I adore these little puffs. They have all the decadence of éclairs, but in a smaller format. The filling is the best vanilla pudding in the world, surrounded by a lovely little pastry, and then topped with rich ganache. It is the perfect little package. These éclair puffs are a PROJECT. Make sure to carve…
Tag: french
Vanilla Crème Pâtissière
Crème Pâtissière can be used as a filling for éclairs, cream puffs, or cakes. It could also be the most decadent vanilla pudding to serve with strawberries and whipped cream. It is one of those recipes that seems difficult at first, but is so simple and quick. Give it a shot and I guarantee you…
Pain Mignon
There are not many smells I like more than freshly baked bread, and I don’t think I am alone in my opinion. This morning, I had these little loaves in the oven and my husband was grinding coffee beans. I was in olfactory bliss. Good smells everywhere! While I love a good baguette, our French…
Tilapia Meunière
Sole Meuniere is the dish that inspired Julia Child to learn how to cook. She was 36 years old, and according to her, this experience completely changed the course of her life. The dish was so delightful, that she wished to be able to recreate it at home. She then went on to teach an…
Crêpes
Standing at my stove, flipping crêpes for my kids, I wonder why they have garnered the reputation of elegant and poised, while the poor American pancake is relegated to delicious, but lowly brunch food. Is it simply the air that all French foods bring along with them? The sense that, because a country made most…
Gougères (French Cheese Puffs)
These are the ultimate party snack. They come together pretty fast and they make your house smell amazing as guests arrive. They also make a great addition to any tea parties you may have going on at your house. We also use them as lunch box fillers or after school snacks. As a kid, my…
Vanilla Madeleines
This recipe was used during our Cakes Course last year. I had such fun picking out perfect tiny cakes that we could make in the hour and a half classes. Bake time can be quite constricting for cooking classes. I am so glad this led to a deep dive on madeleines and madeleine baking for…
Mini Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is loved by my father. I never understood it until I made my own version. The creamy custard was wholly different from the tasteless, eggy things I had experienced thawed from the freezer at various gatherings over the years. Quiche had always been “fine”, but nothing to rave about. Then I made my…
Classic French Carrot Salad
This carrot salad is everywhere in France. You can find carottes râpées at cafes, supermarkets, and little bistros. It goes with almost anything, but especially roast chicken or rice. I love that I can make a batch at the beginning of the week, and it just seems to get better as the week goes on….
Gorgonzola Soufflé
This blue cheese soufflé brought my eight year old around to blue cheese. I made a BIG deal about how fancy soufflés are and how wildly they rise in the oven. We made an activity of checking on it through the oven window every 5 minutes or so while it was baking. It was an…
Lemon Custard Tarts
Frozen puff pastry is one of the greatest gifts ever given to the home cook. With very little effort, we can include our kids in the making of extremely fancy feeling desserts. I keep some in the freezer almost all the time, especially during the summer when we often have last minute get togethers. When…
Lemon Creme Patissiere
If this sounds too technical for you to attempt with your kids, don’t be fooled! We made this in a class designed for 8-11 year olds, and I would bet most kids within that range can easily make this with light adult supervision. If you aren’t familiar with creme patissiere, it is basically fancy French…
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