked salmon with a creamy herb sauce and toast, small lobsters with aoli and small potatoes, goose liver with confit, cheese platter (Chaource, Mont d'Or, Roquefort, Chèvre, Epoisses, Soumatrain, Comté etc). For the sweet part a blend of small "petit fours" and a homemade yule log. Last but not least a Chablis Grand Cru Réhoboam (6 litres!), the rest is history ... Happy 2012 everyone!