I marked a recipe for Gruyere Soup in an old community cookbook years ago. It was very plain, nothing fancy, but I marked it thinking that I could doctor up the recipe with vegetables or herbs or wine or any manner of ideas. But when I came around to making the soup, to test out my theories, I suddenly had the idea that instead of complicating the soup, I could turn it into a … [Read more...] about Gruyere Soup with Onion Jam
French
French Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
When the weather turns chilly, it may seem that the time for cold salads has past. But this lovely, homey lentil salad is perfect for fall. The ingredients for this could not be humbler, but somehow the whole comes off as sophisticated. This is the kind of dish I imagine a French home cook would whip up if you just dropped by unexpectedly. This salad is great beside a … [Read more...] about French Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
Blanquette de Veau (Creamy Veal Stew)
Blanquette de veau is a delicious, classic French dish with a real difference. I’ll admit though, I’d never really considered tackling it, because, at first look, it seems a bit complicated. But I recently hosted a book club at my house to discuss the book Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris, a rich, evocative story laced with memories of classic French food. So of … [Read more...] about Blanquette de Veau (Creamy Veal Stew)
Almost-Too-French Onion Soup
French Onion Soup is such a classic. It’s what you eat on your first trip to France, and even if you eat it at the restaurant down the street at home all the time, it is still special and memorable. Soupe à L’oignon Gratinée. The rich onion-y broth, the crispy bread soaking up the flavor, the gooey melted cheese dripping off your spoon. It’s delicious to savor and fun to … [Read more...] about Almost-Too-French Onion Soup
Classic Quiche Lorraine
It’s easy to forget the pleasures of something as simple as a good quiche. Just a basic pie, full of goodness, and easy to prepare, but delicious and decadent all the same. Cary Grant as John Robie in To Catch a Thief serves it at his French villa, perhaps thoroughly proving that real men do eat quiche. Hey, if it’s good enough for Cary Grant, it’s good enough for me. I … [Read more...] about Classic Quiche Lorraine
