Chez Nous

Trio of Sauces – Peach Confiture, Aioli, and Cilantro Chutney

I think its evident that I don’t like to plan average cookouts! With very few exceptions, boxed foods are not even allowed in my home. I try to make my own everything, and if I don’t, I generally reach out to a reputable seller that makes products in house. Our lovely guests brought all of…

Cabbage and Carrot Slaw with Ginger Dressing

The price of lettuce at the neighborhood grocery store has been getting more and more expensive! The last time I went, I ended up buying a cabbage head instead of lettuce because I couldn’t afford to pay $24 a pound for arugula. I purchased it out of anger, I suppose, but now that I was…

Lavender Macaron with Lemon Buttercream

Lavender makes me think of the summer. I always imagine a countryside in Italy or France with fields of violet, or seemingly carelessly placed pots of lavender and rosemary basking joyfully under the hot sun as bees frolic from flower to flower. I think of lavender and lemon squeezed over desserts and fish alike. These…

Chocolate Macaron with Orange Blossom Buttercream and the Secret of the Macaron

We all know that the French Macaron is the most impressive cookie out there! I have been working feverishly to perfect it and make this famously difficult dessert attainable for the home cook, and I have some secrets to share! Due to the famed difficulty of properly preparing these cookies, French pastry chefs would (and…

Award Winning Salted Chocolate and Caramel Tart

I was walking to the market the other day and saw a neighborhood sign advertising a Memorial Day cookout on Sunday featuring a Pie Contest! I was intrigued! I have never entered a pie baking contest before! I knew I was making a lot of desserts for my own cookout on Monday afternoon, so I…

Steak and Cake – Memorial Day Cookout

I invited way too many people for dinner, again! Like a college, I always invite more people than my house can possibly host for a sit down, figuring that about 50 percent wouldn’t be able to make it. Usually this gamble works out for me, sometimes too many RSVP. This time around, Nico and I…

Sardèle in Saòr Crostini and Salmon, Horseradish, and Dill Crostini

I have been busy preparing for our Memorial Day cookout all weekend, stay tuned for many more recipes! We invited way too many people, so this won’t be a sit down dinner. We will be grilling meats and feasting on salads, breads, and steak and sauces. While we are grilling up all of the meats,…

No Fuss Tomato, Ricotta, and Salami Pizza

This past weekend I made a delicious Chard, Sausage, and Ricotta pizza for my parents. My recipe there called for dough to make two pizza crusts, I always follow this pattern. When I have the time, I make a double batch of pizza crust and I save the second, either in a bowl in my…