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!

Hot goat cheese salad

When the eating becomes a major activity during christmas and you feel that you need a brake, make a salad! Always some cheese leftovers to find in this case, goat cheese. Salad is not as its best season but you can always find some "Mache" (see photo), prepare your toasts with the cheese, sprinkle some olive oil on top with herbs and pepper. Grill a couple of minutes in the oven. Make a good french dressing and its ready to eat! 

Merry x-mas and a very happy year 2011/2012 all! God jul, Joyeux noël ...

Buffet with mini cakes, salmon, herring and oysters is served! Main course white meat then cheese platter and x-mas cake with custard and of course champaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagne!

Boudin blanc avec une sauce chanterelle

For christmas I really enjoy white meat and seafood. A nice and tasty plate is the white sausage the "Boudin blanc" with a wild mushroom sauce. Take the skin of the sausage before fying it the pan with some butter. Fry the mushroms with some garlic and parsley, then prepare a nice sauce bechamel with cream, vegetable stock, a hint of white wine or some other alcohol and salt/pepper. Make it boil to thicken use maizena if needed. Could go well with some simple boiled potatoes. Bon appetit!

Mulled wine

Great hot drink at x-mas time, this is my version :
Two bottles of a full-bodied red wine such as
Corbières for example
One bottle of sweet muscat wine
Some brow sugar
Cinnamon sticks
One orange
Clove
Cardamom
Bay leaves
Some vodka
Garnish with raisins and whole peeled almonds
Smells wonderful goes vey well with gingercookies, homemade candies and fruits to be enjoyed among friends ...

Marzipan treats

Easiest thing in the world just marinate your marzipan with some alcohol such as calvados, cointreau or brandy then melt some good dark chocolate and dip it in. Let it dry for a moment and then eat!

Swedish ginger cookies

Lack of time and ingredients drove me to buy my dough this year, can be found at Ikea or at the local swedish church  (in France and anglo-saxon countries) anyhow, great fun with your little ones who can make different figures and animals and decorate them.

"Lussekatter" (Saffron Buns)

These cakes are served on Lucia day the 13 of December in Sweden.
Basically the same ingredients as when you bake the traditionel "kanelbullar" (cinnamon buns)

• ½ tsp. crushed saffron
•  180ml milk
• 50 grams of yeast dissolved in lukewarm milk
• 120g melted butter
• one egg, beaten to brush on top
• 180g of sugar
• one tsp. salt
• 850 gr flour
• Raisins to decorate

Start mixing some of the yeast with a part of the  lukewarm milk. In a big another big bowl stir the butter and sugar together. Then crush the saffron with a lump of sugar and blend into the dough. Add all the ingredients now, the rest of the yeast, milk, flour, salt. Leave it all for 40 minutes. Now bake the dough and let it rest for another 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg and bake at 190-200°C for 10-15 minutes, enjoy!

Bagel sandwich witch chicken and mayo

One really good thing about going to the UK or the USA is the facility to find good bagels. In Paris I can find them in the jewish area, "le Marais". I truly adore them ever since I discovered them about thirty years ago. My husband has tried to make them several times, without any succes I'm afraid. The were hard as a rock and completely uneatable. They can be filled with anyting you want, today I had some chicken breast, mayo, salad/carrots and pickled cucumber. Garnish with red onions, finished. This wee' I had them fresh in the market in London with tuna, (salmon & cream cheese is another classic) so simple and so good! Coming back soon with X-mas recipes from back home, Sweden!!

Winter veggies

So happy to receive fresh veggies from the garden at the end of november ... Spinach, brussel sprouts & carrots. I most enjoy my spinach natural in the frying pan with just a hint of garlic, some cream and butter or olive oil. Tastes good with farm eggs and fried bacon bits served with toasted white bread for a late lunch. Bon app'!

"Moules marinière" with homemade french fries

A true favorite in our family, fresh mussels cooked with garlic and onions just add some cream, white wine and parsley (and of course spices). Cook very shortly until the open up. The french fries are cooked in oil on the stove (the oil can be used two or three times before being throwed away), it's all very easy and soo tasty! Best appreciated with a chilled dry white wine fom the Loire region.

Multicolour fruit tart

Enjoy the last apples of the season, why not mix with for example bananas and red fruits? Same easy recipe as ever, ready pastry, roll out in the plate decorate with fruit and jus add some cinnmon, brown sugar and butter. Tastes good with some vanilla ice cream or custard.

