Category Archives: Cooking

Tarte au Flan – Mamy

  Ingredients: For the base, the same as the tarte au sucre or tart rhubarb For the Flan, 500ml de lait 2 large table spoons of corn starch 100g of fine granulated sugar 1 Vanilla sugar packet 2 eggs   … Continue reading

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Gammon Shangri-la

Ingredients : A smoked Gammon (!) – about 2KG 2 Carrots / 2 Onions 2 Table Spoons of Pickling Spices 1 Table Spoon of Black Pepper 3 leafs of Laurel 5 to 10 cloves depending on taste 1 bunch of … Continue reading

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Thai Sauce (Spicy!)

Ingreditents : Chilis (all colors – medium size 6 to 10) / 2 bits of Garlic Green Lime / half piece of Ginger Jam Sugar 1 or 2 Tablespoons of Rice vinegar A little bit of butter How to Make … Continue reading

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Candied Orange & Grapefruit Peels

Ingreditents : 2 Grapefruits 2 Oranges 750g of granulated sugar 400ml of water How to Make : Wash the fruits first Peel the fruits in 4 big peel pieces Cut the peels in 5mm wide pieces Put in a large … Continue reading

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Fried Gnocco

This is a sort of Italian bread that is deep fried and usually served with Parma Ham or Coppa di Parma. Ingredients : (Enough for about 50 pieces) 500g of white Strong flour 2 Teaspoon of yeast 1 Teaspoon of … Continue reading

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Focaccia Bread

Simple Recipe : 800g White Strong Flour Olive Oil (30 to 45g) 200g Semolina flour (medium is ok) 1 Tablespoon of Salt / 15g (sea salt is nice) Dry Yeast for 1KG Bread – 10g Fresh rosemary / Thyme / … Continue reading

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Quennelles -exploding in Oven

We made some Quennelles today at my mum’s place in France. These ones were very special as they almost “exploded” in the oven, this was amazing. They were plain but with a Nantua sauce and I served them with large … Continue reading

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Recette Boules de Berlin – Tante Helene

The perfect recipe to lift the spirit when on the 23rd of March it is snowing in the UK…!! Ingredients : (Makes about 20 boules) 500g Flour 120g Melted Butter 50g Sugar 1 tea spoon Salt 50g of “Levure Fraiche” … Continue reading

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Bechamel Sauce

This post is to save for future reference the recipe for Bechamel sauce, the base sauce for French cuisine Bechamel was a french financier during the reign of king Louis ivx, so I should know it by heart !!   … Continue reading

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Have a nice week-end…

  We are staying at the Manoir au quat’saison…it is very very very nice ! Check the website www.manoir.com The garden is lovely and the service impeccable , Manu is having a massage in the bedroom and I am having a … Continue reading

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In the Oven

 

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Fantastic ….Merci Daniel !

We had a fantastic evening with Daniel Galmiche and our closest friends. Below a few pictures of how to serve and then eat a beautiful piece of beef….then you must say thank you to the Michelin starred chef Daniel Galmiche … Continue reading

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Quenelles nature…

This is a very nice dish from Lyon, France. It is a bit tricky to prepare the first time, but once you have done a few, it becomes second nature and can be prepared quickly. The secret in this recipe … Continue reading

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Making a Table for my Plancha

During my last trip to France, I bought a ENO Plancha. I did not buy the table/stand that goes with it because it would not fit in my car. Because I live in the UK, there is no store selling … Continue reading

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Communion

This weekend it was the First communion of my youngest son, Noe. We made a feast with the family, I roasted a small piglet in the BBQ. It was my first roast and it was very nice. Very sweet and … Continue reading

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Home made foie gras

Made some foie gras from a fresh duck liver. The recipe is very simple. 1- Leave raw foie gras in milk overnight in fridge. 2- Take out of fridge, let it rest 30 minutes then separate the lobes and remove … Continue reading

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Pickled Shallots

Again a good old family traditional. Shallots / Spring Onions A few cloves / Ground Ginger / Pickling Spices Malt Vinegar. Very nice with “Hate Levee”, to be done next week sometime once the shallots have pickled a bit more.

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Fruit liqueurs for March…

  I said I would do it, so I did. My Grand Dad recipe for fruit liqueur. Recipe is on the box, just need to wait 30 days now… Our elders did not teach us to flap our wings but … Continue reading

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Did not play Tennis

This morning it is raining. Well it’s the UK so what do you expect. Actually, we played almost all winter, cold and windy it is still ok, rain …no. Note that in the UK there is less rain than in most … Continue reading

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Liqueur de Cassis Recipe

  This recipe for a fruit liqueur was sent to me from my uncle from Belgium. It is a recipe from my Grand Dad, note the beautiful writing. I am definitely giving it a go this weekend. Obviously I will … Continue reading

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