Category Archives: Desserts

Fromage blanc aux pistaches et miel

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Meg

I first discovered this light dessert at Yard, the erstwhile restaurant of Shaun Kelly, one of my favorite Parisian chefs. Crushed roasted pistachios and honey marry marvelously atop a bowl of fromage blanc, the fresh and creamy cheese that is … Continue reading →

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Gâteau de fête au chocolat

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Meg

Valentine’s Day is coming, and what better way to express your love than a magnificent chocolate cake decorated with hearts or flowers? This is not an everyday recipe — it does take time. But it’s fun. The cake, a chocolate … Continue reading →

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Mendiants

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Meg

Sometimes words beggar translation. I can remember, as a student of French, being taught that gourmet meant someone with a discriminating palate, but gourmand meant a glutton. So you can imagine my confusion when, aged 25, out to dinner in … Continue reading →

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Prunes poêlées à l’eau de vie

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Meg

Okay, okay, plums are no longer in season — at least, in the northern hemisphere. But when I happened upon some beautiful blue plums (imported from Spain) at the market last Sunday, I couldn’t resist … because I’d seen a … Continue reading →

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Pêches caramélisées aux figues et pignons de pin

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Meg

Peaches and fresh figs are piled irresistibly on market stands at this time of year. So I didn’t resist … and combined them to create a late summer dessert. What makes it special is that the peaches are caramelized before … Continue reading →

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Tarte à la rhubarbe et aux pêches

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Meg

They say necessity is the mother of invention — and that goes a long way toward explaining the origin of this rhubarb-peach tart. Here’s what happened. It’s a great year for rhubarb here in France, and I’ve been bringing stalks … Continue reading →

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Crêpes aux fraises

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Meg

I spent years looking for a good crepe recipe until my daughter finally presented me with one. She found it in a French children’s cookbook — and indeed, once you get the hang of it, preparing crepes is child’s play. … Continue reading →

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Mousse aux groseilles

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Meg

Ethereally light, delicately pink and pretty as a picture, this red currant mousse makes a lovely finish to a meal. And the beauty of it is not just that it brings to your table the first blush of summer days … Continue reading →

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Mousse aux fraises

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Meg

Who would have thought that something like strawberry mousse could spark a sex war? But that’s what happened the other day when, experimenting with this recipe, I took two versions of it to a friend’s place for a lunchtime dessert. … Continue reading →

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Poires au vin et cassis

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Meg

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, my favorite winter dessert — pears gently poached in red wine with crème de cassis, rosemary, vanilla, black peppercorns, or other spices. It’s light, it’s bright, it’s meltingly tender. Like (we hope) like the … Continue reading →

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