Lemon, Basil and Parma Ham Risotto

This is a delicious recipe that takes hardly no time at all. I'm sure pure foodies will dispute my cooking method for risotto but when a busy working girl needs to eat, fold the washing, read her emails and save the world after work something has to give. 
This fabulous way of cooking risotto is so simple and gives great results I'm sure you'll be convinced of changing. Or if making risotto has always scared you, I'm now giving you the keys to success!
Simple ingredients, simple method, simply successful.

You say tomatoe, I say tomato...tart

It's been awhile I know. I'd like to tell you that it was because I was so busy cooking but alas no. It's more like work, the thing I do to help pay for the food we eat, that has kept me out of the kitchen.  
It's time to redress the balance!
Just look at this gorgeous red tomato tart, would you? 

Doesn't it make you want to eat one right now, or maybe tomorrow for dinner? It won't take you long and there are some lovely tomatoes in the markets (in the northern hemisphere) at the moment. 
This will be a regular on our summer menu this year. You can taste the sunshine in the tomatoes.
I adapted the recipe from Joanne Harris, the talented writer who wrote Chocolate, The Lollipop Shoes and Blackberry Wine to name just a few. She also co-wrote several cookbooks which give a delightful insight into French cuisine.
Sorry to disappoint some of you but I really did buy ready-rolled pastry for this one.  Feel free to make your own at home but I was too busy to make my own...honest!

Une Tarte de Salade - in aid of A21

What a great night we had with the first of the Atelier de Cuisine A21 for May. 8 gorgeous people turned up for a night filled with fun and laughter and a lot of good food.

Of course.

Enjoy the photos - we hope you can join us at the next one - and the recipe, courtesy of Jon the chef, for the Tarte de Salade that is out-of-this-world good. 

The girls enjoying their hard work - Chocolate textured layered Cake

Hard at work concentrating on sauté-ing the garlic and onion

'Look what I can do!'

Atelier de Cuisine A21 for May

After the fun of our last Cooking Workshop, thanks to the talents of Jon, we've organised three more for the month of May. I'm excited to have chef Ry join the cause and donate his time and talent to Atelier #3, and Adeline our master of macaroons for Atelier #2. I am very enthusiastic about the endless possibilities before us. As mentioned before all money from these workshops go to A21 to support their efforts in rescuing victims of Human Trafficking. People, we can't ignore this.

Check out our menus below and see what fun we are anticipating for the coming month. We've got a fun idea for Mothers Day. We're learning how to make macaroons and then giving them away to beautiful mummies for Mothers Day. 

Inbetween seasons with a green bean salad

The great debate is on. Is it time to change one's wardrobe from winter to summer? Is it too early?  Will I leave the house one crisp morning next week and wish my jumper was not vacuumed-packed in the basement? Typical parisian apartments are rather small and one is required to rotate winter and summer wardrobes as there is not usually enough room for a bigger closet. 

In the kitchen my recipes and menus are mimicking the change to warmer days. It's time to put away thoughts of tartiflettes, casseroles and heart warming soups and look towards summer produce and flavours. I'm eagerly awaiting the nectarines, peaches and fresh French cherries, iced tea on the terrace, a cold beer after a day in the sun.

Saturday's Brunch and Lemon Basil muffins

I love Saturdays. Don't you? 
Today 6 of my lovely girlfriends came over for brunch.  
On the menu : Bacon and eggs, Cherry and Vanilla jam + ricotta tartines, Lemon Basil muffins
If you ever do a brunch you should include these Lemon Basil muffins on your table. My girlfriends asked to take home the ones we didn't eat. They are that good.

Don't be put off by the ingredients. It's not everyday you put basil, yes basil the green herb, in your sweet muffins, but trust me - it works.
They are themselves a reason to put on a brunch chez toi. So gather some girlfriends and enjoy a lazy Saturday brunch. 

how to cook and save the world at the same time

Yes - it is possible to do both at once!  Several things have changed my life lately thanks to a book and video. 

Half the Sky is written by a husband and wife Pulitzer Prize winning team about the basic state of women in the world today. It has broken my heart and warmed my heart and made me laugh, cry and ache all at once. You must read it.

The video is by Christine Caine about the organisation A21's efforts to help rescue victims from the horror of human trafficking.   

After reading and watching these I know that this is something I cannot or rather we cannot afford to ignore. 

So, after hearing your constant requests for 'please help me to cook' we put together a Cooking Workshop that supports A21 and the work they do. You learn to cook something delicious and you help rescue someone from a terrible situation. Pretty neat huh?! (not cool that people are hurt and broken but pretty cool that we can help them)

My lovely friend Jon offered his professional talent for the evening and 8 gorgeous participants showed up to offer their support to A21, ready at the same time to make some delicious desserts. 

Click to see some photos of the fun :

(We'll be doing more of these so watch this space for information)