Ginger Rice Pudding Recipe

The last time I made mango rice pudding, the little one of the family (she's only 6 years old) complained that she didn't get any. I promised her I'd make some more the following day but I kept forgetting. I finally had time to make some rice pudding today, which I flavored with fresh ginger. Ginger is a very versatile ingredient that can flavor either drinks, savory dishes or desserts.

If you want to serve this at the end of a dinner party, I would recommend using tuile bowls filled with a layer of ginger chocolate mousse and topped with the ginger rice pudding. It's a great way to serve traditional family desserts and turn them into elegant desserts.

In case you were wondering, I made sure everyone got their fair share of rice pudding this time. That means I’m going to have to find a new excuse the next time I have a craving for rice pudding!

Blueberry Crepe Recipe

As I told you yesterday, I made crêpes as an experiment to see how well they keep in the freezer. Unfortunately, the crêpes haven’t been able to make it to leftover status, and here's a big part of  the reason why. After making savory crêpes filled with beets and goat cheese, we filled the remaining crêpes with blueberries, vanilla whipped cream and guava sauce. Needless to say, they went fast!

Crêpes are a quick and easy dessert if you can manage to store some in the freezer. If you are looking for a sweet way to end dinner, just pair crêpes with fresh fruits, chocolate sauce, other fruit preserves and whipped cream (or yogurt). You just can’t go wrong.

Beet and Goat Cheese Crepe Recipe

I love the combination of beets and goat cheese. They pair wonderfully, and I’ve used them in many recipes. I had both ingredients on hand today, so I mixed them together and stuffed them in crêpes.

Making crêpe batter is very basic. I first learned how to make crêpes in kindergarten back in France, and I haven't forgotten since then. The quantities go like so: 2 eggs, 250 grams of flour (1-3/4 cups) and ½ liter of milk (2 cups). Allow to rest for a few hours. I then adjust the quantities of liquid by eyeballing until the perfect consistency is reached (see tips).   

Our friend Carole (she is by the way the editor of PhamFatale.com) always sends me wonderful cooking tips along with the corrections of my daily recipes. Carole and her husband David recently hosted a crêpe party at their home. She told me that leftover cooked crêpes store incredibly well in the freezer, which I immediately wanted to try. I’ve made several batches of crêpes since then, but even after my third attempt, no leftovers. What can I say, I live with wolves!

Butternut Squash Olive Oil Muffins

Butternut squash olive oil muffins are moist, sweet little treats. I chose butternut squash as the main flavoring of this muffin batter for two reasons. First, butternut squash is available year-round, and second, its texture is perfect for these sweets. I picked a ripe butternut squash that felt heavy, so the flesh was intense-orange with a sweet and nutty flavor. I steamed the squash, then turned it into a puree. Butternut squash imparts an added natural sweetness similar to sweet potatoes and pumpkin, without being stringy.

I also mixed in chopped dark chocolate for a more decadent effect. And instead of using regular softened butter, I used olive oil for an extra kick of flavor. I baked them in oval mini muffin pans and ended up with 40 muffins, so we took half of the batch to the office in the morning and shared them with Lulu's co-workers. I got back an empty pan, so they must have turned out OK!

Butternut Squash Tagine Recipe

There is a large North African community in France, and as a child I enjoyed many wonderful dishes from the region. The spices are very similar to Indian cuisine but the dishes incorporate sweet flavors, usually in the form of dried fruits. I’ve shared many of these dishes with Lulu, and he’s come to enjoy them as much as I do.

Lulu’s been craving a tagine lately, so today I made a butternut squash version. The squash adds a beautiful color and goes very well with saffron, cinnamon, cumin and ginger. The sweetness of dried plums and sundried tomatoes finished the dish, along with sunflower seeds for added crunch.

Instead of serving it with the usual couscous steamed semolina, I paired it with black rice, which worked wonderfully. To accommodate everyone in my home, I added fried tofu to soak up the delicious sauce for protein. Of course, you could simmer some lamb shanks (my favorite!) or chicken but it would take a lot more time to cook slowly until tender.