Mad About French Food: Easy Home Cooking for Spring

More recipes in the index l How to make macarons & patisserie in my books…

chorizo risotto scallops optJill Colonna

Chorizo Risotto with Seared Scallops or Prawns

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A spectacularly easy dish for special occasions or a cosy night in - yet made in 35 minutes. Creamy leek risotto served with a separate Chorizo sauce. Time to chill the white wine!
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Corsican Mint OmeletteJill Colonna

Mint Omelette – Corsican Style

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Got mint & eggs? Enjoy this refreshing, authentic omelette from my husband's 'Island of Beauty' - and tips on what makes a Corsican omelette different to a French one. Now also on video.
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Black sesame ice creamJill Colonna

Black Sesame Ice Cream

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A taste of a delicious Japanese summer in Paris with this special ice cream. If you love peanut butter, you'll adore this - and it's healthy too. Serve with macarons or crispy sesame tuiles.
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Pink-rhubarb-compoteJill Colonna

Rhubarb Hibiscus Compote – How to Make Green Rhubarb Red

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Not sure what to make with rhubarb? Make a healthy compote! It freezes well and is perfect for a vegan breakfast or spooned on ice cream. Now on video!
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French Asparagus ClafoutisJill Colonna

Asparagus Clafoutis with Parmesan Sauce

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An elegant yet simple French starter or lunch. Serve with a crusty baguette to mop up that gorgeous cheese sauce! Also on VIDEO.
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Strawberry Pistachio ClafoutisJill Colonna

Strawberry Pistachio Clafoutis – A Twist to the French Classic Cherry

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Now on video! Enjoy summer's fruity season with this twist to the French classic cherry baked custard. With pistachios or almonds for a gluten free breakfast, dessert or teatime treat.
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Roasted tomato mozzarella bitesJill Colonna

Roasted Tomato Mozzarella Bites

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Just a few minutes of roasting tomatoes concentrates the best tomato flavours to make these simple, delicious & healthy nibbles for your holiday table.
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cracked macaron black forest creamsJill Colonna

Cracked Macaron Black Forest Creams

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Cracked macarons? Make these chocolate cherry boozy gluten free desserts. They're so good, you'll want to make them with perfect macaron shells too!
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Breakfast oat cookiesJill Colonna

Breakfast Oat Cookies with Hazelnut & Cranberry

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A deliciously healthy start to the day with reduced sugar, plus a perfect quick teatime 'goûter' to tide you over until dinner without the guilt
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Berry Gratin RecipeJill Colonna

French Berry Gratin with Elderflower

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A quick yet elegant French berry dessert, topped with an elderflower cream and quickly toasted under the grill. Berry French indeed!
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Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle

Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle

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Looking for patriotic red, white & blue treats? You'll love this berry adult, boozy dessert for your holiday menu. A trifle British with Parisian macarons soaked in sherry (gluten free).
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French Crème Caramel

French Crème Caramel

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The favourite French classic on many Parisian restaurant menus - yet so easy to make at home. This one is melt-in-the-mouth light with no heavy cream, just milk and eggs.
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Gourmet Travel Articles in France & Beyond

Just to whet your appetite!

Bourdaloue Pear TartJill Colonna

Parisian Bourdaloue Pear Tart – a French Classic

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Say Bour-da-loue! Found in many French patisseries, this almond tart has been a favourite around Paris since the 1900s when it was invented in Rue Bourdaloue in the 9th arrondissement. Read on for the story and the recipe...
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Montmartre macaronsJill Colonna

Montmartre Chocolate Pastry Walk

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Join me for an online stroll on my self-guided Montmartre walk - with less tourists. Taste the artistic ambience, macarons, madeleines & chocolate - and perhaps leave 'Absinthe'-minded!
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Saint-Germain almond cakeJill Colonna

Saint-Germain Almond Cake

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Created in the royal market town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye outside Paris in 1920. This delicious almond and rum glazed tart is so easy and a real crowd-pleaser.
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Béarnaise SauceJill Colonna

Béarnaise Sauce – Recipe & Origins Near Paris

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Ooh the simple Béarn-ecessities of life! This sublime French sauce is so easy to whisk up - did you know it was invented where Louis XIV was born near Paris?
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Saint-Germain-en-Laye Castle Roof VisitsJill Colonna

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Chateau Roof Visit (Paris Day Trips)

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A taste of royal history from the birthplace of Louis XIV, Debussy and some culinary origins too. Only 30 mins from Paris. Plan ahead your rooftop visit May to end September.
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10 reasons to visit HonfleurJill Colonna

10 Reasons to Visit Honfleur, Normandy

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A virtual see and do - and eat! - in this romantic French town & what makes it such a popular getaway - only 2 hours' drive from Paris
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Poire Belle HeleneJill Colonna

Pear Belle Helene – A Parisian Musical Story

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When dessert was inspired by Helen's 'beautiful pear' (pun intended). This classic Parisian dessert was created by France's legendary chef, Escoffier, inspired by a French soprano singing Offenbach in Paris
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Renoir Walk Chatou Carrieres Cave HousesJill Colonna

Renoir Tour: Chatou – Carrieres-sur-Seine

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Join me online for this Impressionist Renoir Walk starting at Chatou in les Yvelines (just 10km west of Paris), along by the Seine & discover the medieval town of Carrières-sur-Seine with its troglodytes cave houses.
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Denise Acabo A l'Etoile d'Or Paris chocolateJill Colonna

Paris Chocolate Golden Star, Denise Acabo – A l’Etoile d’Or

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Ready for a healthy dose of contagiously cheerful chocolate-induced endorphins? Meet the golden star of chocolate in Pigalle.
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Teatime in JapanJill Colonna

Teatime in Japan

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Join our discovery of traditional sweet treats (wagashi), ice creams and a traditional tea ceremony learning some Japanese culture along the way
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Teatime Ritz Paris TableJill Colonna

Putting on The Ritz – Paris Teatime

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For the ultimate luxury Parisian afternoon, let's head to Proust's room for a French Afternoon Tea and experience his famous Madeleines by his favourite fireplace.
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best bakeries in Lyon

Lyon’s Best Pâtisseries, Chocolates & Macarons

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A selection of the finest bakeries for the sweet-toothed in France's gastronomic capital.
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