Yogurt with Crème Chocolat
We’re in Jasper, back at the Jasper Park Lodge. (We’re usually here for Christmas in November – W walked in and asked where Santa was? And the Christmas trees?) This time the lake has no ice, it’s beautiful and almost green, and the chipmunks are plenty. We’re here so I can speak at the Alberta Library Conference tonight and tomorrow. We left before noon, and as I rushed to pack I made a batch of garlicky roasted potato salad with wilted kale and tahini dressing to eat in the car (and to use up the kale). But I made something last night I kinda want to tell you about.
Sometimes when I check my mailbox, there are cookbooks in there. Not often, but sometimes. When I do get cookbooks (which always makes my day because I am that person who finds comfort in cookbooks and keeps stacks of them beside her bed-a habit Mike just loves), sometimes I write about them and sometimes I don’t. If I like them, and use them, and feel inspired to write about whatever I made, I do. If not, it winds up on my shelf. Other times I write about books I’ve gone out and bought. It’s all about the food, really.
Yesterday, a package arrived on my step. Inside, copies of the French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook – one I had seen last week on bookshelves and was tempted to buy. It was written by Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, and I was happy to see it filled with stories of her childhood in France, life in Paris, Provence and New York – I always love to be able to live (and eat) vicariously through others.
It’s a beautiful book, nicely designed and printed on heavy matte paper, and although there are no photos, it’s filled with recipes I actually want to try – like Beet and Ginger Gazpacho, Quinoa with Peas and Favas, Macaroni with Ricotta and Walnuts, Tagliatelle with Leeks and Prosciutto, and Rosemary Lamb Meatballs (oh yes-I’ll be taking this baby for a spin next week).
Unable to resist at least flipping through a new book, I sat down last night amid the packing and laundry and last-minute article finishing, wishing I had a chance to cook from it this weekend. It was almost 8 o’clock, and I was still wanting a little smackerel of something after an experimental dish we all ate for dinner fell flat on its face. One recipe jumped out and grabbed me – Yogurt with Crème Chocolat.
An idea as much as a recipe, it to me epitomizes French food – simple, real – practical and yet classy. Three good-quality ingredients I know very well – yogurt, chocolate and cream – turned into something that feels indulgent and smart at the same time. It took about five minutes to make. I tried to take longer to eat it.
Here’s the gist (it’s all you need): heat about a quarter cup of cream or half & half in a small saucepan, and dump in about 4 oz. of chopped dark chocolate. (I totally eyeballed all of this; proportions don’t much matter.) Take it off the heat. A minute or two later give it a stir to melt the chocolate, then drizzle over nice thick plain yogurt – Greek, if you have it. Vanilla would probably be fine but likely too sweet – the contrast between the warm, sweet chocolate and cold, creamy, tangy yogurt is what makes this so fantastic. I imagine some chopped salted pistachios would stand in nicely for a cherry on top.
Of course in honour of Free Stuff Friday I have copies to give away! Three, in fact. So leave a comment, and I’ll draw on Tuesday. What shall we talk about? Dinner last night? New ideas for familiar ingredients? Favourite French food? How to wean yourself off of red wine and Cheezies?
Is there a patch for that sort of thing?
Dinner last night – lazy cabbage rolls with dill, biranyi chicken legs, cucumber slices. An odd combination – I will agree.
The night before that – broccoli soup, sticky rice (as in wrapped in lotus leaves ala dim sum style), bean sprout salad, salad rolls with peanut dipping sauce. Things are definitely off kilter here.
Wean yourself off red wine – are you crazy? The red wine cuts the salty taste of the cheezies.
I had an avacado and spinach salad with chickpeas. Not much, but totally delicious.
Wow! That sounds wonderful! Dinner last night was your Naan and Butter chicken. Everyone loved it. So delicious.
I’m French (well, French-Canadian). I can’t help it, cuisine is French (with a hint of maple syrup for me). What can I say: I feel I live in perpetual withdrawal (outside my house) living in this province and more particularly in Red Deer… I do my bit to corrupt my entourage by inviting them for dinner (and sharing some of my recipes on the web… in French). Dinner tonight was, interestingly enough, Italian-inspired (lasagna). I like variety too.
And I agree with Linda. There’s no point in weaning yourself from red wine. We all know it’s medicinal given the right posology.
Red wine & cheezies? That’s yer fruit ‘n dairy covered, not to mention all those antioxidants!
Mmmmmm – chocolate & yogurt too? Man, you sure know how to live, Julie!
I had gyoza and seafood soba….yum!!!! With red wine of course…it’s too good to try weaning myself off it!
Well, we had dinner out last night…fast food!! Don’t hate me cause I hate myself already!! But I’m looking forward to homemade pizza tonight or sometime this weekend. I’ve got the dough made in the fridge already…just have to get all the yummy toppings.
I gave up the Cheezies a long time ago but the red wine, no way.
Dinner last night: lemony rhubarb roasted chicken, rice, asparagus, and green smoothies. And pita chips at bedtime.
Dinner last night was homemade pizza with Italian sausage, peppers, and onions. Then to the frozen custard stand for dessert. Mmmm.
