Cheese Puffs for any occasion

I was reading a French cooking magazine and there was a full section about 'gougères', which are cheese puffs. The beautiful pictures tempted me.

The base recipe can be sweet or sour and is pretty simple. So while my daughters where napping this afternoon, I made a batch. We'll probably eat it in front of the Super Bowl with our friends tomorrow, if they can last until then...

For about 15-20 puffs

Preparation time: 10 min

Cooking time: 25 min

Difficulty: **

Ingredients:

-115 g flour

-20 cl water

-75g butter

-salt and pepper

-75 g shredded cheese - ideally 'comté' if you can find it, or sharp cheddar or swiss cheese

-3 eggs

-1 egg yolk (optional)

-a bit of nutmeg

1.  In a saucepan, cut the butter into pieces, add the water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil.

2.   When the water is boiling, remove from the heat and add the flour at once. Stir very well with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball. Let cool a bit.

3.   Add the eggs one by one, stirring well between each egg. 

4.   Add the cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

5. Preheat your oven at 400°F / 200°C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a pastry bag or simply 2 teaspoons, place little mounds of mixture on the baking sheet.
Optional: Brush each little puff with egg yolk.

6. Bake for 25 minutes.

How to make Pistachio Biscotti

This is a super easy recipe and these cookies are delicious with tea or coffee. You can replace the pistachios with almonds for your Biscotti. They can be kept several days in a box on your countertop, if they last this long...!

For about 30 cookies
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 300g (2 1/2 cups) of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 50g (1/3 cup) very finely ground almonds
- 150g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk + 1 egg white
- 100g (2/3 cup) coarsely chopped pistachios - or almonds


1. Preheat your oven at 180°C / 350°F.
2. Mix together the flour, baking powder, ground almonds, sugar, and salt.
3. In a bowl, beat the 2 eggs with the egg yolk. Stir this mixture into the flour preparation.
4. Add the pistachios.
5. Manually knead the dough until it forms a ball.
Note: if you notice that your dough is too dry, add water (very little at a time) until the dough holds itself to form a ball.
6. Cut this dough into 4 pieces. Shape them to form 4 cylinders which you will flatten a little (to make oval biscotti).
7. Place the 4 pieces on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Brush them with the egg white.
8. Bake for about 20 minutes.
9. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, wait until the dough pieces cool slightly (5/10 min) and cut them into slices.
10. Place the biscuits back on the baking sheet and continue baking for 10 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Let cool and enjoy!

Classic Chocolate Cake Recipe

This recipe is a classic. A Chocolate Cake is easy to prepare and it will make everyone happy in your household. I usually double the quantities below to make a bigger cake that will last a bit longer (2-3 days...only)! Enjoy it warm with vanilla ice cream.

Serves 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Baking time: 45-50 minutes

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

- 75 g (2/3 cups) flour
- 150g butter (about 1 1/2 sticks)

- 150g (5 1/2 oz) chocolate

- 3 eggs
- 150g (2/3 cups) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- pinch of salt

1. Preheat your oven at 150°C (300°F). Grease and flour a 8-inch baking pan.

2. Melt the chocolate in a heavy bottom pan. Once melted, remove from the heat and add the butter cut into small pieces.

3. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and vanilla extract until the preparation whitens.

4. Pour the sugar and egg yolks preparation into the melted chocolate. Add the flour and mix well.

5. Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites. Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks.
Very gently incorporate the beaten egg whites to the chocolate preparation.

6. Pour the preparation into the mold and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. To test if the cake is done, insert a metal skewer or sharp knife into the centre of a muffin. It should come out dry.

Enjoy!

How to make delicious and original Chocolate Truffles

Continue celebrating the Holidays with fresh homemade truffles! It is very simple and you do not need to wait for Christmas to prepare these treats. You only need 3 ingredients to prepare the base and then, use your imagination to coat each truffle!

For about 60 truffles
Preparation time: 30 minutes + 2-3 hours in the fridge
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (10cl) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 pound (200g) good quality dark chocolate
- 3 1/2 tablespoons (50g) butter
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or Cointreau
- ingredients for coating: cocoa powder, powdered sugar, chopped almonds/peanuts/pistachios, dried fruits, shredded coconut...

1. Grate the chocolate or cut it into small pieces and place it in a bowl.

2. Melt the butter in the microwave.

3. Gently boil the whipping cream on medium heat and pour it slowly on the chocolate, stirring until melted. Add the melted butter to the chocolate. Then add the Cointreau. Stir well.

4. Pour the chocolate in a baking dish which is not too deep so that the preparation is not too thick and can harden easily.

5. Cover your dish with plastic film and place in the fridge for about 3 hours.

6. Take the preparation out of the fridge. Use a spoon to scoop regular size chocolate balls. Roll them quickly in your hands to create a round shape. Place the truffles on a parchemin paper lined sheet pan and refrigerate 5 to 10 minutes.

