Very quick and delicious preparation for gai lan or kai lan. Gai lan is sometimes referred to as Chinese broccoli. The stalks are thinner than regular broccoli and as a bonus you also get to eat beautiful yellow gai lan flowers that are often bundled together. This dish is often served at dim sum restaurants. Cooking time is very, very quick and should not be overcooked.
A springtime treat in France, violet asparagus – gently steamed and then served with hollandaise sauce, divine! All that is needed to accompany this seasonal delicacy is crusty bread and chilled white wine. There are several ways of making this classic French sauce, I give you a very simple method here, and this recipe is well behaved enough to stay warm for up to 30 minutes! There are three types of cultivated asparagus: white, violet and green. The exposure time of asparagus to sunlight determines its colour – under sunlight the white asparagus turns first violet and then green. The cultivation methods applied determine the colour. Green asparagus for example is grown above ground and tastes most similar to the “original” wild asparagus. I like to sprinkle fresh violets from the garden on my asparagus – violets are edible and even if you do not eat them, they make a beautiful garnish! Serves 4 as an appetiser and 2 to 3 as a light meal.
I adore Moules Frites – for me it is quintessential French and Belgian Bistro food at its best – plus I love tactile eating! You can treat yourself to Moules Frites anywhere in France and Belgium, and for most of the year. I often make the “Moules” part at home – Moules Marinière – but now and then, for a treat I also do the “Frites” bit as well……chips or French fries! Serve these with lots of paper towels or napkins, and a glass of chilled white wine would be the perfect accompaniment! I bought special Moules Frites dishes, as shown in the photos, but a couple of bowls would be fine – and don’t forget a large bowl for the shells. If you really want to be 100% authentic, it is de rigueur to serve the frites with mayonnaise my dear…..sinfully good! Vive la France! Historical Note: Did you know that French Fries are really Belgian? Deep-fried chipped potatoes (“fries” in American English; “chips” in British English) are a very popular food item – and one which the Belgians claim to have invented. They are called frieten in Dutch and frites in French, whatever the name, they are my guilty pleasure!
I love Moules/Mussels, plus they are low in fat and high in minerals, making them very healthy! This is my own version of the Traditional French Moules Mariniere. The vermouth adds a complex and sweet taste to these mussels, and the tarragon compliments the vermouth perfectly. These mussels really are fragrant – the whole kitchen is perfumed with the sweet and aromatic smell whilst they are steaming! Serve with good bread and frites (French fries) for a delicious main meal or luncheon dish.
I adore moules, mussels, and this is the classic French recipe for them. Moules Marinières is also commonly known as Sailor’s mussels or Mariner’s mussels. The dish consists of delicately steamed fresh mussels in a white wine, garlic, parsley, butter, onion and cream sauce. Moules Marinières can be served as an appetising starter or even a light main meal. It is delicious served with fresh crusty bread or with frites (chips/fries). There is nothing more mouth-watering than a huge bowl of artistically presented mussels, yet the fun part is eating them. The best way is to use an empty mussel shell as the “spoon” in which to pick the remaining mussels from their shells and then eat them. It’s a brilliant excuse to use your fingers to eat rather than the usual knife and for – very tactile! A traditional French recipe will use butter, however the butter may be substituted for a few tablespoons of olive oil for a healthier option – I sometimes use a mix of butter and olive oil I hope you find the step-by-step photos helpful, this recipe was used in the September 2008 Cooking School for the TOTM – hopefully, the photos will debunk the myth that mussels are hard to prepare and cook, NOT so! Bon Appétit!
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