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My pumpkin soup

My pumpkin soup

This rich and creamy soup is ideal to face the winter weather and replenish with plenty vitamins.

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 

Vegetable chutney

Vegetable chutney

Using chutney is common in Great Britain, but this condiment originates from India. I do love this sweet and sour dressing made of fruits, vegetables, sugar, vinegar, and spices.

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.

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!

Apple and red cabbage velouté

Apple and red cabbage velouté

Apparently, cooking red cabbage is not very popular. That is quite unfortunate because this vegetable is not only delicious, but it also contains excellent nutrients and can be stored in the refrigerator for days… Thank you, Stéphanie, for sharing your red cabbage velouté recipe. 

Fall season fruit sauce

Fall season fruit sauce

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

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

I forget who gave me this delicious recipe a long time ago but after making some changes along the way, this is my own version of this irresistible recipe! Many thanks anyways to my unknown contributor! 

Makis

Makis

These Japanese rolls are made of sushi rice seasoned with rice vinegar and a variety of ingredients held together in nori seaweed. One of my family’s favorites!

Perfect soft-boiled eggs

Perfect soft-boiled eggs

Here are some useful tips to make your soft-boiled eggs: -Eggs should be extra fresh; here is how you check on their freshness: dip the eggs in cold water. The perfect egg for the soft-boiled recipe is the one that remains at the bottom of 

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!

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 

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!

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!

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.

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 

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. 

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 

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 

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 

My watercress dressing

My watercress dressing

This dressing is ideal when served with fish and potatoes and it is incredibly easy to make. You will need a food processor.

MY METHOD TO EFFICIENTLY GET RID OF ALL PESTICIDES,  WORMS, DIRT OR BACTERIA WHEN WASHING  YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

MY METHOD TO EFFICIENTLY GET RID OF ALL PESTICIDES, WORMS, DIRT OR BACTERIA WHEN WASHING YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

1.You can mix 90% water with 10% white vinegar: dip the fruits and vegetables in this mixture for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse and brush if possible. You could also put the mixture in a vaporizer and spray on your produce. Leave on for 10 

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.

Grilled duck breast with honey and rosemary

Grilled duck breast with honey and rosemary

A classic in French cuisine, so simple to make … you can’t miss it! Use French and high-quality duck breasts.

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.

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 

French etiquette at a dinner party

French etiquette at a dinner party

A short guide on seating arrangements, on how to set the table properly, and on the appropriate attitude at a formal dinner party, … CONVENIENT TIPS A seating arrangement cannot be improvised, you need to think ahead of time, decide who will sit next to 

How to cook white asparagus

How to cook white asparagus

My advice is to steam them or use an asparagus steamer. The asparagus steamer is ideal when you really love asparagus. So, if you are a big fan and have enough space to store it, investing in an asparagus steamer is a good idea. The 

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.

Tomato crumble

Tomato crumble

Adeline Brousse who created this delicious recipe I found in a magazine years ago, gave me her go to publish my own version of her recipe. Many thanks to her. Adeline is a French journalist specialized in gastronomy and wine.