Grilled chicken legs with fresh coriander and spicy rice

(Picture before cooking!) Marinate the chicken legs in a sauce of olive oil, lemon juice, port wine, soya sauce, fresh thym, S & P and lots of spices : cumin, curry, chili, garam masala ... Add eventually a dash of water with a stock cube. Grill in oven and serve with lots of fresh coriander on top. For the rice I fry garlic and onions in the pan then add the raw rice, stir. Add water and spices (as above) with a hint of tabasco. Cook until dry. An excellent meal for a pleasent dinner with friends!

5 minutes Tuna sandwich

This is perfect for lunch when you don't have a lot of time. Just boil an egg, mix with some red onions with fresh basil, add sweet corn, capers, mayo, tuna and some salt & pepper. Place it on toasted white bread with some lettuce to garnish. That's all. Bon app'!

Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewers with garlic, lime and honey

This is a quick and easy dish wich makes a great starter or a tasty snack with a drink. Just be sure to marinate for at least one hour before cooking in oven. Mix oil (free of choice olive or why not an asian type of oil?). Add garlic, soya sauce, fresh parsley or basil, lime juice, spices such as : curry, cumin, garam masala, tabasco ... Use a silicon brush to dispose the marinade. Grill for about 15 minutes, ready!

11/11-11 French crispy almond cake

Sorry this is a secret one, no recipe given ... A treasure memory from holidays in the south. Soo delicious and  good this almond cake. Hard and crispy as it is it goes well with vanilla ice cream or english custard. Today is memorial day in France and all shops are closed so time to poke around in the cupboards and see what there is to find as ingredients. Bringing this cake for dessert to friends house tonight. Very nice and personal to give away eatable things, mushroom chutney or homemade kechup whatever you prefer. Enjoy!

Dominiques winter squash gratin

When I go to my favorite market and meet my greengrocer Dominique, he always treats me with a recipe to go with the vegetables for the moment. I very much enjoy these treasure moments. Today he offered  me this colourful "winter squash gratin". As you can see in the video it's all very easy. Just wash and cut following ingredients:

A quarter of orange winter squash

Fresh garlic and parsley

1 glass of milk (fifty/fifty cream milk possible)

Grated emmental cheese

3 tablespoons of french sea salt butter

2 vegetable stock cubes

Put it all in a oven plate and cook in oven for 35 minutes 200° with some tinfoil on top. Tasty with cold meat and bread. Bon appetit!

Dominiques winter squash gratin

Birhtday coming up, again!

Felt like getting some friends together for celebrating my birthday. It doesn't have to be a "big one"! Suddenly realised that we would be 12 adults and 6 children ... Just spent the whole day food shopping and cooking ... Nothing complicated but still ... Different salads (coleslaw, green salad, taboulé, radish etc), cold meats and smoked salmon, meatballs for the kiddies, olives & sausages, cheese plate and a beautiful almond cake with champagne OF COURSE! Happy birthday to me ...

The local market

One happy thing about living in the french countryside are all the local markets. Such a joy full of colours and tastes for all and everyone. I usually get some local cheeses, salads and whatever seasonal veggies there are, eggs from the farm, fresh bread and flowers. I think a good thick pumpkin soup will come out of this! Just have to go to the local arab for some fresh coriander and spices. I think my snapshots shows how much sunshine the nature gives us.

Sunday night

As you all know (?) in France sunday is closed day managed to get some local potatoes at the market but no more. So what's cooking? Oh let's see ... fresh mushroom soup, broccoli & potato-gratin with a creamy blue cheese sauce. Italian ham for the man, french apple tart. Wait a minute the kid's! , what are the kid's eating? Some nuggets and small cube potatoes directly from the freezer. Hope they will apreciate good food, some day. 

Autumn vegetables

Collecting fresh vegetables and making good soups. Tried for the first time to make a nut cake with mixed nuts, hazel & wanuts with a dash of whiskey. Not bad! Still simple and hopefully inspiring. Try to get the kids into the picture, peeling, chopping, enyoing cooking together! I wonder if there are any mushrooms out there in the forest ... Enjoy!

Purpose?

The purpose with this blog is not to give you detailed recipes just to share and inspire, that's all! Enjoy my snapshots and hopefully get some ideas for your good and simple everyday cooking. Here in  the french countryside we very much live with the nature and the seasons. I'll be happy to share your thought and ideas.

Autumn fruits

This is the period when we collect fruits and nuts for the winter, (like the squirrels!) who actuallt lives and plays in our garden. So far i have collected several different kinds of nuts from friends and nature around me. The apples are also variated in coulors and tastes and I mostly make crumbles or classic apple tart's from the fruits. Also the season to make jam's of differnt kind. The sun has been very present and the harvest is good. The grapes are sweet and so are the pears my dad's favorite.