Just admit it: We all want to be our own version of Julia Child, especially with all the time spent at home, much of which is filled with cooking and baking. While the house often smells amazing after this routine, sometimes it's nice - and necessary - to try something new. So why not try your hand at French cuisine?
As intimidating as it seems, Julia Child said it best... Cooking is for everyone, and the art of French cuisine can easily be done with good ingredients and a bit of practice. Luckily, the heart of French food lies with delicious flavors and high-quality ingredients, which are half the battle. But with recipes as tasty as these, you'll be saying "Bon Appetit!" in no time.
A Classic: French Onion Soup For Lunch
There's no way a lunch could go wrong with a delicious French onion soup as the main course. The trick is to thoroughly caramelize the onions before adding liquids, as this gives the most flavor and serves as the base for the soup.
Good beef stock will also help, along with plenty of salt (check often for seasoning!), fresh herbs, and enough cooking time to thicken and develop the depth of the soup. Top with a good melting cheese such as gruyere, a crispy slice of French baguette, and you'll be in heaven.
Followed By A Traditional French Salad
This lunch is already far simpler than many others, right? Well, this salad doesn't get any easier, either.
Some arugula, lightly boiled and blanched asparagus, roasted and sliced beets, walnuts, and Chevre goat cheese make for the perfect wholesome, healthy accompaniment to French onion soup. A light lemon vinaigrette finishes this off with a slightly tangy, fresh burst of flavor.
Light Crepes For Breakfast
The process of mixing crepe batter is really quite simple - it's the cooking method that many find to be intimidating. These paper-like pancakes are sold as street food in France and can be filled with literally anything, but most common is fresh fruit and cream. When cooking, a crepe pan is ideal, but a small frying pan will do the job just fine.
Start with a small amount of batter to coat the bottom, add if needed, and swirl until the first side is cooked through. Flip them (carefully!) just like a pancake, and voila! For a savory option, try avocado, mozzarella, sliced tomato, and a bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
A Croque Monsieur For Brunch
Once you've tried this cheesy, satisfying sandwich, you won't be able to get enough of it. A Croque Monsieur is basically a French grilled cheese, taken to a totally extra level.
With gruyere, good, thinly-sliced ham, Dijon mustard, and an easy bechamel sauce, everyone will be craving this sandwich over traditional grilled cheese any day of the week. It's comfort, ease, and warmth, all between two slices of thick bread.
Coq Au Vin Blanc For Dinner
Coq au Vin is a great alternative to beef Bourguignon and makes good use of chicken instead of beef. It's also a very easy dish to make on a weeknight and as an added benefit, a little bit of crusty bread can be used to soak up all that delicious, white wine-based sauce.
It's fresh, filling, and the perfect cozy weeknight meal... Plus, the leftovers are just as, if not more, delicious (if you have any).
All these recipes can be found at Mon Petit Four.