Category: The Classics
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Braised Beef Short Ribs in Red Wine (Burgundy)
There is something so special (not to mention delicious) about a perfectly braised beef short rib that is fall-off-the-bone tender. Quite possibly one of my favourite dishes to eat & serve. With the cold weather upon us & the holidays just around the corner, this is certainly a dish you will be proud to make…
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Duck à l’Orange
The holiday season is in full swing & on my menu this year is a popular French duck dish: Duck à l’Orange! A roasted & crispy skinned whole duck served with a citrusy bigarade sauce. This recipe is wonderful for smaller holiday gatherings & an intimate Christmas dinner, when a whole turkey is just too big.…
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French Chestnut Soup
As the autumn weather arrives & the leaves begin to change colour, I always crave a warm bowl of homemade soup. This traditional French soup features roasted chestnuts as the base, which gives the soup a sweet & nutty flavour profile. Creamy Chestnut Soup also known as Soupe Aux Marrons is a staple this time…
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Croque-Monsieur Breakfast Bake
Nothing says comfort more than a recipe loaded with gooey cheese & crispy French bread. This winter season I made my simple baked casserole version of the classic croque-monsier sandwich. If you aren’t familiar with the traditional recipe, it is a hot ham & cheese sandwich (typically gruyère or swiss) with the bread dipped into…
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Spinach and Mushroom Soufflé
A classic French dish to celebrate the arrival of warmer days! This recipe incorporates fresh spring spinach & hearty mushrooms. Although a souffle has a reputation of being a very intimidating recipe to master, it is actually simple dish to make as long as you follow a few simple tricks. The first & most important…
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Heirloom Tomato + Gorgonzola Galettes de Sarrasin (Buckwheat Crepes)
A Galette de Sarrasin, also known as a Buckwheat Crepe is a savoury style pancake. Unlike a traditional sweet crepe, the batter is made with buckwheat flour which offers a more earthy & nutty flavour. Often filled with a combination of ham & eggs, this version offers a simple summer twist on the classic French…
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French Strawberry Rhubarb Cake
Hello May! We are entering (arguably) one of the most beautiful seasons of the year in Ontario: Cherry Blossom & Magnolia season. Although everything may look a little different this year, it has encouraged me to slow down & stop to enjoy the little things. Watching the tree flowers bloom outside my window, taking slow…
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Root Vegetable Hachis Parmentier
On a cold winter night, it doesn’t get more comforting than this Hachis Parmentier featuring a beef & root vegetable stew as the base. Even though the holidays are over, Canada has a long winter ahead! One of my favourite things about winter is the slower nights & weekends spent in the kitchen, cooking up…
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Salted Chocolate Ganache Tart
Along with winter comes a desire for chocolate. A seasonal pick-me-up from the cold and blustery weather this time of year! And, of course, what would the holidays be without some kind of chocolate indulgence? Salted Chocolate Ganache Tart Today, I’m sharing a classic French chocolate ganache tart, traditionally called “tarte au chocolat”. It sounds…
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Wild Mushroom Cassoulet with Crispy Sage
Chanterelle and cremini mushrooms are cooked into a hearty ragout and baked with aromatic white beans and herbed bread crumbs in this vegan-friendly cassoulet. This recipe requires advanced preparation – soak the beans the night before. A 3.5 quart braiser pan makes a perfect baking vessel for the cassoulet, however, any oven proof casserole dish…
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Pumpkin + Squash Gratin
As a fall enthusiast, let the cozy crisp days of fall begin! The start of October is my favourite time of year. It is when it really begins to feel like autumn. With Canadian Thanksgiving around the corner, it is the time to get back in the kitchen & crank up those ovens. I have…
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Potato Leek Soup with Salt & Vinegar Crispy Kale
When the thermometer dips, it means soup season is upon us. It’s the perfect time to have a pot of something delicious simmering away on the stove — nothing’s more satisfying, except maybe a beautiful loaf of bread. Potato leek soup, known in France as potage Parmentier, is a classic recipe made with just a…
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Peach + Hazelnut Frangipane Tart
I know many of us are sad that summer is quickly coming to an end, but there is something to look forward to towards the end of the season… peaches! Ontario (Niagara especially) is home to some of the best peach orchards in the country. We are so lucky to have these farms grace our…
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Steak frites
Steak frites, is a French classic. Ubiquitous on café and bistro menus it’s one of the first meals I seek out when I arrive in France. But did you know that steak frites is not just for adults? You may be surprised to learn that although it might seem more of an adult meal, in…
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Roasted Blueberry Crepes
I think it is safe to say we are all ready for warmer spring days. As the winter slowly comes to an end, I start craving more fresh fruits & vegetables again. This crepe recipe takes advantage of the fresh berries that will soon be popping up at your local markets. Crepes are the perfect…
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Spring-Inspired Pissaladière
This spring-inspired pissaladière puts a modern fresh spin on a classic French dish. It’s the best of both worlds.
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Homemade croissants? Yes you can!
