My Simple French Recipe

2009-07-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Easily Prepare the traditional French Recipes in Your Own Kitchen.

The same tastes and flavors for a fraction of the cost! This three recipe which is my favorite and importantly is easy,fast and of course healthy .

Appertizer (Tomato salad with mozzarella )

Ingredients for 4 people :

-7 tomatoes
- 250 gr [9 oz] mozzarella cheese
- 8 leaves of fresh basel
- 5 Tbspoons olive oil
- salt & pepper

This is a fresh entrée which is particularly delightful during summer...Of course this comes from Italy but is getting popular in France!

Recipe :

Wash the tomatoes and cut them in slices of around 5 mm [1/4-in.] ; strain the mozzarella and slice them about same thickness.
Wash the fresh basel leaves and cut them into very thin strips.
In a large plate, lay the mozzarella slices and put salt and pepper on each side ; do the same with toamatoes, only with salt.
Alternate layers of tomatoes and mozzarella slices into 4 ear dishes, drizzle olive oil and a bit of basel on each layer, including the last one.
Serve fresh.

TRICK : if you could not find fresh basel, you can use some basil in olive oil kept in small jars ; in this case, spread just a bit of it on each slice of tomatoe instead of the salt.

TRICK : if you want to serve a richer dish, you can add rolls of thinly sliced of Parma ham (or any prosciutto) to this dish.

MAIN COURSE(SIRLOIN STEAK TOPPED w SAVORY CREAM)

4 sirloin steak of 120 to 150 gr each [4 to 5 oz]
5 cl [2 fl oz] cognac
4 Tspoons sour cream
crushed peppercorns (10 to 15 gr / 4 to 5 oz)
2 Tspoons olive oil
a few knobs of butter / salt

Drag the steaks into the peppercorns and fry them at your convenience into the oil and butter (in a non-stick pan). French way is to cook it rare to medium rare (about 5 minutes).
Get them out from the pan and keep in a covered hot plate during the time you prepare the sauce (don't turn flame off).
Deglaze the pan with the cognac(any red wine) and flambé it (you need to pour the cognac in the pan, let it get hot, then tip the pan up and put a flame near the alcohol, with care !...wait for the flame to stop by itself, it just takes a few seconds).
Add the cream to the pan and mix everything together ; top the steaks with the sauce, add salt, and serve right away with boiled (and peeled) potatoes.

DESSERT (FRESH FRUIT SALAD)

Ingredients for 8 people :

- 2 apples
- 2 pears
- 2 bananas
- 250 gr [9 oz] strawberries
- 250 gr [9 oz] grape
- 2 kiwis
- 1 pink grapefruit
- 1 orange
- the juice of 2 lemons

Those are the fruits we can easily find in the supermarket...Of course you can vary many types and add more exotic fruits for example...

Recipe :

1- Wash the apples, pears and grape ; peel the grapefruit and the orange ; wash and hull the strawberries.
2- In a salad bowl, put the grapes, the strawberries cut in halves ; add the kiwis cut in small pieces, small pieces of orange and grapefruit (take the inside skin off if it is too thick). Drizzle with half of the lemon juice and gently mix a bit.
3- Cut the pears and apples in small pieces and add them to the whole ; peel the bananas, cut them in slices and add them too ; gently mix each time you add a fruit so that lemon juice keeps them from turning dark.
4- Refrigerate for one or two hours before serving.

TRICK : even if this dish is cold and could be prepared in advance, it must not be prepared too long ahead because the fruit would not look and taste so fresh.

Of course, put any fruit you would like, the only rule is to balance flavors.

So, thats all for now ,hope you may enjoy cooking french food and have a nice lunch or dinner with yours love ones.

Preamble - The Intro

2009-07-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

French cuisine has evolved extensively over the centuries. Starting in the Middle Ages, a unique and creative national cuisine began forming. Various social movements, political movements, and the work of great chefs came together to create this movement.

Through the years the styles of French cuisine have been given different names, and have been codified by various master-chefs. During their lifetimes these chefs have been held in high regard for their contributions to the culture of the country. The national cuisine developed primarily in the city of Paris with the chefs to French royalty, but eventually it spread throughout the country and was even exported overseas. So this is just little about french cuisine.

In my two years of learning in culinary skills,i have seen a lot of kind of food which from appertizer to dessert. Not just local food but sure western,asian,and the mediterranean food.Most of all my favourite cuisine, ofcourse the well known french cuisine.

So join me in this interesting adventure of making and preparing healthy and delicious french meals that will surely satisfy the appetite of you and your loved ones.

It is my sole intention that you enjoy your stay on this blog of mine. Please do comment if you have any opinion/question of any sort.

ps: If you are interested in learning how to cook delicious meals, make sure you check this Copycat Recipe Book out now. It contains what I think to be the best and most complete recipe guide.

About french cuisine

My Simple French Recipe

Preamble - The Intro