One of the highlights of my time in Paris has been reconnecting with my old friend, Shaunaq. Shaunaq and I worked together about eight years ago, but haven't been in close touch since he moved to Paris in 2006. Not only has it been super fun to hang out with him, he's also been our "translator-extraordinaire" and helped tremendously with our visa … [Read more...]
French Onion Soup
I'm trying to cook as many traditional French meals as possible while I'm here. My most recent conquest was french onion soup and it was a total hit. I honestly don't know why I've never tried making it before -- it's totally delicious and surprisingly good for you. I always assumed that rich, creamy flavor came from loads of cream and butter, … [Read more...]
Making Croissants
I'm taking cooking classes at Cook'n with Class (terrible name, but excellent Parisian cooking school). This morning was French baking and I was blown away by the process of making croissants. First of all, the croissants we made were delicious and rival those found in bakeries around the city. I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this … [Read more...]
The Medicinal Benefits of Honey
Honey has popped up a few times since we've been in Paris and provided the perfect reminder of it's potent healing properties. Honey first appeared when we were walking through the Luxembourg Gardens. Amazingly they have a working hive in the garden filled with the cutest little huts for the bees. I am impressed by this commitment to actually … [Read more...]
Mom’s Oatmeal Carrot Cookies
I'm generally not much of a baker because it involves too much measuring -- I prefer to work based on feel. That being said, there are definitely a few things I make time to bake. My mom's oatmeal carrot cookies are one of the best baked treats out there -- they are delicious and are actually pretty good for you! Ingredients: 1 cup … [Read more...]
Vinegary Sausage and Kale
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes! It is easy to make and a crowd pleaser every time. It does involve meat, which most of my cooking doesn't, but in this case a small amount goes a long way in enhancing the flavor profile. I begin by removing the casing on two or three sweet italian sausages and chopping/crumbling them into a … [Read more...]
Quinoa Pasta with Tangy Peanut Sauce
This is one of my favorite recipes -- I love Asian flavors and this a crowd pleaser every time! This version turns a typically unhealthy meal into a nutritional staple by substituting quinoa pasta for traditional white flour pasta, replacing chicken with tofu, and adding lots of veggies. Quinoa Pasta with Tangy Peanut Sauce Ingredients (serves … [Read more...]
Spring Quesadillas
I recently found a mother lode of delicious spring foods at the farmers market and decided to whip them all together into quesadillas. They turned out to be delicious and are definitely something I'll be replicating in the future! I started by sauteing asparagus and shiitake mushrooms with onion and garlic. When they were nearly finished I … [Read more...]
Lemon Ginger Apple Butter
I really love apples. There is something about the fall tradition of going out on a sunny day and visiting an orchard. It's actually probably the food Americans are most familiar with harvesting themselves. Way to start the trend apples! We recently went out and picked a ton of apples. I saved quite a few for eating as-is, and decided to try … [Read more...]