French canadian/9 recipes

It's not a secret that my neighbors Chili is a potluck fav.

French fries tossed with Greek inspired seasonings; oregano, feta cheese and served with tzatziki sauce.

Fresh cherry tomatoes, colorful bell pepper, white mushroom and red onion, season with olive oil, sesame seeds and parsley leaves, they look good and tastes good, quick and easy.

A very simple recipe for a classic, which helps you to get warm in the winter (ok, I mean when it is getting 4° Celsius in the night in Southern California). The number of servings is accurate when you have it as a meal - as a starter it should serve way more people. I did not list any spices, as I usually have self made chicken broth which is already pretty tasty and spicy, sweetness comes from the onions and the white wine balances it. For bread and cheese - don't think about any fancy, old dry bread is good and any cheese which melts. The onions are king when it comes to taste. Ovenproof crock bowls are very nice for final preparation and serving the soup.

An old-fashioned pie loaded with fresh berries.

I use McIntosh or a combination of McIntosh & Cortlands as my family and I prefer a softer apple filling that holds together (I NEVER use Granny Smiths)...

Almond-coffee meringue cookies are sandwiched with chocolate ganache. These macarons are absolutely additive, no wonder these small sweets are so popular in Paris. After you pop one into your mouth, you want another one, and another one...

A famous Scottish style pie or tart. Plums baked in a rich and creamy custard.

Reduced fat version of the classic Monte Cristo sandwich. Use low-fat milk, whole wheat bread and skimmed milk Swiss cheese. Still big on flavor.

Rich and packed with flavor but without the unhealthy fats. Slightly sweet carmelized onions and sundried tomatos topped with cheese on crispy toast (crostini).

Toasty garlic bread is a quick-to-make addition to a meal.

This fresh strawberry pie is absolutely ultimate. It's loaded with strawberries, and packed with strawberry flavor. Best of all, you don't have to bake it. A perfect cool-fruity dessert for a hot summer day.

Wednesday's Chili recipe

Tasty snacks that's quick and easy to prepare when company's coming. Crostini topped with tomato, garlic, herbed goat cheese and fresh basil. Bite sized bits of heaven.

Fresh basil and rosemary give the bread tons of herby flavor, the whole wheat flour adds extra nutty taste. And you can always substitute rosemary and basil with your favorite herbs, such as thyme, parsley...

This is one of those recipes that is more of a guideline—I really encourage you to adapt the amounts and ingredients to your tastes. If you like it chunky, don’t puree it. If you like a thinner soup, add more chicken broth. If you don’t like heat, omit the cayenne.