Dinner last night was a fabulous multicourse affair– the tasting menu at La Belle Vie in Minneapolis. Bay Scallops with Foie Gras, Beets and Truffle; Sea Trout with Cuttlefish Carbonara and Braised Butter Lettuce; Pan Roasted Poussin with Caraway-Rye Gnocchi, Caramelized Onions and Truffle; Grilled lamb Ribeye with Fallen Camembert Souflé, Dried Cherries and Port; Rhubarb Financier with Raspberry Ice Cream. We were celebrating a birthday, and had to do it big!
Dinner last night: sweet potatoe and carrot soup, chocolate cake, and a glass of red wine
dinner last night…barbequed burgers with yummy salad topped with blanched asparagus and strawberries.
the only type of patch for weaning off of cheezies (my weakness is chocolate)and red wine would be duct tape over my mouth. and i could take it off, so that wouldn’t work. actually, maybe it could do double duty waxing the upper lip while stopping the intake of the excess calories!!! something to think about…
Dinner last night was a pulled pork sandwich at Big T’s Barbeque Grill after shopping at the CBC Calgary Reads book sale. I had the sweet potato fries on the side and a Grasshopper Ale to wash it down.
Dinner was out, but the appetizers served at home included Ina’s goat cheese and tomato tarts on puff pastry. Yum!
Dinner last night–pan fried scallops, spinach salad with tangy tomato dressing and roasted sweet potato. It was delish! Tonight’s going to be homemade greek pizza.
Today my best friend dropped by and the girls were really spoiled. We ended up eating a lovely meal cooked by my gorgeous husband. A yummy kangaroo tagine with some yumm spices and served on a little bed of fettucine pasta and a lovely glass of red. For dessert we had some rocky road my friend brought with her along with a Greek coffee. mmmmmm.
I love reading everyone’s comments. Ellen- sounds sooo good. Dana, stop! you’re cracking me up. (And when I say, “Stop”, I mean, “don’t stop!”)
We were shopping @ Scarpone’s (The Italian Store over by Deerfoot), and this is what we had for supper: sundried olives and red wine, lots of cheese, and this astonishing pasta dish. The spice mixture (Hot pepper flakes, garlic, parsley, black pepper) had these instructions:
“Dose for two people” “In a pan, pour two tbsp water, 3 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp. preparation. Shake to mix well and fry everything for about a minute without burning compound. Pour the drained pasta into the pan and blow up the whole always very fast”.
I was doing fine until we got to the end.
??????where do you get greek yogurt in calgary???????
tho i am in edmonton, greek yogurt has been my obsession for many months-lots of bloggers rave about it, but they are all american….i have only found in one place here….or do you meal ‘balcan’ style?????please share
Coconut curry with garbanzo beans over rice (with light coconut milk of course!)
my dinner last night was homemade-ish (i bought a crust) pizza, a big glass of lindeman’s framboise, and maple softserve ice cream. italian, belgian, and canadian! 🙂
Dinner was out at a microbrewery with a friend – so fish and chips with a bit of their own beer. However, I had to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies to come home to. YUM! I also came home to the giveaway book – Cleaving. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to getting to know Julie Powell a bit better and appreciate your time in sending it.
Enjoy your Saturday and I’m hoping I still have the luck in your giveaways! =)
Last night we went out for Mexican. Yum! Great giveaway!
Last night we had lasagna, but I used pre-made sauce to make it.
To supersu: I’m in Edmonton and I’ve started buying Olympic Krema from Save-on-Foods. I’ve only seen it at Save-on. My friend is Greek and is always trying to find something equivalent to the yogurt in Greece or even the U.S. She’s pretty satisfied with this.
Last night I roasted an organic chicken and baby potatoes with olive oil and rosemary. Dessert was strawberries with whip cream. Simple and delicious!
Dinner was Smoked Pork pasta and gingerbread cake at Brava on 17th, I love Brava.
Awesome giveaway!! I’ve heard of this cookbook!
Dinner last night was delicious! I roasted a Chicken Thursday night for dinner so last night I pulled all the chicken apart and threw it in the pan. I took some Bullseye Barbecue sauce for Chicken and ribs and mixed it half and half with water (beer would have been better but I didn’t have any on hand), I put the bbq sauce in the pan and brought it to a boil with the chicken. While I let the sauce thinking up and the absorb into the chicken I made a cole slaw using green cabbage, red onion, grated carrot and lots of caraway seeds. I made my own dressing, using mayo (not to much), lemon juice and sherry vinegar. Mixed it all. Had home fries cooking in the oven through all of this too. I put the pulled chicken on fresh whole wheat buns and topped with coleslaw. Absolutely delicious!! As I’m not eating much for carbs these days I just ate coleslaw topped with some pulled chicken which was excellent.
Hope Jasper is a blast! I use to go there as a child but haven’t been in more than 15-20 years.
sounds great! I have her first two books and I love them – simple, real, delicious recipes. She eats very much the same way I do. I just wish there were pictures, since I’m a very visual [erson.
Yogurt dish sounds simple and delicious! Just finished a 12 day cleanse where I couldn’t eat dairy so back to yogurt today!!
Going to try some of your recipes this week!
Thanks!
My day included a big lunch. I got home late and tired, settled for a glass of milk and a couple of peanut butter cookies.
I don’t want to wean off of wine and cheezies. LOL. It’s a new favourite thanks to you.
I finally tried your perogy recipe! I didn’t think the kids would go for it, but they ALL loved them. And now I have an extra dinner for soccer night too.
I enjoy your blog and the inspiration you have. Started my weekend off with the first of the season BBQ steak, asparagus, and potato’s. And lots of red wine.
I too would love to know where to get Greek yogurt in Calgary – I’ve looked at a few stores but haven’t been able to find it yet.
Dinner last night was BBQ with friends – steaks and Spolumbo sasuages, asparagus, and baby potatoes from Second to None Meats (my current obsession – they taste almost like candy! – SO good) and strawberry shortcakes from the Patent and Pantry website.
We had pizza – olive oil glaze with Kalamata olives and fresh garlic. So yummy!
The cookbook looks awesome!
We had pork chops, potatoes and a greek salad… simple but good
Pick me! Pick me! My girlfriend is having a French-inspired potluck in a few weeks and I need ideas (although I do make a mean ratatouille).
Dinner was an amazing sweet potato coconut & chickpea curry (from Vive le Vegan) served over my favourite grain, bulgur. Dessert was fresh fruit (raspberries, strawberries and 1/2 a banana) with the new, limited time, custard flavoured tofu dessert.
=)
Dinner last night was nothing too exciting to talk about, but dessert was homemade ice cream sandwiches – so good! I am almost 9 months pregnant, so anything with ice cream is awesome right now!
I am also wondering where to find greek style yogurt here in calgary, can anybody help me!
Crockpot meal…Turkey noodle casserole, needed to make something the kids would like when I was at work.
Oh yum!!!
I haven’t cooked all week, I can’t wait to make Sunday dinner tomorrow. It is Quilt Canada all week and I’m on the organizing committee. So last night was our Asian banquet complete with Lion Dancers, asian inspired quilts on display, and a quite tasty broccolini in oyster sauce on the menu.
Leftover birthday party food at my house last night, then we all headed out in opposite directions. And due to another insane schedule today, tonight it’s takeout pizza. Back to normal tomorrow night, hopefully….
That sounds like a fabulous cookbook. One that I would LOVE to have; so if I don’t win one of these, I’ll probably have to go buy it! Dinner last night: sauteed chicken breast with rice and almost black beans (whoops – none in the pantry!), so plain rice, sliced tomatoes tossed in a little red wine vinegar, olive oil, S&P, and fried plantains (aka platanos maduros). Plantains are ripening up nicely now (which they seem to have trouble doing in the winter) so if anyone is interested in make some go for it! Last year I wrote up a mini tutorial about frying them up here: http://fromreddeerwithlove.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html
we had baked chimichangas and veggies with dip last night for dinner. I’m hooked on your naan bread and triple the recipe often so I have some in the freezer ready to go at a moments notice! Thanks for your fabulous blog!
i’m on the wild rose cleanse thus, you guessed it, brown rice and sauteed vegetables and fish for dinner.
it’s good for me. it is. makes me stop eating so much sugar.
ok, i hate it.
Dinner last night was a veggie burger and coleslaw. Didn’t have much to work with as I was waiting for my Spud bucket to arrive (fresh vegetables and fruits delivered to my front door!!). Tonight hubs is cooking a Salmon a friend of ours caught on the Island, can’t wait!!
Dinner last night was pasta with marinara and garlic bread. Nothing exciting but the kids inhaled it.
Dinner tonight is our turn to host our food club. The theme this time around is Appetizers – because they’re usually my fave thing on any menu. I’m making your lamb kebabs – but using bison because there wasn’t any ground lamb available, and the spanakopita is assembled & in the fridge. I’m now cleaning up from that mess and getting ready to make Tartlette’s chocolate truffle tartlets and the Bouchon Lemon Tartlets. Feeling like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew! But if it works woohoo! 🙂
Wow, I am going to go and buy that cookbook today. Thanks for letting me know about it!
Dinner last night was from Namskar on 16 Ave in Calgary. Yummy.
dinner was a yummy bbq burger and an equally yummy salad.
Jasper is beautiful in the spring love to live vicariously through your adventures and trips
Dinner last night was chicken enchiladas with greeen chili/green tomato sauce. I created the green tomato sauce to emulate tomatillo sauce – used up all the green tomatoes from the garden that way. Also had mixed veg salad topped with blackberry/raspberry vinegar, olive oil and a bit of mint. Yum! Today I’m making Ukrainian nalysnyky (cottage cheese crepes) for a birthday dinner tomorrow.
Dinner last night was a forgettable burger affair, but it WAS eaten at a hilarious drag show where the performers came out wearing lovely vintage cocktail numbers. Sometimes Chicago is awesome.
I’ve lately been on a fish + veg dinner diet, and have tweaked Sole Meniere (sp?) to accommodate tastes, budget and caloric requirements: brown a Tbsp of butter, add capers and lemon juice, and then two Tilapia fillets. It’s fabulous.
Supper last night. Annie’s noodles otherwise known as ‘bunny noodles’for the two grumpy munchkins. With a side of cherry tomatoes so I could pretend they had a healthy meal. Vietnamese take out for the two tired grownups, so we could pretend the take out was healthier then Boogie’s Burgers.
I never feel like cooking on Fridays unless there is company. It’s like at university I could never study on Friday nights.
Too tired to cook… so we had a Spring salad with diced leftover chicken, avacado and loads of tomato, with a dinner roll! YUM!
Yesterday out of the blue I recalled your “candied bacon” and in case anyone has forgotten this incredible gem…you gotta give it another try! It knocked the yardman’s socks off! “Ambrosia”, he said. So easy too, with just some brown sugar on top or even better…maple syrup! A simple omelette followed (’cause, I mean, you just can’t overwhelm a poor little egg dish with CANDIED BACON!) The omelette though, had some roasted garlic swirled in to give it, the green onions and shredded cheddar that certain je nais se quoi.
Hi Julie!
I’ve heard of that cookbook, and it sounds awesome.
I have an idea for a new way to use basil…well I got the idea from Caffe Rosso, the new cafe on Stephen’s Ave across from the Telus convention centre. Anyways, basil in blueberry muffins. It was delicious!
I made your leg of lamb in the slow cooker (delicious!!!!! – will make again) and also your Curried quinoa salad. Both fantastic! Thank you, Julie!
Dinner last night was a hodgepodge of stuff: pasta, plain yogurt and granola (one of your recipes) and 2 pancakes. However, a few nights ago, I went to a french restaurant called Les Faux Bourgeois (in Vancouver) and had escargot, duck and creme brulee; SO delicious but so rich!
Also looking for Greek yogurt in Calgary …… I’ve cooked several dishes from Mireille’s earlier books and liked the way they turned out – this one sounds stellar. Perhaps someone should start a blog with photos of the dishes? Red wine is still part of my life – cheezies? not so much LOL
Julie, I’ve become a big fan of the site! Thanks for your interesting, informative and entertaining writing.
Dinner last night was me getting conned by my 3 daughters into 3 different dishes: pasta with homemade meatballs for one, a chicken quesadilla for another and a bacon cheeseburger for the third. But, hey, we’re on vacation this week so I had time to be a nice dad. 🙂
Dinner last night was vietnamese from the place around the corner, as I was all alone with the baby! I have made some other notable things this week though… I tried your brownies for a crowd and those were a hit! I also made a 4 hour bolognese sauce from a Williams Sonoma cookbook to luke warm reviews from the husband. I felt quite accomplished though. Blueberry crumble, lentil soup and home made biscuits… (your recipe), and many bowls of cotton candy ice cream which is my latest sugar addiction. Congratulations on your cool brush with sci fi fame! I wish I could meet Spock! Tonight is marinated pork loin on the BBQ with a warm brown rice salad with asparagus and snap peas. A is coming over! Want to join us?
Dinner last night…a toasted ciabatta roll with raspberry jam and smoked gouda. Not super filling, but tasty! I hope I win the cookbook, it looks great!
Dinner last night was a quick 2-egg omelet with cheddar, crimini mushrooms and smoked ham…and a couple of slices of homemade whole-grain bread.( I’m a musician and had to eat quickly in order to make my 7pm rehearsal! I also ate some celery and carrot sticks in the car on the drive there:))
That yogurt sounds good!
Friday nights – no cook night – too bagged from the week – I am very impressed by all the cooking that you people did last night. Maybe if I had a new cookbook I would be inspired. I did buy a new vacuum this morning and was inspired to vacuum the house – not the same thing I know.
Wow that yogurt sounds good… wait a minute while I go make some… OK I’m back
Dinner last night: handmade corn tortillas with taco meat, refried beans, cheese, avocado, salsa and sour cream and about 50 grapes for dessert
a perfect way to forget about cheezies and red wine! Or not.
I took the plunge and slow roasted a beef roast last night in the oven instead of the usual all-day-in-the-slow cooker roast. SO MUCH BETTER! We got to eat it medium and nicely pink instead of overcooked grey. Served with mashed potatoes and salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
how to wean yourself off of red wine and cheezies??? why would you do that? unless perhaps to make more room for some yogurt, chocolate and creme :o) it sounds like a lovely cookbook, i would love to read it!
I ate dinner really late because I was busy losing my mind at the Calgary Reads book sale. Losing my mind, I tell you! And then when I got home I realized I was coming down with something, so I had a big bowl of spicy noodle soup. I’d like to tell you I made it from scratch, but alas, package. I did toss some shrimp, spinach, peas and edamame in, so it wasn’t a complete nutritional travesty.
Dinner last night was French toast and ham…and the best part of all, my husband cooked and cleaned up. Hooray!
jenn f:
yes i have tried KREMA yogurt and agree it is divine!!!!the only prob is the fat…..i get the impression from the US bloggers that there is a 0% fat option available in the states that tastes truly amazing.
i have found liberte GREEK style 0% here in edmonton @ planet organic, but it costs the earth and 2 out of 4 containers i bought (all different times) have been mouldy?????
thanks for the info
su 🙂
Dinner last night was a potluck, because both my husband and I were late getting home. Foraging the fridge, I found some field greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, goat cheese. Threw together a salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, sour dough croutons pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries. Main course, grilled gouda cheese sandwiches on sour dough. Dessert, the Balkan yogurt with a drizzle of honey, berries, walnuts, and an encore appearance from the pumpkin seeds.
Felt good in the tummy and we didn’t have to eat out!
Such timing! I just got home with some nice Balkan yogurt, so I’m going to have give this a whirl. I love recipes like this where the ingredients list is short but the end result is so much more than the sum of the parts.
Dinner last night was warmed chevre, poppyseed crackers and salad – again simple but delicious.
Dinner last night was quinoa salad with chickpeas, bell peppers, red onions, and parsley!
French cooking without getting fat…oh yeah baby.
Last night for dinner I had vegetable lasanga.
drop dead gorgeous Marc got home last night, after being away a week. I had him for dinner.
Last night for dinner we had Spolumbo apple chicken sausages on buns. And to balance it out we added a salad. 🙂
Love what you do!
Dinner last night was ginger glazed meatballs over oriental noodles, with ripe tomato slices and grapes.
The meatballs were from a slow cooker cookbook put out a few years ago by Canadian Living. Ginger, garlic and soy sauce added interesting flavor. It only rated two thumbs up out of four- but one is fussy and another likes familiar foods.
Dinner last night was our family’s secret recipe for Hungarian Goulash and homemade spaetzle. Comfort food for a cool evening in Kelowna!
Um, I don’t really think I can give up the wine, patch or not. As for real food, the idea sounds so divine right now. I’ve been eating on the road for four days and can’t wait to get home for some real, good food. This yogurt sounds fantastic by the way.
I’ve never tried Cheezies and red wine totgether…may have to give it a whirl.
So many great sounding suppers!
A friend from out of town was over…I roasted some bone-in chicken breasts with greek seasoning and garlic and threw some sweet potato, red pepper and onions in the pan. We had some flax pita and tzaziki and white wine to go with.
Last night’s dinner was mixed greens with strawberries, goat cheese, almonds and agave balsamic dressing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and barbecued steak, shared with friends.
I have to try this cheezie/red wine combination!
We got a new barbq and christened it with Spolumbos turkey and cranberry sausages, added a salad and some quinoa. Not overly inspiring – but not bad for a Friday night!
this looks spectacular. i’m a thick, plain yogurt fiend and i’ve tried to chocolate-ify it with cocoa powder before–unsurprisingly,l with less-than-stellar results. what was i thinking!! this recipe is a big, delicious looking DUH for me. thanks as always!
Wow, yogurt with creme chocolat looks wonderful! Last night’s dinner was steak salad, tonight–oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! And there will be no weaning me from the red wine 🙂
Such a simple idea but it sounds decadent and healthy all at once. I adore French cuisine!
Dinner last night was BBQ chicken with balsamic BBQ sauce, hassleback potatoes, asparagus and the Pioneer Womans rosemary rolls – so yummy!!
Dinner: Pork tenderloin, seared, glazed with an Asian sauce then broiled. Served on Chinese noodles with peppers, onions and apples stir-fried with more of the glaze. Under an hour and yummy.
1) Dinner last night was steak with sherry cream mushrooms, sweet potato fries and grilled zucchini. Delicious, but I need a detox from being overstuffed.
2) New ideas for familiar ingredients…nothing inspiring thus far, but I am heading to New Mexico on Tuesday for some delicious vegetarian and southwest fare, so if I promise to report back can I have a book???? 🙂
3) Sorry…can’t give up red wine…that’s “Mama Juice!”
Dinner last night was thin crust pizza & wraspberry ale, but I’m more proud of dinner the night before: A total fluke – an experiment that went right this time. I rough cut up a leftover roast chicken and put it in the crockpot with handfuls: small potatoes, pattypans, mushrooms, carrots, some onion, shallots, and about 3 cups chicken stock. A half hour before serving, I poured a bunch of homemade croutons over the top which made an awesome crust. Served the whole jumble with a bit of goat cheese crumbled on top. So great, am sure I’ll never be able to re-create it 🙂
This book sounds intriuging. I need some new, fresh ideas. Perhaps this book can help!
what a great article. If you ever come to Austin, please check out this french restaurant, is is authentic in more ways than one, for more info, please see below: http://www.examiner.com/x-30658-Austin-Adventure-Travel-Examiner~y2010m3d10-Justines-A-French-story-damour#comments
We had pan fried halibut with tiny potatoes, steamed shanghai choy – all drizzled with lemon, olive oil, garlic dressing.
I agree that if I don’t win the book I will have to buy it ;0
Julie, thanks so much for sharing your recipes and yourself – it is much appreciated!
I agree that there is both a simplicity and complexity to French food. Somehow I feel satisfied with less. Last weekend I made a Julia’s cream of mushroom soup with a veloute base. Oh my. It was velvety smooth and just rich enough. One bowl was enough.
Our family went out for sushi last night. It was delicious and nice to have a night off.
Hubby and I were married at the Lodge; ENJOY!!!
New to your blog…..enjoying it very much. Dinner..Barbecued chicken with roasted potatoes with mushrooms and onions……….
Hi Julie
I have been following your blog since day 1, long time now. Supper last night lol was leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes lol at midnight with my boyfriend
Funny, I was just thinking about that book (not the cookbook) today and was thinking I should re-read it. Dinner was rib-eye steak cooked perfectly! So proud.
we had white asparagus with mashed potatoes/carrots and fresh chives, accompanied by a crunchy fennel/radish/cucumber salad. would LOVE the book.
best,anja xx
The yoghurt and chocolate sounds great. This is my first time checking out your blog but I’ll be back!
