Last fall, just before beginning a French bistro cooking class at the Hillsdale General Store , a woman walked in wearing stripes and a black beret, her berry red lips matching the silk scarf tied artfully around her neck. We said hello and she introduced herself as Jamie, but we didn’t get to chat until class wound down, when I learned her love for all things French and, from her friend sitting beside her, that her book, Parisian Charm School , would be coming out in January. We stayed in touch, and last month I made a few nibbles for her book launch celebration at the Chatham Bookstore.
That evening, as Jamie chatted about the charm of her French grandmother, of a mysterious Madame M., and of many other French women she had befriended over the years, her guests sipped on sparkling wine, listening intently to her every word. I loved everything she said as well, most especially that charm has nothing to do with money or how pretty you are or how many outfits you have. She demonstrated this by pulling out a small collection of scarves, draping or wrapping or tying each one differently, matching each with a different beret, observing as she switched accessories how each changed the look and feel of her outfit.
I haven’t made it too far into PCS yet, but I loved two early paragraphs:
“French women have explained to me that part of their heritage is to “put a flower on it…” This means that even if your jacket is worn and slightly tattered—as many of the French women’s jackets were after the war—you can still put a little flower in your lapel. In fact, to wear a flower in this instance is an act of courage and a show of defiance.
Perhaps this is why a French woman believes it’s important to always dress nicely, even if she is staying at home, but especially when she leaves the home. French women know that when a woman is well groomed and wearing something thoughtful and charming she is a delight to all those around her. And most important, she delights herself.”
Note to self : brush hair; change out of yoga pants.
Friends, it was such a treat to hear Jamie talk and to meet her many friends and fans. In regard to the nibbles, given my lack of kitchen situation, I kept it simple, purchasing a few cheeses and olives, making bread , of course, and candied pepitas , which I’m realizing more and more are so nice to have on hand: they are a nice addition to any cheese board, lovely in salads , and, as here, delicious sprinkled over endive boats with pear and blue cheese. The filled spears get drizzled with a shallot vinaigrette and taste fresh and bright for being wintry in spirit. It’s a classic combination that would work well in salad form, too, but there is a certain, if I may, je ne sais quoi about the single-leaf presentation. Bon Appetit!
Description
This is a classic combination and tastes fresh and bright for being wintry in spirit.
When I made these for the Parisian Charm School book celebration, I used an Amish blue cheese that tastes milder than many blue cheeses — I can’t remember its name, but it’s readily available. A number of people who said they typically don’t like blue cheese, said they liked this one—in fact, they were surprised it was blue cheese. If you don’t like blue cheese, you can use goat cheese or feta or really anything you like.
The candied pepitas and dressing can be made days in advance. Store the pepitas in an air-tight container at room temperature; store the dressing in the fridge. The endive and pear should be sliced closer to serving time.
- 2 to 3 heads endive, separated into leaves
- 1 to 2 pears, thinly sliced into matchsticks
- blue cheese, see notes
- candied pepitas
- orange-shallot vinaigrette
- chives, finely minced
Arrange endive spears on a platter. Fill each one with a pinch of the thinly sliced pears. Crumble in some blue cheese. Spoon over some of the orange-shallot vinaigrette. Crumble the candied pepitas over top. Garnish with chives.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Arrange on Platter
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is a classic combination and tastes fresh and bright for being wintry in spirit.
When I made these for the Parisian Charm School book celebration, I used an Amish blue cheese that tastes milder than many blue cheeses — I can’t remember its name, but it’s readily available. A number of people who said they typically don’t like blue cheese, said they liked this one—in fact, they were surprised it was blue cheese. If you don’t like blue cheese, you can use goat cheese or feta or really anything you like.
The candied pepitas and dressing can be made days in advance. Store the pepitas in an air-tight container at room temperature; store the dressing in the fridge. The endive and pear should be sliced closer to serving time.
- 2 to 3 heads endive, separated into leaves
- 1 to 2 pears, thinly sliced into matchsticks
- blue cheese, see notes
- candied pepitas
- orange-shallot vinaigrette
- chives, finely minced
Arrange endive spears on a platter. Fill each one with a pinch of the thinly sliced pears. Crumble in some blue cheese. Spoon over some of the orange-shallot vinaigrette. Crumble the candied pepitas over top. Garnish with chives.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Arrange on Platter
- Cuisine: American
Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2018/02/08/endive-boats-with-pear-blue-cheese-shallot-vinaigrette/
Early last year my aunt Marcy (from Vermont with the dogs and the spit ), became obsessed with making homemade crackers in the fashion of Raincoast Crisps . Exhaustive online research coupled with extensive kitchen experimentation culminated in a recipe she deemed worthy of disseminating to the family. Before long, the crackers began appearing on cheese boards across the country: at my mother’s house in CT, at my in-laws just a few blocks away, at my sister’s down state.
