Food, travel and photography

Category: Recipes with a touch of Spring flavors

Vichyssoise Soup

Vichyssoise Soup

I rediscovered this American starter recipe in London. This delicious soup may be served chilled as well as hot! For the record, this very simple recipe (an inspiration from our French Potage Bonne Femme) was added to the Ritz-Carlton restaurant menu between WWI and WWII. 

Red mullet escabeche

Red mullet escabeche

Thank you, Mary for your recipe ! Escabèche is a delicious marinade made of olive oil, garlic and vinegar. It is also used to marinate sea bass fillets. In Cuba, they use it for swordfish too. Another pleasant option is to add the juice of 

Savoury zucchini feta & mint cake

Savoury zucchini feta & mint cake

The feta cheese and the Greek yogurt bring a nice fresh touch to this delicious zucchini bread recipe. This one is from my friend Marina. I am a fan of her cooking always healthy, inspiring, and so savoury.

Mint & goat cheese tart with vegetables

Mint & goat cheese tart with vegetables

This recipe is another version of my Mint and Goat Cheese Pie. With its minty flavor with the vegies, it’s a pleasant summer meal in its own.

Niçoise-style salad by Laurent

Niçoise-style salad by Laurent

For your perfect information, or for the Salade Niçoise purists, this is what I have gathered: the authentic Salade Niçoise does not use vinegar, nor lettuce, never tuna with anchovies, but one or the other. Only raw vegetables that are in season are used, and 

Watercress velouté

Watercress velouté

This recipe is simple, savoury and doesn’t take much time. You may select any type of watercress, they all work! Be careful: watercress leaves are fragile so use them quickly once you’ve purchased them.

Vegetables confit

Vegetables confit

This dish is delicious when served with a green salad; it’s also great with grilled fish or meat. The secret for this recipe? Time: slow cooking is the key!

Italian style eggplant gratin

Italian style eggplant gratin

This is another great recipe from Mary. If you are a fan of her pesto sauce, you are going to love this one! In case you don’t have nice fresh tomatoes at hand or if they are not in season yet, you can use the 

Vegetable tajine

Vegetable tajine

This recipe is an extract from Martine Fallon’s book, “Energetic Bomb”. I wish to thank this wonderful Lady, the energetic food Ambassador in Belgium, for allowing me to publish her recipe on my website. Check her French Website martinefallon.com for more. Special thanks to my 

Radicchio citrus and burrata salad

Radicchio citrus and burrata salad

When I discovered this cute, tempting salad at my favorite vegetable market, I had to go on the internet to look for a recipe. And I found Magali the founder of Quatre Saisons au Jardin website who authorized the publication of her recipe on my 

Strawberry Jam

Strawberry Jam

You have to be selective with your choice of strawberries: they should be sweet, ripe and fragrant. Adjust the cooking time according to the amount of water coming out of the strawberries.

Green pea salad

Green pea salad

Yes, you did read correctly: when in season, the green peas are raw from your vegetable garden or fresh from the market, or when not in season use the frozen ones. One day, I forgot to add the bacon, another day my friend Bertille did 

Catherine’s tuna salad

Catherine’s tuna salad

On a bed of lettuce, as a tuna sandwich spread, or stuffed in a tomato this American Tuna Salad recipe is a winner in all families. You can even use it to make a delicious Tuna Melt! And if you have leftovers, it is still 

christine’s mango avocado and shrimp salad

christine’s mango avocado and shrimp salad

This salad is an all-time winner in our family. It is nutritious and well balanced and may well be considered a full meal in the summer. If you plan to serve it as a lighter starter, don’t use so much vinaigrette dressing and don’t use 

Quinoa Salad with Almond, Feta cheese & Pomegranate

Quinoa Salad with Almond, Feta cheese & Pomegranate

This colorful & energizing dish is inspired from a small recipe book I love : Cantine California by Jordan Feilders. I do want to thank him and his team; I was sincerely moved by their timely response and enthusiasm as we were communicating by mail. The cheeseburger recipe 

Armelle’s version of deviled eggs

Armelle’s version of deviled eggs

This appetizer served in a glass verrine is one of many recipes using this layer principle; you may use various herbs and spices with the eggs (chives, dill…) or even add tuna, salmon, sardines to suit your taste. You could also beat the extra egg white 

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: 

Spinach leaf basket

Spinach leaf basket

If you are not feeling confident about cooking, limiting yourself to this kind of recipe is a good way to start.