Tag: Cooking

La Cuisine Paris

On By ChérineIn Cooking, France, Paris, TravelLeave a comment

On a cold February morning, I walked along the quays of the Seine to Marché Maubert to meet my class mates and the chef from La Cuisine Paris.

I had planned a mini vacation in Paris and was looking forward to taking a cooking class to enhance my culinary arts skills. I found La Cuisine Paris on Instagram. Located at 80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville in the 4th arrondissement, the school offers culinary and baking classes in English.

The Marché Maubert is comprised of 45 stalls offering fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry (did you know that in France, rabbit is considered poultry?), fish, cheeses and many more.

Our group walked around the market, led by Chef Justin, looking at the various offerings and planning our menu.

We settled on seasonal ingredients: radishes, “potimarron” (a cross between a pumpkin and a squash), rabbit and for dessert an almond tart. And of course some cheese and bread to start out french culinary experience. On the way back to the school, we stopped for baguettes at a “boulangerie” who had been awarded the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, a prestigious honour for the best craftsman in various categories.

Back in the kitchen, we set to searing the rabbit before braising it in a mustard sauce.        I had never thought to glaze radishes, but we did and they were sweet and still had bite. The potimarron was puréed with cream and butter. The delectable aroma of the baking almond tarts filled the kitchen. I could not wait to savour what was to come.

As we sat down to lunch with a view on the Seine, the sun came out.

La Cuisine Paris is a must for the home or amateur chef who is looking to delve into french cuisine classics. Check them out if you are in Paris next.

La Cuisine Paris     80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris, France.

 

Sunday Kitchen Experiments: Cilantro Lime Chicken with Black Bean Rice

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy Eating, Kitchen ExperimentsLeave a comment

The last few weeks have been very busy at work. By the time I get home, I do not feel like cooking anything so I have been resorting to unhealthy take out options.

I know this week is not going to be any different, so today I planned on cooking a meal that I could reheat in the next couple of days.

So here is my #pinterestwin.

What I loved about this recipe was how quick the prepping was. A handful of ingredients, one pot …

…and presto, dinner is served!

20160124_191136

Thank you @cookingclassy1 for the recipe.  http://www.cookingclassy.com/2015/04/one-pan-cilantro-lime-chicken-and-rice-with-black-beans/

BON APÉTIT!

 

Sunday Kitchen Experiments: Blue cheese stuffed pork chops with pear

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Kitchen ExperimentsLeave a comment

Experimenting in the kitchen has become another creative outlet for me. On the weekends I will spend some time looking at old cook books, Pinterest and some of my favourite chefs’ websites for inspiration.

Sometimes I will buy the ingredients prior to finding the recipe and work backwards. On my shopping trip to the grocery store yesterday, I picked up some pork chops, pears, blue cheese and numerous other things.

The combination of pork chops and blue cheese enticed me and so my search began for the prefect, easy recipe.

I came across She Knows’s recipe and thought why not. It appeared to be simple enough and did not require too long to achieve a scrumptious dinner.

I felt that the chops needed a side, so I made one of my specialties: mashed pepper squash with butter and brown sugar.

 

20151012_114922B

The prep and cooking time did not take long at all but the end result lacked some seasoning and although good, it was not as delectable as some other recipes I have tried.

If you are looking to try out the recipe, add salt, more cheese and cook the pears a little longer.

20151129_190245

Bon appétit!

 

 

Kitchen Experiments: Lemon Thyme Chicken with Arugula Salad

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy Eating, Jamie Oliver2 Comments

I was home sick yesterday and since I could not focus on reading, I spent the bulk of the day watching TV. Nothing in particular, just quite a bit of zapping.

And then Jamie Oliver caught my eye. He was making rosemary chicken kebabs with a spinach, citrus and feta salad. I was still not 100% focused so I do not recall all the ingredients, but it stuck with me. Having been inspired yesterday, I tried my own hand at chicken skewers.

I marinated the chicken in garlic, thyme, lemon juice, olive oil and salt.
I marinated the chicken in garlic, thyme, lemon juice, olive oil and salt

I let the chicken marinade for a couple of hours before threading the pieces on wooden skewers.  And then onto the grill pan.

IMAG0236

While the chicken was grilling, I began the salad prep: sliced a bosc pear, crumbled some blue cheese and tossed it with arugula and a balsamic dressing.

Salad

Once the chicken was cooked, I removed it from the skewers et voilà!

Bon appétit!
Bon appétit!

Kitchen Experiments

On By ChérineIn Cooking, Healthy Eating, Kitchen ExperimentsLeave a comment

Some months ago I resolved to change the way I eat. Cooking for one was not enjoyable for me; spending so much time slaving over a stove and then eating over the sink was not quite what I imagined to be delightful.

So now, I make an effort to try new recipes. Once the meal has been prepared and plated, I take a photograph of it and post it on Instagram. It as become a way to be creative and relieve the day’s stresses.

On the menu this evening: Lemon Garlic Butter Cod with Green Beans and Beets.

Lemon Garlic Butter Cod

It was delicious.