Alice Waters' Ratatouille

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Ratatouille and I have a troubled past. I love the stuff, but hate the time and effort required to make classic versions of the dish. Until recently, I used Julia Child's recipe and while it makes a wonderful ratatouille, its assembly calls for separate browning of all the ingredients and that, quite frankly, is a bother. As it happened, I needed a vegan addition to my French-themed Christmas Eve menu. While ratatouille was a seamless fit, I had neither the time nor space for Julia's version, so I decided to give Alice Waters' take on the dish a try. Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Nice. The dish was first made to use the abundance of vegetables that were available at the end of summer. The vegetables were tossed and cooked in the heady olive oil of the region and eventually a formula of sorts codified preparation of the dish. Interestingly, the word ratatouille actually comes from the French term "touiller," which means to toss food. These days, the vegetables are available year round and serving ratatouille is no longer dependent on the season. It makes a great side dish, and when served with rice or polenta it becomes a terrific meatless entree. Alice Waters' version does not require separate browning of the vegetables and it comes together quite easily. If you have not already done so, I hope you will give this lighter, fresher version of the dish a try. The basil gives the dish a uniquely fresh flavor that I know you will enjoy. Here, thanks to Food52, is how her version of the stew is made.

Vive la France - My Recipe Rotation - French Chicken Stew

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I fortunately live in an area where fennel is plentiful and inexpensive. That makes it possible to prepare this dish without having to surrender a king's ransom. Truth be told, I like this riff on bouillabaisse so much that I would probably make it even if I had to pay an exorbitant prices for the fennel. The stew is easy to make and I know those of you who give it a try it will be smitten. Here's what I had to say when it first appeared on One Perfect Bite.

The Long and Short of It - My Recipe Rotation - Short Ribs Côtes du Rhône

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of my favorite recipes. It's kissing cousin is, of course, beef bourguignonne, but this luxury version produces aromas that will drive you wild. Meaty short ribs replace stew meat. The ribs, along with some vegetables and herbs, soak for a day in a full bodied, deep crimson Côtes-du-Rhône, guaranteeing they'll be happily soused when they hit the saute pan. The ribs are browned in bacon drippings, then slowly braised at a temperature low enough to melt connective tissue while still allowing the beef to retain it's shape and glorious texture. The other usual suspects associated with bourguignonne - mushrooms and pearl onions - are assembled and tossed in the mix just before serving. Did I mention bacon? It's there, too. The braising liquid is reduced by half then used to nap the ribs, mushrooms and onions which are served atop a bed of noodles. Extra sauce is passed at the table. This is like no stew you have ever had. I hope you'll try it.

Easy Alsaetian Chicken - My Recipe Rotation - Chicken with Riesling

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Try though I might, I have yet to get a decent, appealing picture of this famous Alsaetian dish. You'll have to trust me when I say its flavor far outshines its often dowdy appearance. This is one of my favorite ways to prepare chicken and I like it far more from than the more popular red wine braise of the region. Obviously, the wine and the mushrooms are what give this dish its great flavor and it is best not to stint on either. You'll want to find a reasonably dry, full-bodied Riesling. If that is not possible, use a really good dry French vermouth and work with that. I often use vermouth in cooking because we are not big drinkers and I usually do not have a half empty bottle of white wine stashed in my refrigerator. Because it is fortified vermouth lasts pretty much forever, and opened bottles of it can be kept without fear of it becoming vinegar. This is a wonderful dish that I know you will enjoy. Here are my original thoughts about the dish.

Bob's in the Kitchen - Braised Pork with Cream and Cabbage

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of our favorite dishes. It is a French peasant braise that is surprisingly easy to make and it makes a great dinner for a wet and windy evening. From start to finish, it takes about an hour to get this casserole to the table, and while it would be terrific served with mashed potatoes on the side, I used noodles because they were easier to make. Those of you who are still fighting the winter blahs will appreciate the hearty goodness of this meal. Directions for making it can be found here.

Bouillabaisse de Poulet - Away A While Recipe Favorites

Bouillabaisse de Poulet

French Chicken Stew

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Fall is wonderful in its abundance. In a scant few weeks prices will again begin to rise, but for now, the fruits and vegetables with which I love to cook are affordable and encourage generosity in the kitchen. Once our first rains fall, I put away the recipes of summer and replace them with those that speak to cooler weather. It's time for robust soups and stews and casseroles. It is especially time for bouillabaisse. Most of us think of bouillabaisse as a heady Mediterranean stew that's made with fish and served with grilled bread and thickened with rouille, a red pepper mayonnaise. Julia Child and Patricia Wells both take the elements of that classic bouillabaise, but replace the fish with chicken and make what they call a "bouillabaisse de poulet." The results are delicious, perfect for family and friends who enjoy checkered tablecloth fare. The dish should be assembled a full 24 hours before serving. It takes that long for the flavors of the Pernod and fennel to permeate the chicken. The good news is that all the work is done the day before the dish is cooked and you really are free to enjoy the company of your family and friends. Like many old French recipes, this one, designated peasant fare, requires the purse of a prince to assemble. Pernod, fennel bulbs and saffron come dear, but they are absolutely necessary for the success of this dish. For what it's worth, this is one of my ten favorite meals. If you decide to make this, your mindset must be "in for a penny, in for a pound." You will not regret it. You can find the recipe, here. Bon appetit!

                    

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Gougères - Cheese Puffs - Away A While Recipe Favorites

Gougères - Cheese Puffs

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...These light and tender morsels are in danger of extinction. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help keep this recipe relevant and make sure that these silky, egg rich pastries remain on our tables for years to come. Please understand, I have nothing against salsa, or chips and dips and pesto. I've been known to down a beer or two and confess that beer nuts are not safe in my presence. There are, however, times when I want something a bit more classic, something with culinary chops and a history that commends its presence on my table. The French gougères has much to recommend it. These savory cheese puffs are made with the same pate a choux dough that is used to prepare cream puffs and eclairs, but the addition of cheese or other savories make them a wonderful appetizer or hors d'oeuvres to serve with wine or champagne. Because they are so easy to make, I also serve them with more pedestrian meals of soup or stew. I must warn you that they are additive and the puffs should come with a "once bitten" warning attached to them. I've just finished making a gazillion of these to share with friends tomorrow. I know they will love them and I suspect you will too. These are best served directly from the oven, but I understand that that is not always possible, so I have a few tips to share with you. The dough can be refrigerated for a day before it is formed and baked. Once baked, the puffs can be frozen until needed. Frozen puffs should be thawed and reheated in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes before serving. If you plan to bake them ahead of time, make a slit in the bottom of each puff and turn them upside down to let moisture escape. I make it a point to reheat the gougères before serving them. Five minutes in a 350 degree oven does the trick. While I prefer to use Gruyere cheese, cheddar or blue cheese can be substituted and, if you wish, a filling can be piped into the puffs. I bake my trays of gougère on the lowest rack of the oven and I only bake one tray at a time. It may be my imagination, but I think the puffs get better lift that way. I really hope you will give this recipe a try. I like to share my addictions with others. The recipe for these simple cheese puffs can be found here.

                    

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               Poppy Seed Snack Cake                                                Creamy Fennel Soup