Grilled Belgian Endive
Who knew salad ingredients would taste so good grilled? A simple and elegant accompaniment to any dish. This can be prepared on the outdoor grill or easily made up on a stove top grill pan.
Quatre Épices – French Four Spice Mix from the Auberge
The literal translation of quatre épices is four spices; however, quatre épices rarely contains JUST four spices, but can have anything up to five or six spices in the mixture! This is my own version of quatre épices, a spice mixture that I find invaluable in the French kitchen, especially for charcuterie such as terrines, pates, sausages and rillettes. This spice mix is also that quintessential ingredient when added to deep, dark slow cooked beef and game dishes, especially when they contain wine. There is a school of thought that suggests the need for a “sweet” quatre épices spice mix as well a “savoury” quatre épices spice mix; I have never bothered to deviate from this basic recipe, which is equally delicious in savoury dishes (as mentioned above), and when used with moderation in sweet puddings, rich cakes and biscuits. My recipe contains five spices and will keep for a several weeks in an airtight tin or jar. This spice mix also makes a thoughtful gift for a foodie friend or host and hostess!
Belgian Endive and Apple Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette
This is a very colorful, simple yet tasty salad which would be perfect served with a holiday meal or anytime you have a craving for cranberries! I discovered this recipe in Bon Appetit, 1999.
Red Tomato Chutney
This sweet-tart chutney combines summer tomatoes with autumn-flavored cranberries, making it an awesome condiment for late-summer and fall barbecues. Spoon it over burgers and/or grilled chicken. When the weather gets cooler, toss a little chutney with roasted vegetables, such as carrots, onions, or sweet potatoes. Mix it with mayonnaise to make a dip for raw or cooked vegetables. This is also good over omelets or scrambled eggs! Adapted from Cooking Light.
Belgium Frites(French Fries)
A typical dish from Belgium, usually served in paper cones along with mussels. Adapted from About.com.