Croissants. Golden, flaky, buttery, delicious. But not something you make at home, right? Actually, you might be surprised to hear that there’s a pretty easy version you can make – even your kids can get involved! For years, I never even imagined making my own croissants at home because typically, croissants are made using a…
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![Provençal Soup [Soupe Au Pistou]](https://french-barn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Winter-Provençal-Soup-Soupe-Au-Pistou-12-scaled.jpg)
Provençal Soup [Soupe Au Pistou]
Early March denotes the changing of seasonal tides, the time when we’re all too tempted to believe the old saying, ‘spring is just around the corner’. And while spring’s arrival is inevitable, here we are with snow on the ground and only a few curious buds emerging in expectation of next season. In British Columbia,…
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Choux à la Crème with Blood Orange Whipped Cream
Nothing says I love you like a sweet treat from a loved one’s home kitchen. With Valentine’s day around the corner, seasonal Choux à la Crème are a surefire way to show a special someone just how much you love them while also ticking off the essential V-day holiday chocolate box. Choux à la Crème,…
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Stovetop Coq Au Vin
When the snow is falling outside, there is nothing better then cozying up in the kitchen & cooking a comforting meal. Coq Au Vin is always at the top of my list. It is so hearty & flavourful served over creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Coq Au Vin is a traditional french dish that features a…
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Gingerbread Bûche de Noël
This season, I am sharing a modern twist on a French classic! The traditional Bûche de Noël is a Christmas dessert served in France, made of sponge cake to resemble a miniature yule log. The classic flavours include a vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting or a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate frosting. However, this modern Bûche…
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Apple, Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing
Because you can’t have turkey without stuffing, today I am sharing the recipe for an upscaled version of a classic. Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so it is time to roll up our sleeves & get our menu in order! Growing up, the stuffing I knew & loved only contained a few ingredients…
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Summer Heirloom Tomato and Pistou Penne
When it comes to summer cooking, I find myself inspired to cook more simple dishes. Dishes that are inspired by what is vibrant in my garden! With the heat, less time is spent fussing in the kitchen & more time is spent enjoying the sunshine outdoors. While I love making a large batch of tomato…
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Spring Galette
Who is ready for the spring time? This winter has been (what seems like) never ending & I cannot wait for the farmers markets to re-open again. Easter is just around the corner, so what is a better way to celebrate a new season other than an Easter inspired spinach & artichoke galette. This dish…
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Potatoes au Gratin with Haricots Verts and Prosciutto
Growing up in Southern Louisiana, comfort foods were the star of my childhood. Whether we were gathering with friends over bowls full of gumbo or court-bouillon on the weekend, making red beans and rice on Mondays, or spooning my mothers’ favorite weeknight-friendly green bean, ham, and potato stew, the bowl was the vessel and the…
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Spiked Mulled Cider
As the temperatures drop & the nights get longer, there is nothing that warms me up more then a hot glass of mulled cider. There is something so comforting about sipping cider on a cold winter night over the holiday season. This drink is one of the many reasons I love the holidays. I am…
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Tartiflette
Fall. It is finally here. Time to crank up the oven & start making all our favourite cold weather comfort foods again. This summer we added a little (ok, big) addition to our kitchen; a Lacanche range. The Cormatin fits perfectly in the existing space. With the white beveled backsplash, white shaker cabinets &…
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Seared Salmon Niçoise
Niçoise is one of my favourite spring/summer salads. It originated in Nice as a simple composed tomato, anchovy, and olive oil salad. While it’s come a far far way, many will still argue that there are very specific ingredients that Niçoise should (and shouldn’t) have. I’m a free spirit when it comes to cooking and like to give myself a little…
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Gougères with Chèvre + Spring Herbs
Chives are the first sign of green that I usually see in the garden. Their perky green tips peek out of the ground as soon as the snow melts, letting us know that spring is finally here. While it takes a little while for them to grow big enough to harvest, I always associate those…
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French Onion Soup
With the weather cooling down & the sun setting early, I can’t think of anything more comforting that diving into a bowl of french onion soup. The fresh bread, the gooey cheese & the rich beef stock make for comfort food at its finest! This is such a simple & minimal ingredient dish to put…
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Apple Clafouti
Every year I look forward to the start of fall. The weather begins to cool, the leaves change colour & I can pull out all my favourite sweaters while sipping on some hot cider. If that doesn’t make you feel all warm & fuzzy inside, I don’t know what will! It may not be pumpkin…
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Eggs Benedict with Garlic Rapini
Eggs Benedict are a very special breakfast in our home, a breakfast that my husband and I make for each other on our birthdays. It started with mine a few years ago. He asked what I wanted on my special day and I wanted nothing more than to challenge him with something that I thought…
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Sweet Pea Spaghetti Carbonara
There are a few weeks in early summer, during which we can briefly indulge in fresh shelling peas. It’s not that I have anything against the frozen kind, I just want to remind you to keep an eye on when they arrive, fill a big bag of them, and enjoy the sweet and tender morsels. They’re an…
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Spring Quiche
Many quiches (or quiche-like pies, I should say) were harmed in the making of this post and I’m proud to finally have something delicious for you today! I probably tested enough quiches to feed a small family for about a month, just to get it right, and while it’s not something that’s hard to make, there are…
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Oh Canada! Your cheese is delicious.
As you may have guessed, today we’ll be talking about Canadian cheese, but I must admit that my first trip to Paris deserves all the credit for helping me discover the simple pleasure of a fresh baguette and some really good fromage. I’ve been a life-long cheese fan, don’t get me wrong, but there was…
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Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Loin with Sauce Gribiche
With all of the cold weather blowing through this time of year, it’s a great time to turn to our ovens for warmth and comfort. For hearty dishes that can warm the bones and swirl rich aromas throughout our kitchens and homes. Here, I’ve prepared a classic roast pork loin, which I’ve butterflied and filled…
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Ham and Cheese Soufflé
In my experience, there are few dishes that impress dinner guests more than soufflé. The elegant rise and fall. The way their crunchy tops give in to soft, melted middles. There’s just something magical about this classic French dish. Only most people, myself included at one point, get nervous at the idea of preparing soufflé,…
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