Summer

  • Putting a Breton twist on Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies! Today’s recipe revisits the American classic recipe of Chocolate Chip cookies, with the use of buckwheat flour and sea salt – two staple ingredients from my home region Brittany. Buckwheat flour gives earthy and nutty flavors to these chewy cookies, boosted with sea salt that is used both inside the dough and sprinkled over top. If you think chocolate chip cookies couldn’t get any better – just wait, and try! 

  • French Bakery Beignets

    by Audrey

    Unfussy, sugary and fried. French Bakery Beignets are nothing like what you’d expect from French pastries, yet they are quintessentially French. These plump buttery pillows rolled in sugar and filled with jams are found on most bakery stalls in France and are kids’ favorites at the time of the “goûter” ( mid-afternoon snack). They are also very popular during street fairs and carnivals across the country. And like most French, I often cave in to the temptation of grabbing one whenever I hit a street festival in France.

  • Apricot Almond Flan (Flaugnarde)

    by Audrey

    When life gives you Apricots, make an Apricot Flaugnarde! This dessert hailing from the Limousin region, in south-central France, is a delicious variant of the Cherry Clafoutis – but made with Apricots. Resembling a large pancake, this dessert is made with seasonal stonefruits placed in a buttered dish, covered with a flan-like batter and baked until puffy. A “Clafoutis” is in fact the name given to this dessert when made with cherries, while “Flaugnarde” (also spelled Flognarde) is the name given when made with apricots, plums, peaches or apples and …

  • Fresh Peach Yogurt Cake

    by Audrey

    We’re in the thick of stone fruit season and this Fresh Peach Yogurt Cake is an irresistible Summer dessert recipe to celebrate these juicy, fresh fruits. As with most French yogurt cakes, it is quick and easy to make and has a dense crumb flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and topped with slices of fresh peaches. If you are looking for an easy, fuss-free peach dessert that’s guaranteed to please your guests, this recipe is for you!

  • Raspberry Pistachio Frangipane Tart

    by Audrey

    Nothing screams mid-Summer louder than a vibrant Raspberry Tart, don’t you agree? And this couldn’t be any truer in France where you’ll find Classic Raspberry Tarts with Crème Patissiere (vanilla cream) grazing most French bakery stalls all throughout the Summer. Inspired by the latter, today’s dessert includes a layer of pistachio Frangipane instead of the classic Crème Patissiere. The creamy pistachio and almond filling (pistachio frangipane) brings richness and nuttiness that makes it a perfect canvas for fresh, seasonal raspberries. I often say it, but this dessert is far more …

  • Summer inevitably calls for Tapenade in France. This Provencal dark purple spread is a staple condiment made from black olives and capers that you’ll find at any market around the country. It is scrumptiously salty, and widely enjoyed as an appetizer often spread on crackers or crostini. It is so delicious, very moreish, and can also be used in many other applications: it makes a wonderful condiment to bring amazing flavors to any entrée (rub it on fish, poultry or roasts). I also love to use it in sandwiches. It …

  • If you are a crêpe lover like me and always look for different ways to enjoy them throughout the seasons, this recipe is a great one to add to your arsenal. This Summer-perfect dessert includes a luscious homemade Blueberry Balsamic Sauce poured on a big scoop of ice-cream and a few Classic French Crêpes underneath.  The marriage of the warm, tangy, sweet Blueberry Balsamic Sauce (made with White Balsamic Vinegar) with the smooth, cold vanilla ice cream is a match made in heaven. The tender, soft crêpes bring another level …

  • French Pistou Sauce Pasta

    by Audrey

    If you don’t know it, the French Pistou is a Provençal sauce made from cloves of garlic, fresh basil, olive oil (and Parmesan, occasionally). It is quite similar to Ligurian pesto, but it omits pine nuts, which makes it most affordable and lets the basil really shine. It is creamy and so fragrant, and has nothing to envy from its Italian counterpart. Only 4 ingredients, 10 minutes, and incredible flavors… this French Pistou sauce is a must to have in your French repertoire. Traditionally, Pistou sauce is used to garnish …

  • If you’re attending a barbecue or outdoor get-together in the thick of Summer in France, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble on these Provence-Style Tomatoes topped with Breadcrumbs and Herbs. Known as “Tomates à la Provençale”, this typical warm-weather dish from Provence calls for fresh, seasonal tomatoes slowly confit’d on the stove-top (meaning they’re slowly cooked in their own juice). The confit tomatoes are then finished off in the oven topped with breadcrumbs, garlic and Herbes de Provence, and cooked until crisp and golden. Like most rustic French recipes, it …

  • French Couscous Salad (French Taboulé)

    by Audrey

    Light, fragrant, and easy to prepare, this French Couscous Salad, also known as Taboulé, is a beloved staple of French summertime cooking. Unlike its Levantine cousin Tabbouleh, this version features fluffy couscous, crisp vegetables, sweet raisins, and a zesty lemon dressing — making it the perfect cold salad for picnics, potlucks, and casual lunches. What is French Couscous Salad (aka French Taboulé)? If you’ve ever browsed the deli section of a French supermarket, chances are you’ve spotted little individual tubs labeled “Taboulé.”: one of the French’s favorite salads on the …