Feb 06 2008
A Guide to French Cuisine
French cuisine is one of the most popular styles of cooking in the world. One of the best things about French cuisine is that there are so many varieties of food included, and so really, regardless of your personal preference, you will be able to find foods and meals that you enjoy. In particular the ingredients and dishes vary by region.
Normandy for instance is famous for its rich creams and apples, while Brittany is home to crepes. Then there is regional French food as well, which never really goes out of fashion.
The Basics
There are a few things that are important to know about this style of cooking. French cooking is much more than just food it is truly an art form. Anyone can cook French food but only one specially trained by an expert French chef can make great gourmet French food.
French cuisine is considered as being the most refined cuisine in the world and mainly includes breads, pastas, cheeses, desserts, sauces, soups, rice, and herbs.
Cooking Techniques
When it comes to French cuisine there are a few cooking techniques that are commonly used, and for instance fats and oils are often used here. Fats are used to provide tastes and textures to the food and oils allow the cook to use a wide range of cooking temperature to prepare food. Sautéing, stir-frying and deep-frying are the most commonly used cooking techniques using oil.
A few of the other preparation techniques that are often used for the cooking of French foods are brining, drying, grinding, julienning, marinating, mincing, pickling, salting, sprouting, sugaring, and seasoning.
Get Cooking
If you are interested in French cuisine and would like to try cooking some yourself, there are some great dishes you may want to try out. Quiches are always popular, and are egg custards with additions such as bacon or cheese and then baked in a pastry shell.
Cognacs and champagnes are always favored as well and a true part of French tradition. Whatever food you serve you should always serve the proper beverage with it as well. Manners go hand in hand with French cuisine and etiquette is a major aspect here.
The French are very conscientious of their appearance and the French have a great respect for their food and consider it an art form in itself. So whenever you are cooking French food make sure you give it the respect it deserves.
Holiday Menus
(NC)—Try making this delicious Homegrown Ontario Pulled Pork simple slow cooker recipe this holiday season and see the difference a little planning makes. Great as an appetizer served on a crostini, this savoury morsel will save you time in the kitchen while impressing your guests. More delicious appetizer recipes can be found online at [...]
(NC)—Adding new flavour to traditional foods can be fun and be a great way to get family members to try new foods. Indian flavoured products are becoming widely available and provide a great opportunity to create mouthwatering recipes for the whole family. This shrimp korma recipe is a quick and easy one for the entire [...]
(NC)—Mulligatawny soup originally became popular with the British stationed in India (employees of the East India Company) during Colonial Times. When they returned home, they brought the recipe back with them to England, and to other members of the Commonwealth. In fact Mulligatawny is the Anglicized name of two words for “pepper water,” molegoo (pepper) [...]
(NC)—Here are two easy ways to bring some excitement to your next children’s party – Wacky Waikiki or Purple Razzle Dazzle Shakes. For dozens more delicious treats to thrill your child, visit www.homebasics.ca.
Wacky Waikiki Shake
2 large ripe bananas, peeled and quartered
1 can frozen pineapple or pineapple-orange juice concentrate, thawed (6 oz)
1/2 cup milk
4 scoops Breyers [...]
Savor the Flavor Every Day, Every Way
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(ARA) – Long overlooked, mushrooms are nature’s hidden treasure for helping those focusing on living a healthful life. To promote the nutritional benefits of fresh produce this back-to-school season, Weight Watchers continues Pick of the Season, a public health initiative spotlighting seasonal fruit and vegetables, with recipes this quarter [...]
Skyrocketing gas prices and escalating grocery costs have put getting more for a dollar top-of-mind for many consumers. Many Americans are tailoring their grocery shopping lists to ensure they get more bang for their buck. That means purchasing items that provide the best nutritional punch for their value.
Luxury items like prepackaged or single serve meals [...]
Blueberries are most abundant and least expensive in the summer, making it an ideal time to get your fill of these little blue gems. Stock the fridge and freezer with blueberries to make meals, snacks and desserts that are easy on the cook. Blueberries never need to be peeled, pitted, stemmed or chopped –just a [...]