French Classics

I found a few treasures at an estate sale this morning. Mastering the Art of French Cooking and Larousse Gastronomique.

Each book was $1, in great good condition and definitely in my budget!

Both classics have been reprinted, revised and updated multiple times over the years so I know that there may be newer items in the more recent versions but I feel that these books should be as close to the original as possible. I enjoy old books where the original owner/cook writes notes in the margins and have old recipes torn from magazines hidden in the pages!

The copy I purchased of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck was the 13th printing in 1966. This cookbook is what inspired Julie Powell to cook all 524 recipes in 365 days. She wrote about it on her blog, wrote a book, and now a movie based on the book will be in theatres August 7th! It will be fun to make some authentic French recipes from the legendary Julia Child!


Larousse Gastronomique is the encyclopedia of food, wine and cookery with 8,500 recipes 1,000 illustrations and 1,100 pages. Originally in French and published in 1938, my copy is the first American edition and was published in 1961. It's an A-Z encyclopedia of food terms, recipes, herbs, history and so much more! Just glancing through I found quite a few terms/herbs/recipes I have never come across. For example: Vierge--Butter mixed with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, all beaten well in a bowl until it becomes frothy. This whipped butter is served with asparagus and other boiled vegetables.

I'm excited to read through and learn more about French cooking, language and traditions!

Cocoa Bean-Pecan Cookies

I'm getting together with some friends a bit later and needed to make something chocolate-y so I decided to try a new cookie. Made with chocolate, pecan and cocoa beans then dipped in chocolate, these cookies are light and have the perfect subtle flavors of chocolate, toffee, coffee and vanilla. Not too sweet but just the right balance.

Cocoa beans, also known as cacao nibs, are the roasted, shelled cacao beans broken down into bite-sized pieces. They are the raw material from which all chocolate is made. They have a nutty, coffee-like flavor and are very crunchy.


Cocoa Bean-Pecan Cookies
Adapted from Bittersweet by Alice Medrich
Makes about 48 2" Cookies

1/4 cup pecan halves
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa nibs/beans
1/4 cup finely chopped dark chocolate
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk or dark chocolate, chopped and melted

Preheat oven to 325. Spread pecans on cookie sheet. Toast in oven for 7-8 minutes until fragrant and lightly colored. Let cool, then finely chop in food processor.

Combine the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla in medium bowl and beat until smooth and creamy but not fluffy. Stir in the pecans, cocoa nibs and chopped chocolate. Add the flour all at once and beat on low speed just until the flour is fully incorporated.

Divide dough in half and form into two flat circles. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. (The dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.)

Preheat oven to 350. Remove one circle from refrigerator and let sit until soft enough to roll but still firm. Roll the dough out between two pieces of wax paper to 1/4" thickness. Using 2" cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Re roll dough and cut out more cookies.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until light golden brown at the edges. Let cool completely on wire rack.

Dip half the cookie into the melted chocolate. Place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper to harden.

For best flavor and texture, store cookies in an airtight container for at least 24 hours before serving.

Featured on "The Kitchen!"

I'm so excited! I submitted my backyard vegetable garden to the Apartment Therapy My Great Outdoors 2009 and I was featured on The Kitchn a few days ago!

Check out my garden here: The Kitchn

July 4th Fun

What a great 4th of July! Lots of new and old friends joined us this year to play in the bocce ball tournament and enjoy some wonderful food. Everyone brought their own meats for the grill, fruit, homemade salsa and a large assortment of delicious side salads! I love to see the different types of food everyone brings and everything I tried was great!

The bocce tournament lasted about 6 hours (sorry, I don't have any pictures of the game or winners!) and those of us who weren't playing were enjoying watching the game, chatting and entertaining the kids. We all had a great time and can't wait for next year!

Chipotle-Jalapeno Bacon Cheeseburger

This year we decided on making burgers and when I found this recipe I knew it would be a keeper! And it was incredible. A jalapeno burger topped with chipotle-cilantro sauce, bacon, muenster cheese and lettuce on a panini roll.

I've been inspired by the many dessert bars I've seen on numerous blogs so I decided that I wanted to do my own! Jars filled with red candy and lots of other red, white and blue goodies.

Dessert Table in Red, White and Blue
Cherries, white chocolate covered pretzels, candy jars filled with hot tamales, assorted chocolates, swedish fish, strawberry & pepper mint gum, raspberry-pecan shortbread cookies

Hope you had a great 4th of July!