Food, travel and photography

Category: sweet recipes

FIG JAM

FIG JAM

Fig trees give their best fruits between July and October, at least in our part of the world. There are many fig varieties of many different colors. Whatever the type, choose a firm, nice and plump fig, with a nice fresh scent, and do eat 

ORANGE SALAD

ORANGE SALAD

I used to make orange salads with orange blossom water, mint, or verbena leaves from the garden and serve them at the end of the meal… But then I met Teresa, and my life changed! Now I prepare this recipe for breakfast very regularly. I 

BREAD PUDDING AND BOURBON SAUCE

BREAD PUDDING AND BOURBON SAUCE

I brought this delicious recipe back from a trip I took to Wilmington, North Carolina last summer. We have to thank Perry for sharing it. Everyone, from friends to family, loves her bread pudding. So, she makes it as often as she can and everyone 

PINEAPLE CARPACCIO

PINEAPLE CARPACCIO

Only 2 ingredients, a good bread knife, that’s all you need to make this light and exotic dessert in no time! Thank you, Marcela, for this wonderful idea.

APPLE ROSES

APPLE ROSES

This lovely dessert is easy to warm up! Although shaping the flowers is a bit tricky at first, once you’ve got the technique, you’ll finish the preparation in a breeze. You can even let your creativity take over and vary the toppings … for example, 

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana, also called Lemon & Mint Lemonade in the Middle-East, is very popular in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. There are so many versions! It is sipped during lunch, at bars on the beach, and grabbed on the go on a hot day. I’m sharing 

New York cheese cake

New York cheese cake

I started appreciating this dessert when I was living in Philadelphia. This is now one of my favorite desserts. There are so many cheese cake recipes, all of them delicious, but more or less easy to digest… This cheese cake is absolutely delicious, but I 

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

This is Barbara’s very own special recipe for Christmas Toffee. Believe me: it’s a killer! This is perfect as a homemade treat. It was a nice and delicious experience to watch Barbara make this delicious candy.

Greengage Jam

Greengage Jam

You are going to love it! The fruits will have to soak in sugar for a few hours. If this is your first time, you may want to click on the Tips and Tricks section, and look for advice on How to make the best 

THE IRRESISTIBLE CHOCOLATE FONDANT

THE IRRESISTIBLE CHOCOLATE FONDANT

My friend Florence likes to make this recipe at the last minute. She loves serving the Chocolate Fondant warm and is so delighted to see that, each time, there are no leftovers at all. That’s how irresistible it is!

French Flag Cocktail

French Flag Cocktail

This cocktail will always remain the symbol for the victory of France in the world soccer championship’s final on 15th of July  2018. Happy memories of a great time shared by the French people united in joy.

Vine peach, nectarine, and mango fruit salad

Vine peach, nectarine, and mango fruit salad

The type of peaches I like to use here are called vine peaches. They are flat rather than round, are sweet and tasty, and their flesh is delicate and white. They are not as available as the other type as they are quickly perishable. You 

Caribbean coconut pudding

Caribbean coconut pudding

This is my mother-in-law’s Caribbean coconut pudding family recipe! I must say it is very sweet, but it is an absolute delight. When I make this pudding, I use small individual custard cups or small bowls.

double chocolate French charlotte

double chocolate French charlotte

You may also moisten your ladyfingers with kirsch if you wish. If you do so, you need 1 cap of alcohol for 100 ml of water. Raspberry or other types of berry syrups are good too, according to Caroline. She just adds one layer of 

Blueberry smoothie

Blueberry smoothie

When your blueberries are stored in the refrigerator, this delicious smoothie can be prepared and served in 5 minutes-time.

Blackberry jam

Blackberry jam

This marmalade is absolutely delicious, but it takes time and is quite messy to prepare. I also have to add that the fruits need to be cooked soon after having been picked, so make space for a “jam making workshop” in your agenda!

