French Fridays with Dorie

Visitandine – French Fridays with Dorie

April 6, 2014 by Renee

This week for French Friday’s with Dorie we made a Visitandine cake. A Visitandine cake is a delightful short crumb cake that is probably the precursor to the shortbread cakes we eat today and it’s quite similar to financiers, though not quite as spongy. This very simple cake originated in the convent of a community of French nuns called the Sisters of the Visitation, or the “Visitandines.” I wonder what it would have meant to be visited by the nuns. I would guess that upon being served this cake, they would have easily won over whomever they visited for whatever purpose they wanted.

Normally, a very white cake, it suddenly takes on a deep, nutty flavor and brown hue when you take the opportunity to brown the butter. The scent alone of the cooking butter is enough to make you want to devour the cake the moment it emerges out of the oven. But if you are patient and take a little time to macerate your berries with a bit of sugar and lemon juice and drizzle them over heaps of whipped cream sitting on top of layers of this cake, you will be most pleased with the result. It’s incredibly simple to make. And yet, it’s scrumptious and will be a huge hit with everyone you serve it to. Those nuns knew what they were doing. The table was cleared and ready for dessert in no time flat.

I will definitely be making this cake again (and not just to bribe the kids into submission) and will be sure to double the recipe as it disappeared quickly. Everyone really enjoyed it. And despite the butter and whipped cream, it’s really a rather healthy dessert. (Ok, maybe not, but it feels healthier!) It would also be delicious with so many different toppings, not just berries, but lemon curd, apples, caramel, chocolate, peaches and even plums. It is a great base that would let you be very creative with it. I already have too many ideas for it!

While I cannot share this delicious recipe, you can (and should!) buy the book and cook along with us. It’s great fun! Every Friday we make a new recipe. Looking forward to next weeks! For details and to see how others are recreating the dishes from this awesome book, check out the FFWD site.

Buy the book:

Vegetable Barley Soup with the Taste of Little India

March 31, 2014 by Renee

Vegetable Barley Soup is one of my favorites. Of course I also love Beef and Barley soup or Barley and Mushroom soup too. However, I’ve never thought to venture far from the traditional preparation. Now we’ve gone a bit wild and are combining some of my favorite flavors together for a hearty, spicy and curry inspired dinner. For this week’s French Friday’s with Dorie, we made a Vegetable Barley Soup with the Taste of Little India.

This soup could not have come at a better time. I’ve had a terrible cold for the past two weeks or so and nothing has really helped. It’s been on and off and I’ve pumped myself full of decongestants and ibuprofen in an attempt at some relief to little avail. However, the gentle heat of the ginger and red pepper flakes along with the fragrant, warm aromas from the Garam masala provided some much needed sensory appeal and soothed my symptoms greatly. I honestly felt myself breathe for the first time in quite a while. By today, I was completely better and I think it’s all because of this soup.

I am very happy that this recipe made a generous amount as I’ve been eating it all weekend and still have some left over to take to work this week for lunch.

The thing about barley though is that it expands. It also doesn’t seem to stop expanding, so the broth is nearly fully absorbed into the grain. Which of course, is fine, it’s just less liquidy by the second and third days. You can add more stock if you want, but I am enjoying the more stew like quality at this point.

This recipe was super easy to make too- which is always a plus when you are feeling under the weather and don’t want to be bothered to prep too much. I can definitely see this one being made again (and again!).

While I cannot share this delightful recipe, you can (and should!) buy the book and cook along with us. It’s great fun! Every Friday we make a new recipe. Looking forward to next weeks! For details and to see how others are recreating the dishes from this awesome book, check out the FFWD site.

Buy the book:

Catching Up with French Fridays with Dorie

March 23, 2014 by Renee

I’ve cooked along with French Fridays with Dorie each week, but am finally getting around to posting the past two week’s creations- Sausage-Stuffed Cornish Hens and Two Tartines from la Croix Rouge. Of the two, the tartines were my favorite.

The two tartines are essentially non- recipes- my favorite kind of recipes- easy, simple and delightfully delicious! The recipe was inspired by the creations from La Croix Rouge, a bistro in the 6th arrondissement of Paris known for their Tartines de pain de Poilâne, open faced sandwiches made on a slice of miche (bread) from the famous bakery, Poilâne. There are a few locations, but I always visit the bakery at 8 rue du Cherche-Midi, also in the 6th ème, not just for bread, but for their buttery, delicate apple tartlets found by the counter- heaven! You can also find pain de Poilâne in several of the local supermarkets around Paris- but every trip to Paris should include a visit to this beautiful storefront.

At La Croix Rouge, a slice of toasted Poilane bread is spread with a little bit of butter and then topped with very thin slices of rare-roasted beef. Topped with cornichons and other garnishes- a slice of tomato or greens, there is also mustard or vinaigrette that can be added if desired. It’s a perfect lunch and a place to gain a bit of sustenance before commencing shopping at some local favorites- Sonia Rykiel, Paule Ka and other fabulous designers. Just remember to bring a large bank account.

I’ve never had their smoked salmon, but it is quite popular and here, this rendition was very good, but everyone preferred the roast beef tartine. I can see it making a comeback again soon.

The Sausage Stuffed Cornish Hens just had me giggling the entire time. I have never seen the point to cornish hens. I kept thinking of tiny chickens fit for an American Girl doll dinner. I wanted to set a tiny table, with tiny silverware and tiny plates. I kept thinking I should roast them in the Easy Bake oven with miniature slices of vegetables. What a fun photo that would have been!

Seriously though, the Cornish hens were fine. They were nothing too special. Everyone had their own and there was no fighting for the legs. The sausage stuffing, merely a taste of stuffing, was sadly not very good. Not because of the recipe, but rather the sausage I bought seemed to be more fatty than meaty and yielded a rubbery texture that was incredibly disappointing. I think I would have preferred a stuffed, Frenched chicken breast. Next time! Served with asparagus and roasted potatoes, it made a good dinner but easily forgettable.

On the other hand though, the Boeuf a la Ficelle (Beef on a String) made another appearance this week and again it disappeared quickly. It’s a favorite and I can see it being requested often. The kids are being spoiled with filet but I am happy to be refining their palates.

While I cannot share these recipes, you can (and should!) buy the book and cook along with us. It’s great fun! Every Friday we make a new recipe. Looking forward to next weeks! For details and to see how others are recreating the dishes from this awesome book, check out the FFWD site.

Buy the book: