all the recipes

quick & easy «bolognese» sauce with beef & mushrooms
quick & easy «bolognese» sauce with beef & mushrooms

And all of this in under 60 minutes, with enough for this weekend’s dinner and also enough to store in jars in the refrigerator for another dinner or two, because this is a simplified version of a 6-hour «ragù alla bolognese» that uses only one type of meat this time, but still packs immense flavour because of...

09.12.2023
autumn mini-cakes with molasses & spices
autumn mini-cakes with molasses & spices

A long time ago, I read a wonderful book given to me by a friend and in this book was a recipe from the 1900’s for a “groaning cake” to be prepared by a future mother when her first labor pangs appeared and completed and baked by the accompanying women; I hope my modern-day reinterpretation of this spicy, fruity, spongey and...

11.11.2023
small-batch «pasteis de nata» sweet egg custard tartlets
small-batch «pasteis de nata» sweet egg custard tartlets

You know those Portuguese puff-pastry & sweetened custard tartlets that we all love and buy when we can find them, but never make at home ? Well maybe we all can all give it a try now finally ! I’m not saying that this is the traditional way, but it might be the only way to kindly & encouragingly nudge you into making them soon,...

14.10.2023
hearty back-to-school scones with dried fruits & nuts & seeds
hearty back-to-school scones with dried fruits & nuts & seeds

Here are little squares of nourishing morning comfort food with no need to add little side plates of butter and/or jam or anything else that is sweet and creamy, because these hearty and pre-filled dried fruits and nuts and seeds scones are all that you’ll need to get you through your day, at least until lunch time. I obviously know that...

16.09.2023
«moutabal» roasted eggplant dip
«moutabal» roasted eggplant dip

Moutabal is a Middle Eastern and more precisely a Levantine appetizer (Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asian region), made with roasted smoky eggplants, lemon juice, garlic, tahini, yogurt salt & pepper and nothing else ! I’ve tested different ratios of ingredients and have concluded that LESS IS MORE and I’ll explain...

19.08.2023
chicken thighs & rice pilaf casserole with lemon & oregano & green peppers
chicken thighs & rice pilaf casserole with lemon & oregano & green peppers

This one-casserole dish, that is started off on the stove top and finished up in the oven, celebrates a variety of mediterranean flavors such as oregano, lemon, onions, garlic and especially green peppers and the trick is to end up with crispy and juicy chicken thighs and firm (thus not mushy or sticky) flavorful rice pilaf, so follow my tips...

25.11.2023
«piperopita» filo rolls with bell peppers & feta cheese
«piperopita» filo rolls with bell peppers & feta cheese

It’s a rarity but a personal favorite ! You are all mostly familiar with tiropita (only cheese pie) and spanakopita (spinach & cheese pie) and perhaps kremidopita (onion & cheese pie) but PIPEROPITA (sweet peppers & cheese pie) exists too, even though I didn’t know it myself but my love for peppers has no limits and it was...

28.10.2023
beer-marinated & fried fresh anchovies
beer-marinated & fried fresh anchovies

Fried fish evokes images and scents and thus memories of the summer season, alongside a bright sun, sandy beaches, crashing waves, warm breezes, clear and starry nights and easy-living and yet, anchovies are available all year long, so why not take advantage of this inexpensive delight all year long ? Anchovies, especially the smaller ones, are...

30.09.2023
stewed okra in tomato sauce
stewed okra in tomato sauce

Called “bamies latheres me domata” in Greek, which means oil-braised okra with tomatoes, it’s most often prepared as a summer vegetarian dish that I adore but rarely ever eat here in France; but since I’m heading to Montreal soon to see my family, I hope I can prepare this stew with my mom ! Okra, also called gumbo or...

02.09.2023
marinated & braised & grilled lamb belly strips
marinated & braised & grilled lamb belly strips

Lamb belly, also known as breast of lamb, is rich and flavoursome, yet an underrated and thus inexpensive cut of lamb, due to its small size and higher fat content, yet providing excellent results when oven-roasted or barbecued with herbs, lemon and spices, if correctly prepared beforehand, so here’s a...

05.08.2023