Mini French Baguettes
A friend of mine once told me that she was so broke during college that she had to bake her own baguettes. She said that at times that’s all she would have to eat with butter. I exclaimed: “Oh my God!” Shamefully, this was not so much because I empathized with her as it was because I was amazed that she baked her own baguettes.
See I love bread, but bread baking is one of the few processes that have never worked out for me. I’ve tried, tried, tried and failed, failed, failed miserably each time. So after numerous trials followed by countless ego-crushing failures, I was on the verge of giving up. But I stumbled upon the following youtube video which completely dispelled my fear of bread baking. 6 hours later, I had baked my first successful batch of French baguettes for 1/4 of what it would cost me to buy a similar quantity at Whole Foods. Continue reading Mini French Baguettes
By Raissa Nebie on August 4, 2009 | 16
Thrifty Gourmet Wine Steal – Chapoutier Belleruche
When I took my first gulp of Chapoutier Belleruche last Saturday night, I had an explosive coughing fit. Not due to any fault with the wine, which was as silkily delicious as ever; it was the revelation of the price which caused me to fear I was about to suffer a pulmonary embolism.
Family were visiting from Europe, and my brother-in-law, who works in the French wine trade, always arrives with a clinking bag containing a few vinous gems. The first bottle we pulled the cork from was the Belleruche. Continue reading Thrifty Gourmet Wine Steal – Chapoutier Belleruche
By Jamie Grafton on July 29, 2009 | 1
Homemade Yogurt
I love yogurt. As a child, most of my dinners ended with a healthy yogurt for dessert. But French yogurt is very different from American yogurt. It tastes better. A lot better. French yogurt also has a decadently creamy and velvety texture that I have not been able to find in any store-bought American yogurt. But that’s okay because what I can’t buy at the supermarket, I learn to make at home.
Have you ever had homemade yogurt? If not, you’re missing out on some serious deliciousness. It has a wonderful texture and none the acidic taste of store-bought yogurt. And the good news is that yogurt is very beyond easy to make — even without a yogurt maker. You just need to be patient and give the yogurt time to ferment and set. Continue reading Homemade Yogurt
By Raissa Nebie on July 27, 2009 | 10
Pommes de Terre Sarladaises
After reading my duck confit post, a few people wanted to know what pommes de terre sarladaises were and whether I could share the recipe.
In French, Pommes de terre sarladaises means potatoes from Sarlat, a small town located in the southwestern region of France called The Perigord. This region also known as the foie gras capital of the world is famed for its comfort cuisine and its duck and goose specialties.
As you probably guessed by now, sarladaises are the potatoes I served alongside my duck confit. Though the name sounds fancy, the recipe is way easier than you can imagine. Sarladaises are simply garlic-y potatoes cooked in duck fat and finished with chopped parsley. Continue reading Pommes de Terre Sarladaises
By Raissa Nebie on July 23, 2009 | 0
A Little Splurge on Duck Confit
Every now and then, one should step out of the thrifty zone and splurge on something delicious. I’m not saying to empty the piggy bank on foie gras and caviar, but a fancy meal here and there doesn’t hurt. Duck confit is a dish I consider a reasonable splurge.
For a long time, I viewed duck confit as one of those dishes that were better left in the hands of French chefs. But as I started making it at home, it dawned on me that it was nothing more than salt-cured duck legs that are slow-cooked in duck fat. Continue reading A Little Splurge on Duck Confit
By Raissa Nebie on July 22, 2009 | 0
