Food, travel and photography

Category: Very easy

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.

RED PEPPERS WITH GENUINE HALLOUMI AND CHOPPED CHERRY TOMATOES TOPPING

RED PEPPERS WITH GENUINE HALLOUMI AND CHOPPED CHERRY TOMATOES TOPPING

Halloumi cheese originates from Cyprus, it is white, it is quite stiff, and strangely makes your teeth grind. I love it! It is made of goat and ewe milk. I like to have it sliced and grilled, often with grilled vegetables, salad, olives, citrus fruits, 

GRATINATED EGGPLANT

GRATINATED EGGPLANT

I never get tired of eating eggplants; I just love them! My friend Michelle who lives Southern France and who is a great cook, gave me this recipe. Try it, you’ll see how easy and delicious it is.

BLACK PUDDING SPICED WITH BANANAS & CINAMMON COOKIES

BLACK PUDDING SPICED WITH BANANAS & CINAMMON COOKIES

This dish is ideal when you don’t have much time but wish to impress your guests with an exotic unique delight. Moreover, it’s quick and easy to make. Served with a large green or mixed salad on the side, it stands as a main course 

FRESH BEETROOT, COCONUT MILK, GINGER & LIME SOUP

FRESH BEETROOT, COCONUT MILK, GINGER & LIME SOUP

My friend Karin has a gift for introducing me to fanciful and delicious recipes. I love it! This velouté releases all its flavours once it has been mixed. It’s easy to warm up and to freeze as well.

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 

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 

Sweet potato and red pepper thaï soup

Sweet potato and red pepper thaï soup

Teresa, who is a pharmacist as well as a nutritionist, has a fascinating and wonderful personality. She is the generous-type and I do thank her for sharing this recipe with us. I love the way she cooks: it is simple, tasty and always healthy. Teresa 

Roasted cabbage with olive tapenade

Roasted cabbage with olive tapenade

A delicious and crunchy recipe made in USA. The kind of simple dish that comes as a good surprise and that you can’t wait to replicate at home… many thanks to Chloé for sharing.

Pickled carrots and whipped feta dip

Pickled carrots and whipped feta dip

This is a British recipe to which I made a few changes to suit my personal taste. Very easy to prepare, you just need a five-hour marinating time for the carrots. With a food processor, the dip will be ready in no time.

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 

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 

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Choose firm and crunchy fuyu persimmons for this recipe as their pulp will not be too juicy. This variety is crunch, sweet, and best for salads.Thank you, Hélène, for sharing this delicious starter. Hélène’s French recipe website is now running under the name “Minute Papillotte”. 

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.

Alexandra’s healthy soup

Alexandra’s healthy soup

This is a genuine healthy soup: made with leeks, garlic, and onions for the pre-biotics (high in fibers), and with kale known to be high in nutrients and anti-oxydants (carotenoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates, calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C, K …) I love it and I 

Kale chips

Kale chips

The key to perfect kale chips? A slow and low bake. Why does kale get so much credit? It’s remarkably high in fibre and iron. It is packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It’s also a great source of calcium and high in vitamins K 

Mango chutney

Mango chutney

Traditionally served with venison, meat, or grilled fish, this chutney is also excellent with shrimp, lamb, or chicken curries.

Pork filet mignon with maroilles cheese sauce

Pork filet mignon with maroilles cheese sauce

This recipe is terrific and is made in no time! Many thanks to my friend Benedicte, a great cook, and who had me discover this dish served with braised endives. It was amazing!

Fall season fruit sauce

Fall season fruit sauce

An elegant dessert for a good meal. To be served with some cookies or cannelés . 

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!

Water kefir seeds and fruit kefir recipe

Water kefir seeds and fruit kefir recipe

Water kefir seeds look like a cluster of clear lumps. They have a jelly-type look. You need to handle them with care when you store them as they are delicate organisms. The seeds are made of live micro-organisms and are loaded with yeasts and lactic 

Leek fondue – “fondue de poireaux” in French

Leek fondue – “fondue de poireaux” in French

Fondue de poireaux is a common side-dish in France. Due to the delicate taste of leeks, it goes well with a wide variety of main dishes. Placing your fish fillet or your scallops on a bed of leek fondue is simply sublime! It takes no time to prepare, 

Fresh lemon thyme water drink

Fresh lemon thyme water drink

A lovely, savoury and easy to make refreshing drink. Now that I have the inspiring photo I was shooting for, I am pleased to share this recipe with you. Lemon thyme enhances all sorts of recipes and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.

Combava steamed cod fish

Combava steamed cod fish

Steamed cod is a sure value as it is always delicious. For this recipe, I used a steam oven, but you also may cook in a bamboo steamer or wrapped in wax paper in your oven. 

Harissa grilled Eggplant

Harissa grilled Eggplant

Preparing this delicious dish couldn’t be easier. Thank you Mapie for this recipe. Harissa comes from North Africa. It is made of chillies and a mix of various spices including cumin and caraway. The difference in chilli strength between one harissa and another can be 

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 

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.

Eton Mess

Eton Mess

It’s a very famous English recipe. This trio of strawberries, cream and meringues is said to have originated at Eton College in the late 19th century after a pavlova-style dessert was dropped.

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 

Goat cheese truffles

Goat cheese truffles

Suzanne’s chives, raisins and pomegranate goat cheese truffles is an original and easy recipe that can be prepared ahead of time.

Christine’s ginger salad

Christine’s ginger salad

Christine likes it with more ginger, but Caroline and I found the ginger quantity used sufficient. It will be up to you to adapt to your taste. Ginger root is a fabulous antioxidant. When raw it is a great source of manganese and copper. The