December 20, 2011
Almond and Orange Blossom Croquants
From the department of Who Has Time To Make Edible Gifts In Advance Anyway comes this last-minute recipe, shared by French food writer Cécile Cau on her blog a couple of days ago. It is a recipe for croquants, which is the French word for a variety of crunchy cookies from the South of France, most often thin and involving almonds.
I read the recipe and was enchanted by its simplicity. Flour, sugar, eggs, almonds, and a splash of orange flower ...
"Almond and Orange Blossom Croquants" continues »
December 14, 2011
Easy Candied Almonds and Hazelnuts
If there was a candy making for dummies book (what am I saying, of course there is one) this recipe would deserve a prominent spot.
No sugar thermometer, no elaborate trick, very few opportunities for a major burn (unless you really apply yourself). Just a bit of boiling, stirring, and baking, and still these minimal efforts will yield something delicious that anyone will recognize as candy.
The technique was brought to my attention by a post...
"Easy Candied Almonds and Hazelnuts" continues »
December 6, 2011
Spaghetti with Crushed Sardine and Tomato Sauce
In ELLE à table, a French cooking magazine I contribute to, one of the longest-running sections is one called La Cuisine du placard (literally, cuisine from the cabinet or cupboard) that presents a picture of common pantry items, and offers recipes that make use of those, requiring as little fresh shopping as possible.
I consider myself a fresh ingredient cook, chiefly inspired by seasonal produce and market stalls, yet I get a special kind of...
"Spaghetti with Crushed Sardine and Tomato Sauce" continues »
December 1, 2011
December 2011 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 the Christmas sablés I baked and wrote about last year, following a recipe by one of my oldest friends' mother. (Check the post for more about the cookies, a recipe, and edible gift ideas.)
What about you: what cookies do ...
"December 2011 Desktop Calendar" continues »