Gratin Dauphinois (Scalloped Potatoes)

Some of the tastiest things in life are made of few simple ingredients. Gratin dauphinois is one of those dishes. It consists of just potatoes, cream, cheese and butter, with a little salt and fresh cut herbs as garnish. Ok, it's not the healthiest meal in the world but that's why they invented treadmills.

When it comes out of the oven, hissing and bubbling, you and your guests are definitely in for a treat. Having a simple recipe like this gratin dauphinois in your culinary arsenal can help you out when you're pressed for time or when you have unexpected guests, which is often my case.

Garlic Cremini Mushroom Risotto

My hubby is feeling a little under the weather today. I wanted to give him some comfort food. Risotto is one of his favorite dishes; I make it very often when it's cold. It's very creamy, cozy and hearty. The basics of the risotto is always the same, typically you'll add 2 to 3 ingredients to the base to create your own signature risotto. 

Parmesan Puff Pastry Cheese Twists

I had some extra puff pastry dough from yesterday's apple pies, so we decided to make some pre-dinner appetizers to whet the whole family's appetite. It's a crowd-pleasing, ultra-easy recipe that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. It is sure to become one of your staples.

Tarte Amandine (Apple Tart with Almond Cream)

Happy New Year! My resolution for year 2009 is to post a new recipe everyday. I decided to start with a tarte amandine because one of the main components of the dish is frangipane, a buttery almond filling. I'm originally from France and frangipane figures heavily into the traditional cake, called Galette des Rois (litterally Kings' Cake), which is served in the month of January to commemorate the Christian Holiday of Epiphany.

My 2009 Resolutions List