7. In the meantime, prepare your coating ingredients and pour them in different dishes.

8. Take the truffles out of the fridge and roll them, one by one, into the desired coating. It can be cocoa powder for traditional truffles or coconut, pistachios, dried fruits etc. for more fancy truffles.

Enjoy!

A simple Zucchini Soup to warm you up this winter

A simple soup is always appreciated in the heart of winter. We all have already canned soup in our cupboards but you should try this recipe: you'll change the way you think about soups!! It is super simple and delicious. Even kids will love it! And thanks a lot to my friend Frank who once prepared this soup for me and my husband in Montréal!

Serves 4
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 1 pound (500g) zucchinis - preferably organic to keep the skin, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese or 3 Laughing Cow portions
- 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- water
- salt & pepper

Wash the zucchinis and cut them in to cubes. As mentioned in the ingredients list, if you buy organic zucchinis, you do not need to peel them. It's the best way to prepare this soup.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and add the zucchinis. Coat them with butter and let cook for 3 minutes on medium heat, stirring.

Pour the broth into the saucepan and then add water to cover. Add a bit of salt and pepper.

Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes, or until the zucchinis are tender.

Add the cream cheese to the soup, stir well and mix everything with a hand blender until there are no more zucchini pieces and the soup is smooth.

Adjust the seasoning and serve hot. Enjoy!

Broccoli Gratin with Parmesan cheese

This Gratin can be made with broccoli or with zucchinis. It is very simple and quick to prepare. And while it's baking, you can do something else! It is a good recipe to have your kids eat veggies :)

Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 2 medium broccoli bunches
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 (375 ml) cup milk
- 1 1/2 (100 g) cup shredded parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
- a pinch of grated nutmeg

Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart.

Steam the broccoli florets for about 5 minutes: they shouldn't be too tender but rather a little firm - they will finish cooking in the gratin.
Drain the florets and place them in a rectangular baking dish (I usually use a glass cake dish).

Preheat your oven at 200°C/390°F.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and add the grated nutmeg, salt and pepper and finally the parmesan cheese.
Pour over the broccoli florets.

Place your dish in the oven and cook for about 40 minutes. The gratin should be firm, not liquid, and golden brown on top.
Serve with a salad.

Very easy recipe for Chocolate-Blueberry Muffins

This recipe is my own combination of 2 other recipes: Chocolate muffins and Blueberry muffins :) Muffins are easy to make and are great with afternoon tea. The cooking time is not too long so your kids won't wait too long before tasting your chocolate-blueberry muffins! You can also use raspberries in this recipe.

For about 12 muffins
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups (270g) flour
- 1/2 cup (60g) semi-sweet cocoa powder
- 5/8 cups (110g) softened butter - at room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) sugar
- 2/3 cup (160g) milk
- 3 eggs- 2 rounded teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup (100g) fresh or frozen blueberries (you can use any other berries, like raspberries for instance)

Preheat your oven at 180°C / 350°F and place 1 paper cup inside each mold. If you are using silicone molds, butter them and sprinkle some flour in each mold.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, the cocoa powder, the baking powder and a pinch of salt.

In a big bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one by one, stirring well before adding the next egg.

Slowly add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk. We all the ingredients are mixed together, add the blueberries and incorporate them carefully.

Pour the batter into the molds and bake for 25 minutes. To test if the muffins are done, insert a metal skewer or sharp knife into the centre of a muffin. It should come out dry.

Chocolate Vanilla Marble Cake

Great for kids and adults as well, the Chocolate Vanilla Marble Cake is an easy recipe. This cake can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, tea time or anytime during the day! You can even make it with you children since the steps are not very complex.

Serves 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 150g butter (about 1 1/4 stick)
- 250g granulated sugar (1 1/4 cup)
- 8 tablespoons milk
- 300g all-purpose flour (3 cups)
- 4 eggs, whites and yolks separated
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 30g unsweetened cacao powder (5 tablespoons)

Add the butter and the sugar in a large bowl. Warm quickly in the microwave to soften.

Whisk vigorously until the preparation becomes light and creamy.

Add the egg yolks, the milk, the flour and the baking powder. Mix well all the ingredients.

Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and beat until stiff. Slowly add to the preparation above. Tip: it's better to use a metal spoon than a wooden spoon!

Divide this preparation into two bowls: add the vanilla extract to one and add the cacao powder to the other one.

Preheat your oven at 180°C / 350°C.
Grease a cake mould with a bit of butter and sprinkle flour all over the interior of the mould.

Pour half of the vanilla batter in the mould first, then half of the cacao batter and then the rest of the two batters. Alternate so that the white batter and the cacao batter are intertwined.

Bake for 45 minutes and check use a skewer to check if the cake is ready. If not, continue baking for about 5 to 15 minutes.