FSF! YAY! I don’t think I’ve ever answered the “What did you have for dinner last night” on a day after I made a great meal. Huh… I guess thats cause I don’t make many great meals. We had dinner at friends last night. Burgers on really nice chiabatta style buns, some big beautiful salads and a gorgeous store bought apple pie with caramel sauce drizzled on top.
This cookbook sounds awesome. I love that you like to live vicariously through others, as we all do with you! Enjoy Jasper! Thanks Julie.
Mmmmm. My husband made pizza using the http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com whole wheat master recipe topped with chopped fresh oregano, a drizzle of olive oil, broccoli, sun dried tomatoes and a bit of mozzarella and asiago. Delicous. I love that man.
Fav French food, ahhhh, my memory takes me back 24 years (yeah, that’s how good it was!!!). We were in Hong Kong and decided to check out the French restaurant at our hotel for our tenth wedding anniversary celebration dinner. I have not had escargot before or since that were as heavenly! Fresh snails, fresh garlic, butter to die for, fresh parsley, perfect portions of each, a marriage of flavor, it was memorable. The rest of the meal was tasty, too, but the escargots, mmmmmm.
The book sounds awesome.
My Dad has been to that conference every year since forever, except this year! Last night we had bbq’d tandoori chicken skewers, your naan (so good), and curried veg. Then best of all – dessert at Nectar with girlfriends I’ve known since kindergarten!
new ideas for familiar ingredients… parmesan “cookies”. I am going to my son’s school to talk grade one students about where food comes from. I am going to talk about cheese – the difference between those floppy orange squares that some kids call cheese and I call hyrogenated plastic and farmer’s cheese. I am going to make parmesan crisps and call them “cheese cookies” as Ruth Reichl does.
Dinner last night – tasting the new summer menu at Tapas in Canmore – put it on your list to go and discover – wonderful creations by their new chef Karl Mancheron
I had a fantastic salad last night! I chopped the last some kimchee, chopped asparagus, chopped firm tofu, chopped spinach and dressed it in seasame oil and seasame seeds. It was a hit!
Dinner Friday night was roast chicken that had marinated in lemon, basil and oregano all day, fresh blanched green beans from our local veggie delivery and brown rice with carrots and mushrooms – also from the weekly organic veggie basket.
We finished with chocolate covered shortbread my mom sent us from Newfoundland – yum! We are in Ottawa.
I read the first book and really enjoyed it – made so much sense! And love the site, BTW. Soup for Spock inspired yesterday’s Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple and Red Lentil Soup.
I don’t know how you have the stamina to keep balancing life and writing regularly, but keep it up! I love the site.
Hiya Julie,
Hmm….dinner last night. Bluegrass and burgers up on a bluff overlooking Kootneay lake.
The cows liked the music so much they came right up to the fence and my girls were feeding them hunks of grass.
The burgers were yummy with loads of onions and garlic and sharp gooey cheddar.
There was also a gigantic vat of homemade Doukhobor Borscht. The pot looked big enough to bath my dog in. The Bubba who made it was also there – and told me all the names of her 18 grand-children and 15 great-grand-children while she stirred.
I also drank a couple of those naked grape spritzer thingies which rocketed me back to grade 10 drinking Canada Coolers that we had stolen from our parents – before sneaking down to drink them at the public beach in Windermere. Oh, we were SO cool.
All in all a great food/booze/farm/spring/family event.
Love the website! Keep it up!
I seriously need to wean myself off white wine and bagels. Not usually together.
Dinner last night was Cracker Barrel. Where I ordered shrimp. Which isn’t really a normal thing to order at a Cracker Barrel, but I, like everyone else here on the Coast is worried about the local shrimp, oyster and fish stocks, and we’re all gobbling up as much of all of that as we can before the oil spill contaminates it all. It’s heartbreaking.
The yougurt looks great! I’d love a copy of the book. I was invited for dinner by a French couple recently, and they served great snacks I don’t remember the name of: pieces of zucchini with an anchovy on top, coated in light batter and deep fried. The combination of anchovy and zucchini is really good!
Favourite French food is lemon tarts… in Paris last year, I ate them every day!
I am new to Greek yogurt, but not to chocolate. Mmmmm…this sounds delicious.
OK It’s Sunday morning…everyone has had a nummy breakfast and I just checked in to your blog (a daily ritual)… saw Yogurt with Creme Chocolat and MUST make some NOW!!
I can always count on you for inspiration Julie!! (I am sad that I am missing the Library Conference in Jasper this year…darn!
Have fun!
Cathy…sad in Calgary!
(Newbie here. I found your site from Lianne’s.)
Cookbooks…ahhh yes. And reading cookbooks. Those who find this odd–do not laugh. The food browsing and learning is one reason to do this, of course, but truly, the authors are some of the best writers in the world.
I used to have such a stack, but one day, having to move to a studio apartment for this the winter season of my life, I packed them up and sold them to (bookstore). Never did I think… . Somehow, I’ve survived.
I did keep a few, the family favourites with slops and smears of this and that, and the curiosities. This book fits both categories.
