Food, travel and photography

Category: Make-ahead recipes

Virginie’s seed crackers

Virginie’s seed crackers

These crunchy shortbreads are absolutely delicious. You may even sprinkle a bit if cumin seeds or aniseeds to vary the flavour or simply add a pinch of Espelette chili to spice it up. 

homemade orangettes

homemade orangettes

How to make orangettes? Buy fresh oranges and premium luxury dark chocolate, and give this easy orangette recipe a try. You’ll love it!

Severine’s banana cake

Severine’s banana cake

Although this sweet cake is a classic, there is a large variety of banana cake recipes. Severine’s is just one of  the countless ways to make it. You may also try Karin’s recipe. I love it too!

Maryse’s Veal Stew

Maryse’s Veal Stew

When you go grocery shopping, let your butcher know if you prefer fatty or lean meat. He will advise and help choose the pieces that suit your taste. I have tried the recipe with only one can of tomatoes and it was delicious too. Better if the 

creamed zucchini & pumpkin soup

creamed zucchini & pumpkin soup

Full of flavors this bicolor soup is just beautiful and delicious. Although you can use any kind of squash here. Butternut works well, I tried! 

Asmaa’s smocked aubergine spread

Asmaa’s smocked aubergine spread

This is a Turkish dish turned into a versatile spread that can be used over  bread, blinis, or part of a mezze table. My friend Asmaa is a Natural Chef & Health Food coach. You’ll find her on Instagram. Look for Authentickspoon. We met in 

Virginie’s pumpkin and hazelnut cod gratin

Virginie’s pumpkin and hazelnut cod gratin

Don’t hesitate to swap pumpkin for squash (red kuri squash) and to use a spicy olive oil such as the Peperoncino. I tried it too and it was perfect. I also tried with the butternut squash, but was a little disappointed : it tasted a little blend. I should have 

Courgette & Stilton velouté

Courgette & Stilton velouté

This is a very simple and light soup. You’ll need a blender and if you have a Thermomix it will be ready in 20 minutes!

vanilla cheesecake with blueberry compote

vanilla cheesecake with blueberry compote

Being individual make a great simple dessert for a dinner party. You can find mini cheesecake pans on the internet. You have nearly 24 mini cakes with this recipe.

Rosetta’s tuna paccheri

Rosetta’s tuna paccheri

You could save time by placing the cherry tomatoes under the grill in the oven instead of slow baking them for an hour. Just be extra careful not to burn them. And do not cook the tuna and the capers together more than 10 minutes: 

Caroline’s crumble

Caroline’s crumble

Sometime I use only apples, it’s delicious too. You can prepare the topping ahead and keep it in the fridge many days. But you may also use the topping to jazz up any fruity filling!

Anne-Sophie’s Nut Chocolate Success

Anne-Sophie’s Nut Chocolate Success

This is the perfect dessert for a celebration meal. As you will make  the recipe the day before, it will give you plenty of time to concentrate on the rest of the menu.

Jeanne’s quinoa caprese

Jeanne’s quinoa caprese

It’s simple, easy to prepare and a perfect way to eat vegetables. You can serve it as a side dish for 6 to 8 people or double your portion to make it a meal for 4.

Accras from Martinique & Thomas’Ti punch

Accras from Martinique & Thomas’Ti punch

It’s really a lot easier than it seems but it involves frying so be careful. Good to know : cod accras are part of the traditional Caribbean cuisine. This dish is generally served  in Martinique as an appetizer with Ti Punch. Thomas’TI Punch is made of 5cl of white 

My tiramisu

My tiramisu

Did you know Tiramisu means “lift me up”? This dessert is my favorite. I have made it at home for years. But there are  many different Tiramisu recipes, each with their own process and ingredients. Don’t hesitate to try some others. It will  always be 

French Onion Soup by Paul Bocuse My Style

French Onion Soup by Paul Bocuse My Style

In Lyon this soup dish is a speciality and is often served in the evening for family or close friends dinner parties, for late supper or even as an early morning delicacy after dancing all night. Thank you to the famous chef ‘s team who 

Homemade gravlax style salmon

Homemade gravlax style salmon

✨It’s a Scandinavian classic dish, thank you Francine for the recipe.✨ You can try it with vodka instead of gin. Many recipes recommend freezing the fish before curing in order to kill any parasites. It makes a stunning party platter if you serve it up appetizer style. For a 

Zucchini Goat Cheese & Thyme Tart

Zucchini Goat Cheese & Thyme Tart

This tart may conveniently be re-heated at a temperature of 160° for 15 minutes. It should preferably be served hot or warm. ​

Hummus by Lamia

Hummus by Lamia

Hummus is a traditional middle eastern dish. It is traditionally served as a dip with Lebanese or Pita bread. I like to remove the chickpea skin, and if you choose to do so, it will take twice as long to prepare, unless you get some 

Maryse’s French Tapenade

Maryse’s French Tapenade

I highly recommend this tapenade recipe. Making it is actually pretty easy. You just need a blender and to wait a few hours…You can also try  her excellent peas soup  and her veal sauté .

Agnès’ gluten-free, flour-free & yeast-free loaf

Agnès’ gluten-free, flour-free & yeast-free loaf

This recipe was inspired by Sarah Britton’s “The life-changing loaf” As a holistic nutritionist, Sarah started her incredible blog in 2007 : My new roots – How to make healthy choices every day- Dear Sarah, I’m French and I have a cooking blog too. Since I