These crackers are as delicious as pretty, and though the thought of making crackers from scratch may feel like too much trouble— what’s wrong with store-bought?! —I’m here to tell you, they are worth the effort. First off, they’re easy: you mix the batter in one bowl. Second, you can take liberties with the suggested ingredients: I used whole flax seed because I didn’t have ground. I used sliced almonds in place of whole. I didn’t toast the pumpkin seeds. I imagine pistachios and craisins and millet and countless other combinations of dried fruit, seeds, and nuts would work beautifully. Third, one recipe yields 240—TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY—crackers.
These crackers are baked twice, like biscotti, and after their first bake, they have to chill for three hours in the freezer. Again, this may feel like a pain, but it turns out to be a boon: you can stash the mini loaves in the freezer for months, and bake the crackers as needed. If I were really on my game from here on out, I would always have a supply of these loaves tucked away in the freezer ready to be sliced and baked at a moment’s notice for an impromptu get together or to bring as a gift to a host.
Real talk: had I never tasted these crackers, I likely would have little interest in making them—I’ve never thought twice about buying crackers. But having seen how pretty these crackers look on a board, having tasted how delicious they are with countless cheeses, having observed other people’s reactions to them, I couldn’t not give them a go. These crackers steal the show, elevating a cheese board from hum-ho to unforgettable. If you’re up for a little weekend project, I can assure you this one will not disappoint.
Here’s how to make them: Gather your ingredients:
Stir together flour, salt, and baking soda:
Add the dried fruit, nuts, and seeds:
Toss to combine:
Add the buttermilk, maple syrup, and brown sugar:
Mix:
Fill mini loaf pans with batter:
Bake loaves for 25 minutes:
Cool completely, then freeze for at least 3 hours—freezing allows you to slice the crackers thinly:
Cut the loaves as thinly as possible:
You should get about 30 slices per loaf:
Bake until …
golden and crisp.
Break out some cheeses; here’s a selection of cheeses, kindly sent to me by Cypress Grove : Purple Haze, Lamb Chopper, Midnight Moon, and Humboldt Fog. Humboldt Fog, one of my favorites, can be found fairly easily; the others may take some searching. Lamb Chopper is another longtime favorite.
Arrange cheeses on a board with fruit, jam, quince paste ( homemade or otherwise), and candied pepitas . Invite over the neighborhood. Have a great weekend!
Description
Note: You need one of these 8-loaf Pans or something similar.
I have a set of mini loaf pans that I think would also work, and though you would get a different shape, you could probably use muffin tins—your cross sections will be less loaf like, but that’s not important. You also could use disposable mini loaf pans if you don’t feel like investing in one of these other options at the moment.
I took a number of liberties with the recipe: used sliced in place of whole almonds, didn’t toast the pepitas, used whole flax seed because I didn’t have ground and didn’t feel like making the effort to grind the flax seed I had on hand. It all worked out … I think this is a forgiving recipe.
If you feel like assembling a cheese board, these are nice additions: grapes, jams, quince paste, pears, clementines (more for the visual than anything else). Candied pepitas are so nice on a cheese board as well.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup whole unblanched almonds or slice almonds
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 4 tablespoons ground flax seed or whole flax seed
- 4 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 4 tablespoons pepita seeds, slightly toasted (or not)
- Maldon salt for sprinkling
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 8-loaf mini loaves pan or something similar (see notes) with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add almonds, raisins, flax, sesame seeds, and pepitas. Toss with your hands to incorporate.
- Add buttermilk, maple syrup, and brown sugar. Stir with a spatula or whisk to combine. Divide batter into 8-loaf pan, and bake 25 minutes or until firm.
- Cool 15 minutes. Remove loaves from pan and allow to rest until totally cool. Transfer loaves to a ziplock bag and freeze for at least three hours and up to a month.
- Use a very sharp knife, and cut into thin 1/16-inch slices—you should get about 30 crackers per loaf. Sprinkle lightly with Maldon salt.
- Bake at 300ºF on ungreased cookie sheet 15 minutes and then flip crackers and bake 10 minutes on other side until dark golden. Allow to cool until very crisp before putting in jars.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Crackers
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