This book had been marked by a couple generations of cooks, but was also annotated in a way that makes me soberly reflective upon the lives of the women who came before me.
“Take an equal quantity of Economy, Industry and cleanliness. Let boil moderately together in that old-fashioned vessel called Conscience. When cool, add a little good Common Sense and Spirit of Authority to your taste. Clean your vessel before adding your ingredients. If not clean, put in a few grains of Resolutions which will make it Bright. Dip the cover in a little Essence of Watchfulness which will preserve the ingredients from separating. It will be fit for use in two or three years, will keep a long time and be all the better for age. N.B. Be very careful in following the directions of recipe and it will never fail.
-Page 91. (Saskatchewan) Co-op Cook Book. Second Edition 1952.
The book lists all the enterprises of the 1940s to early 1950s Saskatchewan Co-op: The wheat pool, the industrial division, the livestock pool, wool growers, creameries, hatcheries, credit union, and
The Medical Co-op.
Once again I am here looking for inspiration for my week of meal planning (including tonight – nothing like leaving things to the last minute). Thanks for always having great recipes to try (everything has worked very well so far) and for reminding me that my own cooking experimentation doesn’t always have to be perfect. LOVED the browned butter blueberry muffins and the chocolate swirled banana bread. This cookbook looks great. Off to find dinner….
dinner last night was pasta with italian tomatoe sauce and a spicy mushroom sauce, yummy buns, and a wonderful salad. Best part was that I didn’t make it…I attended a scrapbook crop all day.
thanks for the opportunity Julie.
Why would you want to wean yourself off of red wine and Cheezies? Of course that is probably the real reason why French women don’t get fat – they don’t eat Cheezies … supper tonight is homemade pizza, but a new cook book would definitely not go to waste for inspiration.
I’ve managed to avoid the Red wine and cheezies addiction by not stocking cheezies in the house… but sometimes my bf sneaks them in and it’s back to square 1…
I had to read the book (the original book, not the cookbook, though it did have recipes) for a French food class I took last semester – it seemed a bit too simplistic to me, but it was a refreshing read nonetheless. I didn’t find the recipes too enticing either, but she seems to have amended that with this new one.
As for the red wine and Cheezies…wish I could help with that!
for supper…. fresh asparagus! yippeee! … I wish it was easier to find greek yogurt around here… the chocolate and yogurt sounds delish… thanks for the chance at one of the cookbooks!
Dinner last night, organic creamy tomato soup and hummous and crackers, snacks came later!! MMmmmm red wine and cheezies, I would love to win a cookbook, I would be a happy girl!!
Wow this is a popular post. Dinner for me… salad with caramelized balsamic vinegar (it has totally replaced salad dressing for me) with spicy tilapia.
Dinner yesterday was rice with stir fried tofu, home made fish balls, and veg curry.
I had chicken rolled with zucchini and ricotta and gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce – all prepared by someone else for once – yum!
WOW!! Everyone wants this cookbook! Dinner last night was roast beef, potatoes, bean medley, homemade wholewheat buns and an asian/mandarin salad (I had seconds on the salad for dessert!) It was all made even better because I didn’t have to cook it!
Red wine and cheezies? – may have to give that a try!
Dinner on Friday night was the best Ribeye steak I have ever had (from Second to None meats), roast broccoli and potatoes and of course red wine. Great prize.
Pick me! Pick me please!I loved both her books, so matter of fact and practical, and will toss out a lesser-used cookbook to make room for this one if I win. My husband rolls his eyes to the n-th degree whenever I come home with a new one, even though he is a major beneficiary of this little habit of mine.
We had an oven-roasted rainbow trout stuffed with parsley & a sliced lemon, brown basmati pilaf with vegetables, and coleslaw (to use up the shredded cabbage before it went all wilty) and THE BEST storebought strawberries ever. Organic, from Community Natural Foods, ON SALE. We bought two.
Mmmmmmm yogurt and chocolate – that’s a perfect dessert 🙂 After reading your Spock visit post to my hubby, he made your soup for Spock recipe. It was delish!
Dinner tonight to welcome son home from University was: country pork ribs on the barbie, classic broccoli salad, roasted beets / turnips / peppers, and a leek risotto in the slow-cooker. To top it off I finally made creme brulee and it tasted great, although the brulee’d topping wasn’t quite what I’d hoped… not sure how to tweak it.
Today was a pudding day. French pudding in the sense of French-Canadian “Pouding Chomeur” or Poor Man’s Pudding. We ate dessert first. Then we went over to a family dinner where we had a roast and some Cheesy Bread Pudding. Delicious!
Dinner last night was out with the girls, trying out a new to me Italian restaurant, tried the torrelini. Tonight however was a big family dinner with roated chicken and all possible sides, followed by a bread pudding . . . all very yummy and comforting. Think I need a nap!
Dinner last night was spagetti all’ arrabbiata with a eggplant (fav of mine) adapted from a recipe I found with lemon, olives, and capers. It came out scrumptous and I’ll have to do a repeat!
Last night I had BBQ salmon steak with grilled vegetables in a balsamic and fig sauce. With a nice cold beer, of course. Very tasty. I’m so glad it’s summer again!
