Vol-au-vent

Invented in the early 1800s in Antonin Carême’s pastry store in Paris, these round, light, airy puff pastries are baked such that the center part can be removed, creating a cavity that is then filled with either sweet or savory fillings. Carême’s signature vol-au-vent was known as the financière, the filling of which consisted of …

Calisson

A specialty of Aix-en-Provence, calissons are diamond-shaped sweets made with almonds and candied melons, covered in icing. The tradition of combining almonds and candied fruits dates all the way back to Greek and Roman times, while some texts from the 12th-century mention Italian monks who made cakes from almonds. As almonds became important in the …

Quatre quarts

Pound cake is a British dessert consisting of one pound of each of the following ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, hence the name. There is no leavening agent used in the preparation, except the air that is whipped into the batter. It dates back to the early 1700s, and because many people didn’t know …

Fiadone

Often dubbed as the Corsican take on cheesecake, fiadone is a traditional dessert prepared with brocciu (fresh whey cheese made from goat’s or ewe’s milk), eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Occasionally, oranges are used instead of lemons, and the base can be enriched with local liqueurs. The cake was once a staple dish …

Pistou

A distant cousin of Italian pesto, this classic Provençal cold sauce traditionally consists of olive oil, fresh parsley, and crushed garlic. The name pistou comes from the Provençal word for “crushed”, due to the fact that the sauce is ideally prepared by crushing the combined ingredients in a mortar and pestle until the sauce reaches …

En papillote

En papillote (lit. in paper or in parchment) is a simple French technique of preparing food that’s been carefully wrapped in paper packets by moist-heat cooking. This unique cooking method helps trap steam inside the paper packets, allowing for the food to cook in its juices and retain all the flavors, aromas, and nutrients.   Food prepared this way …

Best Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken

An easy Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. This light and fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad makes the perfect summer dinner – filled with berries, pecans, creamy goat cheese, grilled chicken and avocado for the ultimate bite! If you’re in the market for light and fresh salads like me, you …

The Ultimate Guide for the Best Grilled Vegetables

The Ultimate Guide for the Best Grilled Vegetables – all my easy grilling tips, cooking times, no stick methods, seasoning recommendations and how to serve your grilled vegetables for the best summer dinner out there! How to Make the Best Grilled Vegetables I don’t know about you, but I find that I eat more vegetables …