I love baking these healthy and delicious cakes for my kids – it’s a great ‘gouter’ (tea-time snack) when they come home ‘hungry like wolves’ from school. In France, ‘l’heure du gouter’ is a sacred time for the kids – they sit at the table, talk about their day at school, and enjoy this afternoon snack before they go to play and finish their homework. … Continue reading Carrot cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting
I was in the mood for a spicy Asian meal on this rainy Tuesday, so I prepared a Thai dish called ‘Crying tiger’ (it’s supposed to be so spicy that even a tiger would cry). It’s one of the best meals ever, you just have to prepare in advance the ‘marinating’ of the beef (2-3 hours, or even better, the night before). I always keep … Continue reading ‘Crying tiger’ char-grilled beef
This special yet simple dish recipe was given to me by one of my butchers in Paris. I could stay hours talking to him – he had the knowledge and ‘savoir-faire’ that I seeked. He always had inspiring ideas and old-fashioned recipes that I love, and he sure knows how to cook the ‘viande’ to his liking. I tend to associate turkey with Christmas or … Continue reading Turkey rolls with mustard & cream
I love having these little fish cakes – they always remind me of summer days, being by the pool at the Jockey Club in Hong-Kong, sipping ice-cold lemonades. It’s the typical food you would get at a ‘gastropub’, very cozy and British. I serve this dish with a simple purple endive salad – the bitter-sweet taste of the salad goes well with the lemon in … Continue reading Fish cakes
Yesterday the weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, so I wanted to have lunch ‘al fresco’. I decided to make a Niçoise salad, a perfect classic dish with all my favourite ingredients. And so healthy. I don’t put anchovies because my kids always pull a face when they see them – I try my best to make them eat and taste new and different … Continue reading Salade Niçoise
‘Eggs and soldiers’ is a perfect meal whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We often have it on Wednesdays because the kids don’t have school that day, and we love going to the charming Saint-Vivien de Médoc food market to buy fresh farm eggs from the fromagerie (cheese store). When you buy your eggs, you have to specify that you want to eat them … Continue reading Eggs and soldiers
This morning, I was in the mood for something different, so I made coconut tapioca pudding. In Asia, tapioca is used in many deserts and snacks. In Hong-Kong, I would often go with my mother and friends to a little ‘sweet café’ (typical desert-only restaurant) and have a Chinese deserts, like a mango or melon tapioca pudding. It’s usually served warm, but cold is delicious … Continue reading Coconut tapioca pudding
Today I cooked magrets de canard (duck breasts) served with peaches and a delicious potato cake. It took me 30 minutes to make, (perhaps 10 minutes more for the potato peeling and chopping). This is such a ‘gourmet’ lunch, with amazing flavors mixed together. When cooking duck breast, you must be slightly patient – it takes about 20-25 minutes altogether on a moderate heat, and … Continue reading Magrets de canard with peaches and potato cake
Tonight is the big premier league game between Manchester United & Manchester City – it’s a potential title decider. Tensions are running high. I can feel the electricity running through my husband’s head so I decided to bake a good old steak, mushroom and Guinness pie to make him happy! It’s the perfect football meal, served with a potato salad. Win, lose or draw, this … Continue reading Steak, Mushroom and Guinness pie
This is a relatively easy recipe for ‘Oreo’ cookie lovers. These cookies are delicious and look amazing! This is a ‘must-try’ recipe. My kids love these home-made ‘Oreos’. A real treat! Last saturday I dedicated a whole afternoon trying out various ‘Oreo’ recipes and decided make two types of filling to taste. All the american recipes include ingredients that I can’t find here in Médoc, … Continue reading Home-made ‘Oreo’ cookies
