December 21, 2010
Christmas Sablés
[Biscuits de Noël]
Laurence is one of my best and oldest friends. I met her when I was fourteen, on our first day of high school, and soon we were inseparable, so alike in so many ways that people sometimes mistook us for sisters.
I loved going to her house after school. For one thing, there was a television there, which wasn't the case at my parents' -- much to my and my sister's grief -- so there was always the electrifying prospect of mayb...
"Christmas Sablés" continues »
December 16, 2010
[Edible Idioms] La course à l'échalote
Gorgeous braided shallots photographed by Denna Jones.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "La course à l'échalote."
Literally translated as, "the shallot race," it is used in situations of futile competition, when people strive to outdo one another for vain reasons, in a political context or otherwise. It is somewhat comparable to ...
"[Edible Idioms] La course à l'échalote" continues »
December 14, 2010
Black Radish and Potato Salad
The black radish is the Parisian locavore's nemesis: during the winter, the raphanus sativus var. niger pops up regularly in AMAP* subscribers' vegetable baskets, and it can be a challenge to put it to good use.
An ancient variety that dates back to antiquity, this mega-radish has a black, coarse skin and a white, almost translucent flesh that's quite pungent in flavor. It is this characteristic sharpness that earned it the nickname of raifort...
"Black Radish and Potato Salad" continues »
December 8, 2010
Homemade Pasta
When I was little, when my sister and I felt desultory and bored, my mother would sometimes make us a batch of salt dough for modelling. We would sit at the small folding table in the kitchen and squeeze and roll and pinch to our hearts' content. And although my sister's creations were invariably more delicate and life-like than my own, I remember I once proudly produced a full range of miniature fruits and vegetables that tasted shockingly sal...
December 1, 2010
December 2010 Desktop Calendar
At the beginning of every month, I am offering C&Z readers a new wallpaper to apply on the desktop of your computer, with a food-related picture and a calendar of the current month.
Our calendar for December is a picture of chocolate clusters, arguably the easiest of homemade chocolate confections. These particular ones are made with crystallized ginger and chopped almonds, and if you'd like to make some during the holidays, the recipe is here...
"December 2010 Desktop Calendar" continues »