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Category — Recipes

A great and easy way to use Chestnut Cream

Also known as Creme Vanillée de l’Ardèche, it is used for Mont Blancs and other fancy desserts. But last month while traveling, we found this easy and incredibly delicious recipe through friends, and could not wait to try it out.

The proportions are ridiculously easy: same weight of dark high quality chocolate (Voisin, Castelein, Valhrona), Chestnut Cream, and butter. Yes, it’s sinful, but it’s worth it and you can make bonbon size pieces of this, to have just a small piece each day (if you can stop at one).  Here is what the Chestnut puree looks like:

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To make this delicous dessert or have-with-coffee treat:
Melt chocolate (broken into small pieces) in a double boiler (or simply in a pan placed over a pan of simmering water).  When melted, add butter, also cut up in pieces, and then chestnut cream.  When all well combined, put in your molds and refrigerate 2 hours.
Use small silicone molds, or small individual paper or aluminum molds, in any shape you want (silicone ones are super easy for this)
See this French Blog (fabulous one too!) for pictures (and more detailed instructions if you want them… )

November 16, 2009   Comments Off

Chocolate Jam Heart with Bitter Orange Jam

For a special dessert and a special treat!

1 Box of Butter Palets Cookies

150 grams (about 5 oz) of dark chocolate

60 grams (2 oz) butter

5 fl oz whole milk

1 jar of Bitter Orange Jam

Crush cookies and pat them down firmly on the bottom of a heart-shaped pan (you can use a regular round one also)

Spread a thin layer of Bitter Orange Jam on the cookie layer and put the pan in the refrigerator (20 minutes or so)

Bring the milk to a boil and add the chocolate cut in small pieces.

Stir well until the chocolate is melted and add the butter.

Mix well.  Remove pan from refrigerator and pour chocolate cream on top.

Refrigerate for about 2 hours. Unmold, and decorate with orange zest and chocolate shavings.

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September 29, 2009   Comments Off

Easy Recipe – Eggplant Caviar “Loaf”

Make this and add a mixed salad, some crusty French bread and it’s a full meal!

6 eggs

3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream or ‘Creme Fraiche’ if you can find it

2 jars of Eggplant Caviar (l’Epicurien)

In a bowl beat eggs and cream, add the Eggplant caviar.

Salt and Pepper to taste

Put in a loaf mold.  Place mold in a pan with water (so it will be a ‘bain marie) and bake in a 375 oven for 45 minutes

Let it cool.  Unmold and cut in thick slices.  Serve with Tomato Coulis with Basil or Olives.  Can be eaten warm or cold.

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September 23, 2009   Comments Off

Easy Dessert : Panna Cotta with Fresh Raspberries (and other variations)

Panna Cotta with Raspberry Coulis and Fresh Raspberries

Panna Cotta with Raspberry Coulis and Fresh Raspberries

This is such an easy dessert, and it’s always delicious!

1 Cup Milk (I used 1% and it was fine)

1 Envelope unflavored gelatin

3 Cups heavy whipping cream

1/3 Cup Honey (any type, see note below)

(there are Other Honeys Here)

1 Tablespoon sugar

dash of salt

Raspberry Coulis

Fresh Raspberries

Place milk in saucepan and sprinkle gelatin over it to soften.  Let it stand 3-4 minutes (stove is OFF).

Turn on stove and stir gelatin until dissolved (2 minutes tops).

Add cream, honey, sugar and salt and stir until it’s all dissolved.  Do not let the mixture boil but do ensure it’s all dissolved.

Pour into 6 (or 8 if smaller) wine glasses or pretty glasses.

Chill for at least 5-6 hours.

To serve: spoon fruit coulis over the panna cotta and top with fresh berries.

The best part is that the variations are endless and this is a very, very forgiving dessert.

Suggested variations:

Use Griottines as a topping instead of coulis and fruit

Use Lavender Honey in the recipe, and top the dessert with Lavender Syrup. Or use Rose Syrup and Floral honey.

The variations are endless, if you find a good one, let us know!

July 13, 2009   Comments Off

Mini Lemon Curd Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

8oz  of cream cheese, softened.

1 egg.

3 heaping Tablespoons of  Lemon Curd

2 heaping Tablespoons sifted powdered sugar.

8 Patisserie Gourmande butter galettes.

Baking cups.Griottines (optional)

Thoroughly mix all except the galettes and the Griottines.

Line cupcake tins with 8 baking cups and place a galette in the bottom of each cup.

Divide batter among cups and bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

When ready to serve, top with Griottines.


July 3, 2009   Comments Off