Lemon cake

Lemon cake

If you are looking for something sweet, traditional, yummy, easy to make, and that will stay perfect for three days, you are at the right place! Another excellent choice on lesmenusplaisir for the lemon cake lovers is my Poppy Seed Lemon Cake. I like to 

Juicy pear and lemon zest marmalade

Juicy pear and lemon zest marmalade

Carefully choose your fruits, pears are known to be fragile and need to be handled with care. Leave them at room temperature to ripen before cooking.

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.

Citrus fruit, ginger & honey alcohol-free grog

Citrus fruit, ginger & honey alcohol-free grog

The famous grog: we all know this ancient lemon and honey recipe from our grandmothers. With or without rum, cloves, cinnamon or not and served nice and hot; it smells winter alright and soothes our sore throats. I discovered this recipe in the great ELLE 

LEMON AND POPPY SEED CAKE WITH ITS ROYAL ICING

LEMON AND POPPY SEED CAKE WITH ITS ROYAL ICING

For two 400ml-cake moulds (Length 12 cm, width 7cm, height 5.5cm). For a regular size-cake, double the quantities and bake for about 45 minutes.

Laurene’s rice pudding

Laurene’s rice pudding

Another traditional dessert you may conveniently prepare a day in advance. In the shape of an elegant pie and presented with style on a pastry dish with fresh fruits, this Rice Pudding is a real delight. Along with fresh litchis or mandarines I just love 

Audrey or Clemence’s Cookies

Audrey or Clemence’s Cookies

Easy to make, these cookies are to be often checked while baking. I must admit that I over-baked them many times… how frustrating! If you don’t have cookie moulds, make sure to properly separate the dough on the wax paper. Below are 2 recipes I 

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!

baked apples

baked apples

A traditional autumn treat, childhood memories for most of us, and very easy to make.

Saïda’s pancakes

Saïda’s pancakes

The dough may be prepared ahead of time, but the pancakes are best when cooked before serving. They don’t come out the same when re-heated.

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.

Karin’s banana cake

Karin’s banana cake

The secret trick  if you may try : the bananas have to be very, very ripe, then frozen, the skin will go black and only then they are ready. Defrost them throw out the water  squeeze the flesh and sugary syrup out of the skins. You can also 

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!

Avocado Beet Pear and banana smoothie

Avocado Beet Pear and banana smoothie

Valerie found this recipe on the internet. We were 8 to taste and we loved it! Julia is a French Blogger. COOKING JULIA is her blog. I’m very pleased to share her recipe in English with you.

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.

Quince Jelly

Quince Jelly

Draining time : 1 night Cooking time : 2 x 1 hour

pear jam

pear jam

Pear jam is a very delightful, aromatic and subtle preserve. Depending on the type of pear you choose for your recipe, the taste will be different but always very pleasant. I tend to prefer the Doyennée pear, but I do appreciate Conference pear too. A mix of 

Christine cannelés from Bordeaux

Christine cannelés from Bordeaux

The cannelé (prononce can-eh-lay) de Bordeaux is a famous, delicate and small French pasty. Translation by Mapie. Thank you Mapie 🙂

French Crêpes Recipe

French Crêpes Recipe

Crêpes are just so popular in France that the French even have a day dedicated to them. We call it : La Chandeleur. On the 2nd February the whole country eats crêpes !

Frozen tiramisu

Frozen tiramisu

It only takes about 20 minutes to prepare this frozen dessert which can be kept in the freezer for months. This frozen tiramisu will also be appreciated by your guests for a special dinner party and you will enjoy the idea of having your dessert 

Black cherry jam with chestnut honey from Corsica

Black cherry jam with chestnut honey from Corsica

In the Southwest of France, we like using this cherry jam with  French sheep or goat milk cheese; the specialty cheese from Corsica suits very well too especially if you used the chestnut honey, a delicacy in Corsica.

French apricot vanilla & lavender jam

French apricot vanilla & lavender jam

If you wish to add a subtle floral note to the jam, I suggest lavender.  Use the lavender in your backyard. Just make sure it is not sprayed with pesticides.

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