Ingredients 101

We posted a lot of recipes on the blog without even considering that some of you never cooked before.

For our recipes a lot of things are needed. Many times, I got discouraged while reading through Martha Stewart recipes.....  and gave up. We really want to avoid that feeling...

In order to help you. I thought it might be good to make a list of the necessary ingredients needed to cook. I promise I will not add fancy ingredients such as 4 spices from Tahiti that I saw in Stewart recipe. By the way where to find such ingredient?!!

 

Here is a list of the basic ingredients you need in your food pantry. 

Flour, sugar, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper. It's the basic!!!

In addition, it might be good to add nutmeg, curry powder, paprika, basil, rosemary, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Finally for the ones who like baking, we need baking powder, extract of vanilla bean, corn starch.

Next time you go to the grocery shopping buy what is missing from the list, then you'll handle every recipe.

Bon Appetit !!!!!

Appetizer Rolls: Ham and Boursin

In France we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I discovered this holiday when I moved to the U.S. I love particularly this time of the year because we meet with friends and family.

I'm hosting thanksgiving dinner this year. I want to surprise my friends with nice and easy dishes. Here is a fast and easy recipe to do, some "canapes" (appetizer) for Thanksgiving.

I love it! For a better presentation instead of using regular toothpick, you can use nice fancy ones as suggested in the picture below.

What you need:

8 Slides of ham
1 Boursin
Toothpicks

How to do it :

Spread the boursin on ham as shows below

Roll the slide of ham and cut in pieces every 1.5 inches. To maintain the roll, finish the work by picking the toothpick in the center.

Eh voila!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

In the mood to cook!

What's more important than being in the mood to cook. If you drag yourself to the stove, whatever recipe or secret ingredients you have, you'll not enjoy yourself.

Now that you have the idea, ingredients,and time to make something good and tasty, it is the moment to turn the music on !!! Turn it loud !!

I can't make anything without an entertaining music.

As surprising as it seems there are playlists available online to cook. It'll put you in the mood and you'll enjoy the experience.

Here is one of my favorite. It is the secret why I love so much cooking!

 http://www.stereomood.com/activity/cooking%2Btime

Here is some others suggestions :
Rumba Como Quiera (Los Zafiros)
Ship Out On the Sea (The Be Good Tanyas)
Alpha Beta Gaga (Air)
Mi Swing Es Tropical (Nickodemus & Quantic featuring Tempo)
Aye Mama (Chief Osita Stephen Osadebe)
Cook of the House (Wings)
Aaj Mera Jee Kardaa (DJ BNX & Giraud Anthony - from Monsoon Wedding)
I Feel It All (Fiest)
Wadjo (Ex-Centric Sound System)
Cyrandeiro (Cyro Baptista)
Dawn of the Dead (Does It Offend You, Yeah?)
Lake Michigan (Rogue Wave)
Have fun, cook and dance !!!!

French restaurants in Boston

All my friends want to know what is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. It is difficult to answer. I love "Petit Robert Bistro." It is tasty, affordable, and the staff is very professional.

Below is the opening hours. Lunch Hours Monday through Fridays 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM Dinner Hours Monday through Saturdays 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM

The restaurant is located in the South End 480 Columbus Avenue Boston MA 02118 (617) 867 0600 and is opened every day from 11.00 am to 11.00 pm 

Here is a link of the menu : 

http://petitrobertbistro.com/menus/dinner/

I recommend, trio of Homemade Pâtés with Condiments as an appetizer and Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles for an entree.

The other restaurant I love is Pierrot Bistrot. Food is delicious, tasty and affordable.The French chef is one of the best in the Boston area.

The restaurant is located 272 Cambridge Street  Boston, MA 02114
(617) 725-8855.Here is a link of the menu : http://www.pierrotbistrot.com/menu.html

I personally love Mussels in white wine sauce or Duck magret. The menu has so many dishes I love !!!!

Bread Pudding

    BREAD PUDDING - Dominican Style

Bread Pudding or "pudin de pan" is a very known sweet dessert in my native country the Dominican Republic. It can be done at anytime of the year, but I prefer preparing it during the holiday season. This kind of dessert could be seen in grocery stores mostly Dominican background owners. 

What you need:

1. Five any kind of long bread.
2. 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
3. 3 cinnamon sticks. 
4. 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
5. Can of coconut milk.
6. One can of carnation milk.
7. One can of condensed milk.
8. Pour two cups of milk. (gallon milk only)
9. 1½ Sugar. 
10. Raisins.
11. 2 cups of water.         

Instructions

Step 1: Cut five long breads in little pieces. Note: make sure bread is harder than normal.

 

Step 2:  Mix on top the cut bread ground cinnamon, salt, one can of coconut milk, One can of carnation milk, One can of condensed milk, and two cup of milk.

 

  

Step 3: Add 1/2 cup of sugar, raisins, and mix everything again.

Step 4: Use a pan to make sweet honey by pouring water,cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of sugar and let it boil until it gets thick. After it's done, let it cool down.

Step 5: Once the sweet honey has cooled down, mix the bread and other ingredients with the honey.

Step 6:  Bake it at a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of one hour and thirty minutes.

Croque Monsieur

“Croque Monsieur”

It is a quick snack easy to make and very tasty. It is a popular appetizer in French cafés and bistros. It is one of my favorite dishes. 

What you need for 3 croques monsieur:

6 slices of white bread

6 slices of Virginia ham

6 slices of swiss cheese

1 cup of shredded swiss cheese

1 stick of butter

Step 1: Preheat oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the butter on every slice of bread.

Step 2: Add 2 slices of ham and 2 slices of swiss cheese.

Step 3: Top with the 3 others slices of bread. On top of each croque monsieur add the shredded swiss cheese. 

Step 4: Bake  for 10/12minutes until the cheese melts.  

"Et voilà !"Bon appetit!!!!