This pâté is neither easy nor inexpensive, but when you are looking for a tour de force, it is a gorgeous thing. If you feel the urge to simplify, omit the topping, but frankly, the pâté won’t be quite as impressive without it, and you also won’t have the exquisite contrast of the parsley and… Read More
Gougères
Gougères make an elegant alternative to dinner rolls, but are light enough to serve as an appetizer as well. I recently made gougères to accompany an exotic mushroom pâté I served at a play date. The easiest way to describe gougères is to call them savory cheese puffs. Their dough, pâte à choux (or choux pastry), is a… Read More
Walnut Cookies
As tasty as they are beautiful, these little cookies were made using a walnut mold. Their shape provides a hint at what’s sandwiched inside. My friend B. made these lovely cookies for a play date I recently hosted. They would make a beautiful addition to your table during the holidays, but why wait? As tomorrow is officially… Read More
Almond Praline Cake with Mascarpone Frosting and Chocolate Bark
A party without cake is just a meeting. —Julia Child There’s a special place in the lexicon of decadent birthday cakes for layer cakes made with exotic and rich accoutrements like a dense chocolate ganache and mascarpone frosting. So, when I had to make a birthday cake this weekend I aimed for nothing less than… Read More
Bastille Day
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité National motto of France July 14th was La Fête Nationale for France. Also known as Bastille Day, this national holiday celebrates France’s freedom from monarchial rule and coincides with the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a large French jail that was a symbol of the King’s power. Very similar to… Read More
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