Dinner last night was pork chops (which I marinated in a brine for a couple of hours and then cooked on the grill), grilled asparagus and creamy polenta. Dessert–rhubarb crisp. Delish!
Last night, home-made macaroni and cheese. Dessert was rhubarb cake.
Sounds incredible – can’t wait to try this. Yesterday, ribs and twice baked potatoes. So glad there is enough left for me to bring for my lunch today!!
This sounds so interesting! I’ve never thought about putting chocolate sauce on plain yogurt (rather than frozen…) before, I’ll have to try this. Thanks!
Eggs, simple but delish!
Favorite french food: pain au chocolat – yum! Can’t wait to try out your recipe for it.
Had dinner this weekend at UNA – fabulous! Love the atmosphere of that place.
Dinner last night was similar to dinner for the last two weeks: it was built around fresh Ontario asparagus. The asparagus is wonderful. I have had steamed asparagus; lemon-butter asparagus; roasted asparagus; parmesan-roasted asparagus; asparagus brunch bread; and mushroom-ricotta-asparagus pasta. Last night was pasta with tomatoes and asparagus on the side.
Speaking to librarians! I am a librarian who seriously envies her Alberta colleagues.
Dinner was pork tenderloin cut in medallions and sauted in butter and oil with mushrooms and a little white wine, leftover quinoa salad. Simple and reasonable quick. Love the idea of yogurt and chocolate
That sounds yummy! I haven’t been doing much cooking myself lately (been out of town) but my husband made something good last night for when we got home. He just made beef fajita filling, but he did it in the crockpot.
He precooked the beef, then I think he just threw everything else in the crockpot and let it simmer all day. Turned out great, and he didn’t have to worry about trying to time something for when we got home (right at our toddler’s bedtime) – so we could just feed her and throw her in bed immediately.
New ideas for familiar food? I had a delicious strawberry soup starter for dinner at a Nanaimo friend’s house. I told her it would have made a great salad dressing on greens as I have a similar recipe for that!
I saw that book on the shelves, too. We had beef pies and roasted potatoes, ice cream and cherries.
Last night’s dinner was a celebratory event for a sweet Parisian friend who is town. Menu was seared Qualicum scallops with asparagus, morels and cream, a beet and arugula salad with truffle goat cheese and Boeuf Bourguignon a la Julia Child!
I don’t want to wean my self of wine!! Love it too much 🙂
Dinner last night was butter chicken, rice and peas.
I had the brilliant idea of making butter chicken on Friday knowing we’d need food when we came in from the ferry on Sunday night. This butter chicken recipe is ultra quick and easy because it uses powdered spices ONLY. But by Sunday night, 48 hours in the fridge had morphed it from butter chicken to more complex curry chicken. Still delicious… so of course now I. thinking cook once eat twice; eat it right away as butter chicken and later in the week it’s completely different!
Well, dinner last night was homemade chicken nuggets with veggies and dip. Tonight is roasted sausages and potatoes (in the oven right now and inspired by your day 242 post, by the way). And weaning myself off of red wine? Ne-ver. 🙂
I recently eturned from a trip to France. I ate so well. Lots of duck a regional specialty and ilse de floatant (kind of an angel food cake in custard). Prunes are also a regional specialty and tonight for a starter I am making bacon wrapped prunes. Should shock my husband who never knows what he is coming home to eat.
Dinner? Double thick pork chops rubbed with bbq rub, seared and blackened then given a splash of bouillon, covered and popped in the oven to cook away beside the brown & wild rice cassarole with onion & mushrooms, with shanghai bok choy, red pepper slivers onion and garlic all stir fried and served as well. Yum Yum Yum – and enough for meals BOTH Sat and Sun! Woould love to have the SKinnny French Person’s cookbook if it’s not too late to be considered – the choc and yog sounds like a good one – and lots of interesting possibilities(like pineapple chunks under the choc? Or raspberries? Or…..??? The mind reels!
I don’t get it – why would you want to wean yourself off of cheezies and red wine? 🙂
My fat pants, which are now becoming tight, want me to lay off the cheezies and wine!
homemade Pizza – used pannini bread for crust – YUM
This makes me wish I kept cream on hand, as I have the other two ingredients. Something sweet would be so nice right now.
what is this balkan yogurt you guys speak of??
I’m not sure what Cheezies are, but I imagine maybe they’re cheesy crackers?
I’m absolutely obsessed with cheese and crackers with wine, and I consume the combination every night that I don’t work. It’s probably why I can’t fit into my clothes. So I’ve decided that there is no cure, and I’ll just enjoy my cheese and crackers.
Last night’s dinner was oven baked fried chicken with carrots and coleslaw. Favorite French food? That’s not fair! If I had to choose just one I think it would be crepes – ham and cheese or nutella or lemon and sugar or… And I wouldn’t bother with the weaning off red wine and I’m guessing the cheezies are Canadian – like Cheetos?
I made paneer! this afternoon while preparing for my classes tomorrow (in one class we’re studying THE 100-MILE DIET this week and next), and then for supper I made saag paneer. I’ve never even had paneer before, let alone made it (extremely easy). Delicious. Though I think it would be just as good with a little less than 3/4 cup cream. The recipe is in the January issue of CHATELAINE.
Re: Cheezies. My rule is I can only eat them if I’m on a long road trip.
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