Soupe au Pistou (Bean and Vegetable Soup with Pistou)
This is it…the spectacular, seasonal window when summer intersects with fall, tomatoes are still tasty, fresh basil is still abundant, and the evenings have turned cool enoug [...]
Sautéed Escarole with Capers and Crispy Garlic
September is strange in Cancale this year. Instead of the glorious post-season weather I've grown to love more than summer, it has been chilly, blustery, wet—more like Novemb [...]
Spiced Puff Pastry Twists
Since Cancale is the hometown of chef and master spice blender Olivier Roellinger, I end up with quite a few of his spice mixes blends in my cupboard at any given time. Some [...]
Real Brownies
Back in the dark ages before internet shopping gave expats access to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestlé Chocolate Chips and (name your favorite brand) Brownie Mixes, a rich, [...]
Homemade Fruit Jam
I have a little problem with large quantities of fruit for sale. I see them, and I must have them—for jam, natch. Nevermind that a 5-pound flat of strawberries will make thre [...]
Zucchini Ribbon Salad
For the past four summers, I’ve been doing cooking demonstrations at a local farmers’ market. The conditions are lovely—extraordinarily good produce, cheese, meats, and cider [...]
Marché à la Ferme de Saint-Malo: Saveurs Tex-Mex
Pour vos barbecues, pour vos soirées tacos, pour vos dîners rapides en famille...pensez aux saveurs Tex-Mex! Les ingrédients principaux sont ceux qu'on trouve sur le marché e [...]
Wild Plum Compote
I have been wracking my brain for a way to make ‘compote’ sound sexy. Exciting. Like something you want to jump out of your chair and make immediately. And I keep coming up w [...]
Herbes de Provence
In France, I swear by Ducros, the supermarket brand of herbes de Provence. The balance of herbs is nigh on perfect—not too pungent, not too bitter, not too floral (the occasi [...]