Tag Archives: french recipes

Croque Monsieur

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With my simple up bringing I didn’t know what Croque Monsieur was until I started traveling to Paris for work. I discovered this delightful sandwich for the first time on the left bank of Paris at Les Deux Magot, people watching on a beautiful fall afternoon during Fashion Week. I was in love with the city and it’s food. Daniel Boulud’s recipe captures this magnificent food moment in my life. When I take a taste of this sandwich, I’m transported far away to the glamour of the left bank! But if you are wondering what this sandwich is, I can speak to it with in the context of American cooking. Think of it like a grilled ham and cheese, but cheesy in the same way as a mac and cheese. What can be better than that???  Enjoy!

From by the bay, wishing you Parisian food memories!

Maryann

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Daniel Boulud’s Bar Boulud Croque Monsieur

Serves 4

Ingredients
For the Béchamel Sauce:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
For the sandwiches :
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
8 slices high-quality Pullman loaf bread, sliced 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick
12 ounces thickly sliced Jambon de Paris (high-quality wet-cured ham)
10 ounces Gruyère cheese coarsely grated.
Cooking Directions
1. For the béchamel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and whisk in the flour until blended but not colored. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Set aside. (May be made up to 24 hours ahead of time and stored, refrigerated, with a layer of plastic wrap placed directly on surface of sauce; gently reheat before serving.)
2. For the sandwiches: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and brush with melted butter. On a work surface, place bread slices in a single layer and spread each one evenly to the edges with béchamel; all the béchamel may not be needed. Divide ham among four of the slices, trimming it if necessary so it is within 1/4 inch of edges. Top all eight slices with equal amounts of cheese, spreading it evenly to within 1/4 inch of edges.
3. Place four bread slices with béchamel and cheese, cheese side up, on top of slices layered with ham. Transfer sandwiches, cheese side up, onto sheet pan. Bake until grated cheese topping is melted and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately. If serving as a Madame, top with a fried egg.

Raspberry Citrus Cream

These happy little pots of cream and berries are the perfect springtime dessert! These little pots are a light end to a meal and utilizes the berries that start to become readily available this time of year. You can use blueberries as well for this recipe. It’s like being in Paris for the spring!


From by the bay wishing you very berry food memories!

Maryann


foodgawker berry creme

Raspberry Citrus Cream

Serves 4


Ingredients

½ pint raspberries

2 large eggs

1/3 cup fine sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon lemon zest

½ cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon framboise liquor

Confectionary sugar for top


Directions

Preheat over to 300F. Use four 6 oz. ramekins and divide berries into each. Keep a few berries aside to garnish later. In a bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon zest and juice until well combined.  Next add the cream and framboise liquor and whisk again until smooth. Pour mixture into the ramekins. Take a small roasting pan place ramekins into pan, enough hot water to reach half way up to the ramekins. Bake until set approximately 30 minutes. Serve warm or keep in refrigerator covered until ready to serve. Cream can be eaten cool. When serving shift some confectionary sugar on top and garnish with extra raspberries. 

 

Butter Cookie Recipe

It’s Christmas time and who doesn’t love to have  a platter of cookies at the ready? Whether you are preparing for guests or just trimming the tree alone – it’s nice to have cookies around the house. This is really the only time of year that I would have containers of different types of cookies around the house. It’s one of my favorite excesses at Christmas. A great cookie to try is this french butter cookie. It’s easy to make and I like having a recipe that doesn’t require a lot of work to add to my cookie assortment. This is my version of a cookie I ate in Paris that was topped with a little pillow of chocolate ganache. It was bliss. I also, make some of these topped with jam, since my sister Nancy is not a big chocolate lover. I suggest doing half of the recipe with jam and the other half with the ganache. Even if you don’t consider yourself a baker, this is an easy recipe to try. Enjoy!
From by the bay wishing you the sweetest memories of cookies and Christmas!
Maryann
blog butter cookie
Butter Cookie Recipe
Makes 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
2 cups all – purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
extra granulated sugar to roll dough
jam to fill cookies
Directions:
In a large bowl add the butter, sugar and vanilla. Use an electric mixer and beat ingredients until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat in well. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture slowly and mix at a low speed. Once blended turn out into a sheet of plastic wrap , flatten and wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Place extra granulated sugar onto a plate. Roll dough into acorn size balls and then roll in the sugar. Place each ball onto an ungreased cookie sheets. Use your finger to flatten each ball. Take your thumb and make a small well in the center of the flatten dough. If you are making jam filled cookies, take a small spoon and fill well with about 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite jam. I like to use apricot, raspberry or red currant jam. If you plan to fill with chocolate ganache ( recipe below) bake as is. Bake cookies for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in air tight containers.
Chocolate Ganache
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Directions:
Combine all ingredients into a saucepan and place on medium heat, stirring until the chocolate melts and everything is well combined. Pour into a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until you can spoon and shape into small pillow of chocolate to place on top of plain french butter cookies and serve. Don’t stack this cookie on your tray.