Food, travel and photography

Category: Toasts, pitas, lunch box

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, 

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 

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Sabrina Ghayour, a Persian chef, lives in the United Kingdom and is known for preparing easy, delicious and colorful recipes. Her books have become great references for Persian cooking in the past few years. I love her cooking and I was very touched by her extreme kindness 

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Brigitte is an outstanding cook as well as a great photographer. I took this picture myself, but I must admit that I am not as talented as she is! Do take a look at “Popote et Fleur de Sel”, her website, and check it up 

Beef Fatayas

Beef Fatayas

This Senegalese recipe is also called “pastel” and originally comes from Lebanon. Lebanese people call them “sambousiks”, and Argentines also love these tiny savory beef pastries and call them “empanadas”.

Chinese fried rice

Chinese fried rice

Simple to make, this delicious and easy to make recipe is one of my teenage years-favorites … thanks, Chantal, for this and for your appetizers I shared on my site too!

Guacamole

Guacamole

The most difficult part in this recipe is to have a ripe avocado …then, it’s only a matter of putting your talent at work and enjoy the Guacamole!

Melitzanosalata

Melitzanosalata

It’s a light eggplant caviar easy to make. Paloma who gave me Mania’s recipe says that this eggplant caviar will become light and foamy as would a mayonnaise when you mix it properly. Adjust with olive oil to your taste accordingly.

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 

Parmesan tartlets with red onion & comté cheese

Parmesan tartlets with red onion & comté cheese

My special thanks to the famous French baker, Gontran Cherrier, for letting me share his delicious recipe with you.

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

This cake is famous and a classic in England and in the US. Thank you Raphaël for this precious recipe. It’s moist, perfectly spiced and the best part is the topping!

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. 

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

Stéphanie, who is a great cook and who is used to organising large dinner parties, managed to convince me to make this fantastic recipe. Use one of your nice terrine dishes as it will be served on the table.

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 

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!

Zaatar beetroot & yogurt spread

Zaatar beetroot & yogurt spread

For an elegant presentation, top with sunflower young leaves or any other ingredient baring the colour you wish to decorate your colourful spread. Special thanks to Chrystele who had me discover this delicious recipe created by the famous Yotam Ottolenghi.

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 

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 

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: 

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 

Zita’s sardines spread

Zita’s sardines spread

Try and choose sardines canned in olive oil rather than some generic vegetable oil. With crackers it’s perfect too.

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 🙂

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.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

This soup can be made days in advance if kept in the fridge. If you have a dinner party : You may add small unshelled prawns or shrimps or sauteed small scallops. It’s a bit more hearty and it’s very delicious as well! ​

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