Mashed Purple Potatoes

My husband Lulu and I are spending the holidays with my family and friends in Paris. We just arrived and have enjoyed our first couple of days in the City of Lights, despite the cold weather. The sights are wonderful, but the real treat is the wonderful products and ingredients that France has to offer. We went to an open air market this morning and brought back some Vitelotte potatoes.

You might know them as purple Peruvian fingerling potatoes, négresse or truffe de Chine. They are small-sized waxy potatoes, with a skinny and oblong shape. The flesh is dark-violet blue surrounded with a white rim. The texture is quite flour-y and have a different flavor than regular potatoes. I prepared them by boiling, mashing and then mixing the potatoes with butter, cream and milk. I flavored the mashed potatoes with blue cheese and dill. It was a delicious way to start our Parisian vacation!

Roasted Garlic and Cheese Creme Brulee Recipe

If you go through the previous crème brûlée recipes I've shared so far, this savory version will probably raise some eyebrows. It's not that I've run out of ideas for sweet crèmes brûlées; there are plenty more to come. I've just been toying with the idea of making a savory one because I think the creamy custard and crunchy top create a perfect canvas for savory ingredients.

I chose roasted garlic, goat cheese and herbs because they are intensely flavorful and make an excellent camouflage for the egg flavor. For the top, I mixed parmesan cheese and a bit of sugar and then took my blow torch to the mixture.

Savory crèmes brûlées can be quite an original appetizer to serve at your Christmas party. They are uncommon enough to help mark just about any special occasion though.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

Cordon bleu is a French chicken dish. I used boneless chicken thighs but you could use chicken breasts as well or even turkey. First, the meat is sliced in half, horizontally, so the chicken can be stuffed. A thin slice of cold cut smoked turkey (or traditionally, ham) and cheese are inserted into the slit. Then, the piece of chicken is transferred from an egg batter to a breading dish.

I pan-fried the chicken and finished the cooking in the oven. The chicken came out crispy on the outside and moist on the inside with cheese oozing onto the pan. The smoked turkey adds saltiness to the dish and pairs perfectly with the melting cheese and the milder chicken.

Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Acorn Squash

Every winter season, I look forward to the wide availability of Brussels sprouts and acorn squash. I prepare them many different ways, but I make it a point to never overwhelm the distinct flavors of these seasonal veggies.

This time around, I steamed the vegetables until tender, then sautéed them in a little butter until caramelized. Finally, I glazed them in balsamic-maple syrup. The children love this dish because of its intriguing flavors; the sweet, tart and savory notes with a hint of maple in the background got very positive reviews.

Gratin de Christophine (Chayote Squash Recipe)

Gratin de christophine originates from the French island of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Whether it's called chayote in English, christophine in Creole and French or trái su su in Vietnamese, the vegetable is from the same family as squash. I steam them with apples for added sweetness, then mix in creamed pearl onion sauce and finally bake until golden.

If you're looking to spice up your Christmas meal, you should try this Creole dish. It’s familiar and fresh all at the same time.