12.20.2010

Cougnou (Belgian Christmas Pastry)


Imagine my deception at my first Californian Xmas when I realized I wouldn't get my typical Belgian "cougnou"*. Unthinkable! So I started looking for a recipe to bake my own. I found one on Marmiton (in French) and another one here (still in French). My final recipe is a mix of those two. Every year in December I bake these pastries for my family... but also for our friends. Everybody loves them, especially the kids.  I enjoy sharing my pastries and my traditions with them.
* It tastes a little like a French "brioche", but less buttery. 

12.07.2010

Pear+Apple+Chocolate Crumble, with Pecans+Pistachios

That's the second recipe from the foodblog La Tartine Gourmande that I made. The first one was a Chocolate and Nut Cake. They are both excellent. What I like about this crumble is the combination pear+chocolate (one of my favorites) and the crunchy side brought by the nuts. I put only pecans because I didn't have any pistachios on hand. A good excuse to make this dessert again soon.

12.06.2010

Arugula Pesto


I received a full bunch of Arugula in my CSA box this week. Since it's almost winter time, I'm more in the mood for pasta than for salad. This arugula pesto recipe with a hint of lemon inspired me. I like pesto over pasta but also over pizzas, crackers, soups, sandwiches or quiches... The uses are endless. 
Tip for kids: To reduce the bitterness of the arugula, mix the pesto with some roasted tomatoes (or basic tomato sauce) and a bit of cream. My daughters loved it this way.

12.05.2010

Homemade Ricotta

After the homemade yogurt, the temptation to try making homemade ricotta was high! I know... I'm not original. The D.I.Y ("do it yourself") movement is really spreading out these days. But it's a good thing. So pass on the word and do it yourself!

12.02.2010

Drinking Yogurt

... or "how-to-save-a-homemade-yogurt-that-didn't-end-up-the-way-it-was-supposed-to" : mix a quart of yogurt that didn't-end-up... (in other words: too liquid!) with 3 tbs of a good fruit syrup (in my case: D'ARBO raspberry syrup)*. Tastier, cheaper, and healthier than the storebought drinking yogurts full of sugar, food coloring, and preservatives. If you are interested in this matter, check out this comment about the yogurt Danimals.